No way to tackle our drinking culture
Monday, June 16, 2008 The age for buying alcohol from supermarkets and off-licences in Scotland could rise from 18 to 21, the BBC reports. "Scottish ministers said it was time for radical action in the fight against Scotland's binge drinking culture."
Last year Public Policy Research, the journal of New Labour's favourite think tank, the Institute for Public Policy Research, declared that it was time to practise "tough love", such as reviewing the minimum drinking age. Britain, it said, should consider making the legal drinking age 21.
On today's Free Society blog, former MSP Brian Monteith takes issue with these no doubt well-meaning prohibitionists when he writes:
As a parent of two boys now in their early twenties let me provide some simple observations. Kids demand football strips with “Carlsberg” or “Guinness” emblazoned across the chest because they want the authentic strip their heroes wear – not some diddy imitation.
The only way to curb the demand is to ban the advertising of alcohol branding on any sports-related clothing – no doubt something that will ultimately come. Did it make my sons want to drink Carlsberg? No, they prefer real ale.
Restrictions on a popular drinks such as alcopops or the practice of drinking outside can result in kids switching to stronger drinks such as cider and imbibing out of sight of anyone – a far more dangerous situation.
Full article HERE.
Reader Comments (12)
There was a proposal to ban Carlsberg from being displayed on Liverpool's youth replica shirts.
I am so glad I left England. How do you live in this open air lunatic asylum organised and operated by chimpanzees disguised as politicians.
I wonder how the English people out there are viewing the Scottish Parliament. I remember when I lived in London many years ago there was the Loony Left, Red Ken et al.These people in Scotland seem worse and can introduce whatever madcap scheme they want without having to worry about the costs and impications, because as far as I can see they have little control over finances.
Why are Scottish students exempt from tuition fees when the rest of the UK student population is not? Free prescriptions, eye care, dental care, care for the elderly all available in Scotland(some in Wales) but not available in England or N Ireland.Now they want this alcohol ban which will be costly in lost revenue and in policing. Who will make up the shortfall to The Exchequer? If these health fascists want to implement this scheme then any loss of revenue should be taken straight out of their budget and they can then explain to the electorate the merits of their interference.
Simon - I think you are being far to generous in describing the health interventionist lobby as "no doubt well-meaning prohibitionist". These people, as we saw with the campaign leading to the smoking ban, are extremely dangerous and take no prisoners in furthering their aims with lies and falsehoods.
This health lobby need curtailing and fast before every so called "not good for your health" activity is prohibited. It is time to take to kidsgloves off and kick them where it hurts.
How can any sane person (daft statement I know when talking of politicians!) even consider raising the age limit to 21 when the current age limit is not a deterrent and is not policeable? Ok, sure, some get caught and a few corner shops get done for selling to under age kids, but in the main the kids don't need to buy from the shops, the same with cigarettes! The main concern here, to any sane person, is the illegal booze that, just like 'fake' cigarettes, is far more dangerous than the real thing.
We already have problems throughout the country with kids 'having nothing to do and nowhere to go' so as they are supposed to be being prevented from smoking and it looks as though they will also be prevented from drinking, does anyone else think this is likely to increase the mindless vandalism and abusive behaviour? I do!
Putting up prices will not help either as these kids will get the money from somewhere, even if it means theft, petty or not, to get what they want.
Education from an early age, in my opinion, is what is needed and, like the '24 hour' licencing, this will not solve the problem overnight as it is something that, as on the Continent, you need a generation to grow up with along with the parents being educated in how to manage the situation.
Rightly or wrongly, according the law, my daughter was given a tiny liqueur size glass of wine once she was sitting at the table, in her high chair, for lunch/dinner. She quickly learnt that if she sipped it she was allowed a drop more, but if she guzzled it, she wasn't. As she grew we never denied her a taste or a tiny amount of whatever we were drinking and she never touched any alcohol without asking us first. Even when she was 16 and 17, when she got home from school she would phone me at work, on occasion, to ask if she could have a lager shandy. She only ever drank weak shandies anyway, but she would not help herself without asking first.
She is now training to manage her own pub. I am not saying that she never got drunk as she got older because on the odd occasion she has done and very probably will do again, as many people do, but she is not what is perceived today as a binge drinker!
Education rather than prohibition and making such things a mystery for children to solve works far better to my way of thinking.
I'm going to set up a booze warehouse in Berwick and sell the Scots their own scotch at discount prices.
That's what I think of the latest diktat!
Well they've done Smoking, they're well on the way with alchohol and food, they've surveillance on every corner, our 'phones, e-mails, internet, bins & homes are being monitored so it stands to reason it won't be long before they start to monitor people's sex lives.
There really will be NO aspect of our lives that isn't scrutinised if the people of this cesspit of a country don't wake up soon, the consequences don't bear thinking about. I sometimes think that people would actually go along with being microchipped.
All the 'supposed' reasons for the creation of the EU, to stop another war, I believe just the opposite will happen in years to come, because of all this control of freedom & choices. And as much as I wouldn't like it to happen, I sometimes think I'd prefer there to be another war then live under the conditions being forced on us. I really fear for my grandchildren.
I wonder what country will accept English refugees in the coming years if these bastards aren't stopped.
Joan said "..it won't be long before they start to monitor people's sex lives."
See here:
http://nannyknowsbest.blogspot.com/2008/04/sex-inspectors.html
@Joan & Joyce: Somehow I can’t see sex ever getting the same treatment as smoking, drinking and eating. In true Brave New World style, people will always be allowed one or two harmless indulgences in order to give them the illusion of being free - and to give them something to be grateful for. (Herbert Marcuse reasoned along this line as well and I think he was spot on.) Like in Huxley’s book, sex will be one of those indulgences. As for what the new ‘Soma’ will be, your guess is as good as mine. But no doubt the pharmaceutical industry will come up with something.
BTW: Hello, I’m new here. I enjoy following your discussions but probably won’t be able to join in often. I have a busy work schedule and often lack time to compose a message in English (not my first language).
Hi Anna,
Nice to have you! I wouldn't have believed that English wasn't your first language - it's excellent!
I'm sure that sex will always be allowed - after all the powers that be need babies who, after all, grow up to be tax payers!
It's a long time since I've read "Brave New World" and I can't remember whether soma was to numb the mind or to create the illusion of happiness. I think that people try to use alcohol and materialism to do the job in today's society.
How the hell can they extend the age for buying alcohol when they are quite happy to send out younger lads to fight a bloody useless war. The hypocritical B......DS
Infact if i was a soldier and i was not allowed to buy a pint after a hard days fighting i would tell the army commander and politicians to stick the job up their arse.