Will the new alochol measure announced today solve the problem or is it yet another hit on the squeezed taxpayers?

[youngmafbog]

Personally I am beginning to wonder what planet Cameron, Cleg, Osbourne and many of the rest of them are on.
In this particular instance why do they think a minimum price will stop the drunks? It may deter the average 13 year old (who will probably just do another mugging or burglary to pay for it) but I cant see it stopping anyone else. Most people drink responsibly and indeed alcohol rates have been dropping year on year since 2004 (although not sure if that takes account of home brew which is of course more potent and uncontrolled).
Why cant they just use the public drunk laws we have (if they bothered to ensure the fines were paid of course). Why not start fining pubs for continuing to serve drunks, and for those who require treatment why not give them the bill (like the firebrigade will do if you have a chiney fire in an inswept chimney). Probably still would not stop it but it would be a sobering thought for many.

[cathfromsaron]

i think they should bring back the 'drunk tank' and heavy fines for drunk and disorderly, and underage drinking like in america, and leave the rest of us alone!

cath x

[d9f1c7]

I suppose this will mainly effect the drink at home brigade and the Wino fraternity. Most drinking establishments are already charging more than the minimum. What worries me is that the they'll have to increase the work shy layabout budget to pay the extra cost of the fags and white lightening, staple diet of your hard core dole parasite.

[Gromit]

Just a quick way of making extra money.

It will not make any difference to Alcoholism, underage drinking, binge drinking and anti-social drinking.

[rov1100]

May help the pubs though....buying cheap booze elsewhere must be a disadvantage to the publican.

[Zeuhl]

Agree with OP

Yet another example of not addressing the real issue but just charging everyone extra.

I have no issue with anyone binge drinking if that is their choice - as long as they don't bother anyone else.

The issue is vandalism, nuisance and assaults in town centres. And we already have laws to deal with that.

If there is a police cost issue than there is already a precedent for levying licensed premises to pay for the clean up.

[andy-hughes]

Binge drinking in the UK is learned behaviour - a cultural phenomenon which will not be changed by increased prices.

What we need to do is educate people out of the British habit of drinking to be drunk. It is this approach thay flies in the face of the previous government's laughable 'cafe culture' idea behind extended opening hours. A large proportion of drinkers in the UK do not drink as a socail activity as Europeans do, they drink to be drunk an quickly and cheaply as possible.

Until we educate the next generation that drinking to the point of alcohol poisoning is not actually the definition of a good night out. That is where the problem lies, that is what needs to be addressed. Price is a factor, but not the driving factor.

The notion that people cannot enjoy themselves without at least some alcohol to loosen their inhibitions is the root of binge drinking. Alter that mindset, and you will cure the binge drinking problem. It's not about cash, it's about attitudes.

[gness]

The answers on here make so much sense and seem, on the whole to address the problem. The people with the power make such silly decisions that we know from the outset won`t work. The only answer seems to be for you ABers to form the next government.

[flip_flop]

I binge drink.

Not a drop passes my lips (usually) from Sunday to Friday - but on a Saturday I love a good old binge drink.

I play vets rugby, and after a game I can easilly swallow four pints wthout them touching the sides - there was a report out a few years ago that suggested four pints in one 'session' was binge drinking. Four pints is not a session.

Most of my drinking is done in my rugby club, so I don't suppose a minimum cost per unit will make a difference, just so long as this isn't an excuse for landlords/supermarkets/off licences to increase prices across the board.

This measure will not affect those it is supposed to affect. Pointless.

[ummmm]

It's a minimum price per unit. The only people really effected by this are people who drink cheap cider.

[Zeuhl]

So poor overtaxed (sic) pensioners or people on benefits who enjoy a quiet tipple at home are to be penalised because we can't deal with the minority who behave badly in public places.

That is shameful

[trionam]

I live in ireland and the lastest being discussed over here is talk of banning alcohol related sponsorship now obviously binge drinking does need addressing but seriously if someone young girl is out of her mind drunk in town getting sick in some doorway that has absolutley nothing to do with the fact heineken sponsors the rugby or Jameson sponsoring the Irish film festival but oh no the powers that be think this will work.Ive no doubt this will be next for us and I wouldnt mind but its already expensive enough why should I pay because somone else cant control themselves.

[d9f1c7]

yes gness, lets form the AB party!

[ummmm]

Have a look at Dave's thread...

http://www.theanswerb.../Question1117924.html

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Is the House of Commons bar still being subsidised?

[gness]

If it is Bright Spark we`ll keep that when we govern.

[Everhelpful]

Gromit and youngmaf have it spot-on in my opinion.

[derekpara]

So much more sense being posted here than we are getting from Cameron et al.

I very much agree with the OP, Gromit and Andy.

I would also suggest that anyone who requires the assistance of our hard pressed emergency and hospital services should be handed a fixed bill of say, £1k if they are (say again) twice the legal drink/drive limit. I'm sure a hit like that would help to change behaviour.

D

[flitty]

The problem is if he just charges by the unit all the money will go to the producer of the item, but if he taxed it more instead then the money would come back to the taxpayer and pay for health issues from alcohol

[EDDIE51]

I have been looking at this and all it will do is increase the price of cheap strong cider .

[flitty]

Why not just tax the profits of the brewers or add 5p to every drink sold in clubs etc