MPs urge '2 alcohol free days per week'

[Booldawg]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16443240

They're making it sound like an epidemic. I mean, what percentage of the population have some amount of alcohol 7 nights of the week?
"How Often Do You Drink?" Poll Here

[Khandro]

The smallest group in Ed's poll - 2.3%, 6 votes - drink 6 nights a week, I wonder why they abstain for the one night.

[ludwig]

// No one would suggest banning or having 2 car free days a week //

Actually that's not true Eddie. The government is always telling us to get out of the car. Walk, cycle, use public transport - anything but drive. With the taxes they put on it they're arguable trying to kill off motoring every bit as much as the drinks industry.

[oldgrumpy]

Hammer the bars that continue to serve people that are obviously drunk! Heavy fines and short term closures

£80.00 fine for drunk and incapable

£300.00 fine for drunk & disorderly

£800.00 For Criminal damage.(or 3 Mths), Drunk & assaulting others (double if a member of emegency services/NHS staff) Riotous behaviour Etc..

Leave the responsible drinkers alone, police and punish the offenders.
Educate the ones who abuse alcohol.
GG

[Euphemia]

Unfortunately, it has become the culture of this country to go out with a view to getting p*ssed.

[bundleone]

I dont understand the need for alcohol to have a good time, I can disco dance and chat with friends , have a laugh on a couple of glasses of lemonade, even though some are drinking whisky or whatever, I dont feel under any pressure to join in and wouldnt waste my money. I think with younger people they havent the confidence to say no.

[Leva]

Yes, in Britain there isn't much else to do except to go to the local for a drink or three...We don't have a cafe culture as other European countries do mainly because of the climate. As a result there is little to do in the evenings so yes, people go out for a social drink and stay longer and drink more than perhaps they should. However, until there are more entertainment facilities on offer this will continue to happen.

[Leva]

Yes people in Britain tend to go out to the local and have a drink-or three, as we don;t have a cafe culture as there is in the rest of Europe because of the climate.
People need entertainment facilities and more often than not these are found in the friendly local pub. Until more facilities are available there essms little that can be done.
If the powers that be want people to drink less then they will have to open the coffers and provide alternative sources of entertainment.

[EDDIE51]

A lot of the problem is the very high price of alcohol in a pub compared to buying it in a supermarket. People 'pre load' ie get 3/4s p*ssed at home before they go out. Pubs are a source of responcible drinking , the pub can lose it's licence for serving people who are already drunk. Once some one has already had 1/2 a bottle of Vodka at home it only takes a couple of drinks in a bar and they are 'legless'. Price of a bottle of cheap Vodka from a supermarket >£10 so that will get 2 people p*ssed for less than the price of 2 cocktails in a pub.
When I was a lad to was normal for each of the ladies in a group to hide a bottle of spirits in their hand bags so that the group could get rat @rsed on the cheap! We would buy one alcoholic drink each and then just buy coke or lemonade to go with the booze in the bags, today there is often door security that checks the bags so you get the booze down you before you hit town.
My local pub now serves tea at 99p a pot and it has been very succesfull the place is full in the daytime with people having tea and a meal. Very fustrating when you just want a quick pint and the person in front of you orders 5 pots of tea and 2 coffees, the bar staff take ages to brew the tea leaving the boozers waiting.

[Chalanker]

Drink about seven days a week. Better two days off.