Once again the problem of ‘Binge Drinking’ and alcohol abuse has been raised on Breakfast television, I can only republish what I wrote on the subject some 2 years + ago and the letter I sent to my local member of parliament Dr. Vince Cable MP and hope, now in the cabinet he can bring pressure to bear in the right places.
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A lot is being said and written about this growing problem, the most being said about is raising the tax and duty to make it prohibitive.
This would only bring about the closing of sensible and controlled drinking places. British Legion Clubs, Private Members Clubs, Sports and Social Clubs, Public Houses with Tenants and free House Owners who know how to control their customers, and conduct sensible social drinking.
The modern trend of ‘Pub Chains’ and companies only add to the problem with their managers only aim seems to be to boost trade and make more profit for their companies and commission at any cost.
The end of ‘cheap booze’ and the ‘buy one and get one free’ culture at Supper Markets and chain store off-licences must end. If a bottle of whisky is £15 and a can of beer £2.30 so be it.
Drinking alcohol in the street and Public Places should be band (excepting private gardens and a Beer Tent at an organised function) there are now plenty of drinking places in all towns, restaurants and Pubs.
Ken Elmes,
former Pub tenant
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Vince Cable MP
Dear Vince,
I fully agree with you that all tax/VAT should be removed or as low as possible on all soft drinks, but raising on alcoholic drinks to discourage binge drinking would be counter productive.
A lot is being said and written about this growing problem, the most being said about is raising the tax and duty to make it prohibitive.
This would only bring about the closing of sensible and controlled drinking places. British Legion Clubs, Private Members Clubs, Sports and Social Clubs, Public Houses with Tenants and free House Owners who know how to control their customers, and conduct sensible social drinking.
The modern trend of ‘Pub Chains’ and companies only add to the problem with their managers only aim seems to be to boost trade and make more profit for their companies and commission at any cost.
The end of ‘cheap booze’ and the ‘buy one and get one free’ culture at Supper Markets and chain store off-licences must end. If a bottle of whisky is £15 and a can of beer £2.30 so be it.
Drinking alcohol in the street and Public Places should be band (excepting private gardens and a Beer Tent at an organised function) there are now plenty of drinking places in all towns, restaurants and Pubs.
Ken
Ken Elmes,
former Pub tenant
2 comments:
You are spot on, Ken! In my area it is common practice for a group of Girls to buy 6 bottles of 'Vino Collapso' for around £20 at Asda's and the Boys to get about 36 cans of lager/beer for about £15 then they sit and drink it at home. When it has all gone they then decend upon the Town - already three parts gone - and get stupidly and sometimes dangerously out of their minds after a couple of drinks in the Pub. Who gets the blame? The last place they had a drink of course. STOP supermarkets from selling alcohol!
Lots of good information in your posting, I would like to tweet your blog post so I can visit again in the near future.
Controlled Drinking
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