The War on Drink has Begun!

[Patrick]

Measures to tackle alcohol abuse by stopping cut-price offers have been outlined by the Scottish Government.

It has proposed a range of measures including the radical step of a minimum price per unit. It would be the first country in Europe to take the step.

You read down the article and your mind fills with such thoughts as "How long before a new period of prohibition" "How long before drinking goes underground" and that this is "the thin end of the wedge!"

Then you come across this graph:


..........and you think - Right, OK, there does seem to be a teensy weensy bit of a problem there doesn't there.

Of course, if they could find out why people are drinking so much instead of just trying to put them off? How easily do people have access to mental health services in Scotland? Or being able to see Counsellors for instance? Maybe it's time to think about some central funding for some of the charities that do so much to take the strain off Government as it is, but rely on donations or local funding in order to survive?

[Ben Becula]

If alcohol was to be discovered for the first time today, it would have to be a proscribed drug. It is addictive, and the driving force behind most crimes of violence. It also costs the NHS billions a year in dealing with the aftermath of excessive consumption. It is too late to ban it, but we should certainly NOT encourage drinking by allowing it to be sold cheaply, or as "loss leaders" in supermarkets.

The Scots are on the right track here. We should follow suit, and impose swinging tax increases well above the rate of inflation year in, and year out.

[sesley]

well what they could do is use the extra money/tax on the alchol and actually use it to pay for people needing a ambulance and hospital, in the same way the money they get as tax from ciggies should be used to treat smoking related dieseases .

[swl]

I would support a move towards all off-licences being located inside pubs (like they used to be). It would bring much needed revenue to the pub trade and would mean alcohol being sold in a much more controlled environment.

[percyplum]

That's a good point. Most village shops and even petrol stations sell booze these days which I think is quite wrong. It just encourages drinking & driving.

[Patrick]

I shall have have a poke around to see what the comparable rate is with France or some of the other Mediterranean countries. I know France has been thinking of putting up alcohol rates, for the same reasons.

[everso]

Mar 2, 2009 16:40:14 GMT swl said:

I would support a move towards all off-licences being located inside pubs (like they used to be). It would bring much needed revenue to the pub trade and would mean alcohol being sold in a much more controlled environment.

Ahh, the old Offie. I was regularly sent down to our local Off Licence to take back bottles and buy a pint of Mackeson Stout for my mum (and a Babycham for myself - and me only 12. I don't think mum realised Babycham was alcoholic).

And what was it about arrowroot biscuits that they felt the need to sell them out of those glass jars?

[Patrick]

"Who's up for a pint of Sassy at the Milk Bar"

[Alpha Hooligan]

Mar 2, 2009 16:40:14 GMT swl said:

I would support a move towards all off-licences being located inside pubs (like they used to be). It would bring much needed revenue to the pub trade and would mean alcohol being sold in a much more controlled environment.

Is that true? I'm not old enough to remember this.

There was always an "outdoor/off license" when I was a kid.


AH