We all know that there is an alcohol problem in the UK, fuelled by people binge drinking on the weekends, falling around drunk and generally being a nuisance for both the police and NHS. What is to blame for this, according to MP’s and various think tanks is that alcohol is far too cheap.
David Cameron in his infinite wisdom believes supermarkets are to blame for selling cut price alcohol, with many youngsters getting ‘blasted’ before they go out and continue to drink in the late night pubs and clubs. At the moment the government has said it will address the sale of alcohol at below cost price, but has not yet said it will support a minimum alcohol price per unit.
What is worrying if they decide to adopt minimum pricing for alcohol is that those who only enjoy a small tipple will be priced out of drinking full stop whilst those who want to get smashed will do so, regardless as they can always find a way. I don’t deny that there is a problem, but rather than punishing the majority, they should directly punish the minority who cause the problems on our streets and hospitals.
In the past year there were 200,000 hospital admissions for alcohol-related conditions, while the number of people treated for extreme drunkenness more than doubled to 18,500. Obviously this needs to be looked at and I would maybe suggest fining those who received treatment because of the situation they get themselves in would be one idea. However I feel that could be a slippery slope in the future in relation to other treatments such as sports injuries etc.
Considering in my day if we were caught rolling around the streets drunk and vomiting we would have been picked up by the police but and this is important, charged with drunk and disorderly behaviour and fined. So why is this not happening now? The police are out there so why not fine these people, issue with on the spot fines no doubt those who are mortalled will stilled have some cash on them. At least if they don’t have the cash anymore they can’t buy any more drinks. .
I also believe pubs and bars should also take responsibility for serving people who are already very drunk, they already have security/bouncers in most places, perhaps they can throw out punters who are showing drunken behaviour? Or perhaps not serve them in the first place. Fines issued to pubs, bars and clubs which serve people already drunk.
Another area which should be looked at is underage drinking, we have all done it but there does seem to be an increasing problem. When I was young I only really got drunk when I managed to steal my dad’s beers and take them to the park to share with my mates. That didn’t happen often though because once my dad noticed what I had swiped or I came home drunk a sharp clip round the ear certainly made me think twice about trying to take his beers again. Perhaps when underage kids are found out on the streets drunk, which does happen quite often where I am the parents should instead face a fine for their Childs behaviour, which may encourage parents to look after their kids and instil some discipline?
What I don’t want to see though is sensible drinkers being priced out from enjoying an alcoholic beverage. The real ales at my local have already increased enough over the last few years, coupled with the smoking ban has seen the pub have a reduction in customers week on week.
Picture courtesy of Cambridge Brewing Co