Minimum Alcohol Pricing......

[Blackbriar 8,569]

 

The Supreme Court will start a hearing today, that could see a minimum unit price introduced on alcohol. This would see compulsory price hikes on all beers, wines and spirits, wherever they are sold.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-40699156

 

The medical profession says it would drastically reduce deaths from liver disease, as well as hospital admissions and police time spent on alcohol-related incidents.

 

Opponents say such a measure would unfairly effect poorer drinkers, and the vast majority who drink responsibly. Some have gone as far as to that say this is another example of the Nanny State removing free choice, and that better public education is the way forward.

 

 

As a nation, we undoubtedly have an issue with excessive alcohol consumption, but.......

 

Good idea ? Bad idea ? Why ?

[walshie 2,804]

More micro-managing of people's lives. Next will be minimum prices for any foods they consider unhealthy.

[Blackbriar 8,569]

More micro-managing of people's lives. Next will be minimum prices for any foods they consider unhealthy.

"Sugar tax" on soft drinks is being introduced next year ! on can of Coke !

[walshie 2,804]

 

More micro-managing of people's lives. Next will be minimum prices for any foods they consider unhealthy.

"Sugar tax" on soft drinks is being introduced next year ! on can of Coke !

 

 

I assume diet coke won't be going up then?

[Born Hunter 17,907]

Bad because freedom...

[pesky1972 5,626]

People (often conveniently) forget that alcohol is just another drug. If people abusing it then pisses away resources from an inceasingly stretched NHS then something has to be done to stop that. It's okay whinging about 'nanny state' when it's not your kid that can't get cancer treatment funded by the NHS, but they can spend £3.5bn treating booze hounds. If it was smackheads then people would be up in arms.

[walshie 2,804]

It's all far too intrusive. I agree pissheads are taking up valuable NHS resources, but then so are foreigners who have never paid a penny in N.I. contributions. What's worse?

 

The percentage of people who drink themselves into hospital must be tiny compared to the percentage who like a drink with mates at the weekend, or after a meal. Why should everyone suffer because of the few?

[Accip74 7,112]

I think it's more of a cultural problem than price. Would a few pence more on a bottle of beer stop the slippery slope to alcoholism?

I think if you really wanted to reduce drinking, you would have to go down the smoking route, maybe make people drink outside? Haha......or pictures of a wino in the gutter on the label of some Pinot Grigio?........

Edited July 24, 2017 by Accip74

[scothunter 12,609]

Lot of pish snp tried it and we're taken to court.

its not going to do jack shit to stop alkies and folk getting pissed.

 

same as fags. Hiding them in cupboards and not selling 10 packs.

 

Folk just buy on the black market. Obv prohibition didn't teach these fools anything.

[Blackbriar 8,569]

 

I'm still on the fence (unusual for me !)....

 

Minimum pricing would undoubtedly reduce alcohol-related hospital admissions, but it would impact unfairly on those who drink responsibly i.e the vast majority of drinkers.

 

The real problem with blanket taxation is that it disproportionately effects those least able to pay it - poorer people - BUT the poor are more likely to have their health compromised by alcohol !

 

The real disparity I can see is that a pint, in the pub, might cost you up to a fiver (probably more in London ?), by you can buy a can of tramp juice in Tesco for a couple of quid !

 

And, if youngsters particularly, are pre-loading at home, before they hit the town, maybe increased taxation on off-sales might be a better way forward ?

 

I think that there are several problems here, all lumped together, so there should probably be several solutions ?

[dave88 1,565]

Lot of pish snp tried it and we're taken to court.

its not going to do jack shit to stop alkies and folk getting pissed.

 

same as fags. Hiding them in cupboards and not selling 10 packs.

 

Folk just buy on the black market. Obv prohibition didn't teach these fools anything.

Ive not heard of one person quitting or cutting back on the cigs cos of the new 'rules' and i know a lot of smokers. And every shop worker ive spoken to says it just slows them down and makes their job more difficult cos all the packs look the same lol. Load of bollocks

[Blackbriar 8,569]

Lot of pish snp tried it and we're taken to court.

its not going to do jack shit to stop alkies and folk getting pissed.

same as fags. Hiding them in cupboards and not selling 10 packs.

Folk just buy on the black market. Obv prohibition didn't teach these fools anything.

When minimum alcohol pricing was introduced in areas of Canada, consumption went down by 32% !

[Blackbriar 8,569]

 

Lot of pish snp tried it and we're taken to court.

its not going to do jack shit to stop alkies and folk getting pissed.

same as fags. Hiding them in cupboards and not selling 10 packs.

Folk just buy on the black market. Obv prohibition didn't teach these fools anything.

Ive not heard of one person quitting or cutting back on the cigs cos of the new 'rules' and i know a lot of smokers. And every shop worker ive spoken to says it just slows them down and makes their job more difficult cos all the packs look the same lol. Load of bollocks

 

The number of UK smokers is down to around 15% now......

I might suggest that a lot of those who have stopped smoking have simply been priced out ?

[pesky1972 5,626]

It's all far too intrusive. I agree pissheads are taking up valuable NHS resources, but then so are foreigners who have never paid a penny in N.I. contributions. What's worse?

 

The percentage of people who drink themselves into hospital must be tiny compared to the percentage who like a drink with mates at the weekend, or after a meal. Why should everyone suffer because of the few?

I don't disagree with any of the above, just thought I'd offer something to the debate.

As the NHS buckles under the weight of an aging population, migrants who historically haven't paid their dues, and all the fat lazy fuckers who've got sick notes for health conditions brought about by their piggish eating habits, smoking and drinking it's inevitable that there will be scrutiny, criticism and action taken to prevent those who don't need to be sick in the first place finding there way into an NHS bed. Education clearly doesn't work.., what's left?

[Accip74 7,112]

 

 

Lot of pish snp tried it and we're taken to court.

its not going to do jack shit to stop alkies and folk getting pissed.

same as fags. Hiding them in cupboards and not selling 10 packs.

Folk just buy on the black market. Obv prohibition didn't teach these fools anything.

Ive not heard of one person quitting or cutting back on the cigs cos of the new 'rules' and i know a lot of smokers. And every shop worker ive spoken to says it just slows them down and makes their job more difficult cos all the packs look the same lol. Load of bollocks

The number of UK smokers is down to around 15% now......

I might suggest that a lot of those who have stopped smoking have simply been priced out ?

I think it's a combination of things. Smoking has been hit with a massive anti-social stigma for many years now. I know smokers who seem genuinely embarrassed about it & that's through a cultural shift & of course in your face health warnings, plus restrictions on social smoking.

 

I think alcohol would need the same approach, however I am shocked at your Canadian statement, but that's Canadians....... not the british! But interesting all the same.....;-)

Edited July 24, 2017 by Accip74