raveydavey
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Underage / Binge Drinking......thought I'd post this in here as all the political parties seem to have jumped on the bandwagon of late.
Apparently the way to stop underage kids getting booze and binge drinkers binging is to put the price up by increasing tax.
So we have the wonderful idea that tax on alcopops, strong cider and "premium" lager will go up, to discourage people from buying it.
Tax on "ordinary" beer, or on whisky or wine wouldn't be affected.
Two things spring to mind - firstly why should someone like me who enjoys a drink every now and then pay for the government / police / licensed trade keeping their house in order every time I want a pint?
Secondly, what world do these idiots live in? If Frosty Jack cider or WKD gets a bit pricey they'll either just spend more money, or switch to something cheaper. Can we expect a better, more polite class of drunkard if they've enjoyed a nice bottle of Rioja rather than a bottle of White Lightning?
The other issue of course is why aren't the laws that have been in place for years being enforced? Why do we have to have yet more new laws?
If a shop is caught illegally selling booze to underage kids, suspend their licence for a month. Get caught a second time, suspend it for a year. Three strikes and you're out. Simple.
If parents are buying their little 14-year old darlings cases of Stella, then arrest the parents. Any kids out on the streets with anything stronger than Shandy Bass should have the booze confiscated and be taken home.
Mind you, all that might involve a bit of work might it...?
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Tommo
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As Ravey says making things more expensive doesn't solve the problem and I don't think it ever will. Why should I a tax payer have to pay more just cos I or my hubby drinks a stronger lager or an alcopop.
It surprises me how many parents get upset when their little darling are brought into A/E after being found drunk in the park instead of giving them a telling off. I warned mine and their friends that if they ever ended up in A/E drunk they would be in serious trouble 
The problem with todays youth society is the parents won't or don't take responsibility and it's always someone else to blame.
I have to hold my hands up and say I have bought my teenagers alcohol, but only on special occasions, and not a case of lager just the od bottle or drink, and in my presence not to drink out in the street or park.
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nlag
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| Tommo wrote: | | I have to hold my hands up and say I have bought my teenagers alcohol, but only on special occasions, and not a case of lager just the od bottle or drink, and in my presence not to drink out in the street or park. |
IMO a sensible and controlled introduction / monitoring of consumption is a good thing. I took my son and a friend to Reading, and to other concerts. I let them have a can of beer each at Reading while they, my mate and I sat chatting into the early hours. Have bought them a half each at concerts since.
The way I see it, this is something for the government to hide behind, like they do on green issues, to convince the public they are doing us a favour in raising tax income through whatever means they can.
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raveydavey
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| nlag wrote: | | Tommo wrote: | | I have to hold my hands up and say I have bought my teenagers alcohol, but only on special occasions, and not a case of lager just the od bottle or drink, and in my presence not to drink out in the street or park. |
IMO a sensible and controlled introduction / monitoring of consumption is a good thing. I took my son and a friend to Reading, and to other concerts. I let them have a can of beer each at Reading while they, my mate and I sat chatting into the early hours. Have bought them a half each at concerts since.
The way I see it, this is something for the government to hide behind, like they do on green issues, to convince the public they are doing us a favour in raising tax income through whatever means they can. |
Couldn't agree with you both more - as a teenager I was allowed the odd can of lager or glass of wine at family gatherings (weddings, christenings, birthdays etc) and it takes away much of the mystique of alcohol as well as being properly supervised.
Ultimately it's just more tax, nothing else.
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wewantourdarbyback
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I didnt get drunk till I was 17 and i really dont go out that often, i may have a couple at home 4 or 5 nights a week but i have never been a binge drinker. In fact when I am at home during the uni hols i barely touch alcohol
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Tommo
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I don't go out very often, or drink at home but when I do go out I drink a few, (more than the daily units) am I therefore a binge drinker!!! Most people who work all week tend to go out at weekends when they are not working so potensionally most of the country are binge drinkers!!!!
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Gopher
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| Tommo wrote: | | I don't go out very often, or drink at home but when I do go out I drink a few, (more than the daily units) am I therefore a binge drinker!!! Most people who work all week tend to go out at weekends when they are not working so potensionally most of the country are binge drinkers!!!! |
O`rly ?? 
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cardboardbox?Youwerelucky
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Re: Underage / Binge Drinking... | raveydavey wrote: | If a shop is caught illegally selling booze to underage kids, suspend their licence for a month. Get caught a second time, suspend it for a year. Three strikes and you're out. Simple.
If parents are buying their little 14-year old darlings cases of Stella, then arrest the parents. Any kids out on the streets with anything stronger than Shandy Bass should have the booze confiscated and be taken home.
Mind you, all that might involve a bit of work might it...? |
Couldn't agree more - the answer is plain and simple but instead politicians complicate the matter by trying to use "think tank" ideas to come up with "solutions" to our societies "issues" - if you ENFORCE the two ideas that ravey mentions above - under age drinking essentially stops as they cannot get their grubby little hands in it.
If someone over 18 (and not a parent) buys it on their behalf - arrest them for aiding and abeting. It would soon stop.
PS Is it more out of control now then when you were young?? Or is it just far easier to report on??
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raveydavey
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Without a doubt some of the outcry is down to sensationalist "journalism", but the fact remains that there is an underlying problem.
To be fair, when I was in my mid-teens we always knew which offy to go to if we wanted to buy booze. I can't see that has changed much. The thing is we'd share a small amount (maybe a 2-litre bottle of Olde English) between 4 of us, not the 3 litre bottle of Frosty Jack or White Lightning at 9% that seems to be the individual tipple of choice nowadays.
It's the off-licences that are to blame - you don't get this problem elsewhere because the places selling booze know they'll lose their livelihoods if they're caught selling to the under age.
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