Binge Drinking
March 15, 2009
Effects of binge drinking
The government has announced new plans to increase to the cost of cheap alcohol. It plans to charge for alcohol dependent on how many units it contains. This, it surmises will prevent people drinking too much.
In my opinion this is ridiculous, and is just another example of the nanny state in action. Sir Liam Donaldson has put the proposal forward, and in his plan, no alcohol could be sold for less than 50 pence per unit of alcohol. This means that most bottles of wine will not be able to be sold for less than £4.50. The Portman Group, set up by drinks manufacturers to promote sensible drinking, also said it opposed the plan.
This new proposal, will in essence, punish all those who enjoy alcohol responsibly as well as those who binge drink to excessive amounts. And while, I agree that something needs to be done about the level of alcohol abuse in Britain, I do not think that this is the answer. People who wish to binge drink, will always find a way and although this may deter them at first, in the long term it will not stop them.
Education is the key to solving the problem, especially with teenagers who are tempted to drink excessive amounts of alcohol.The Government needs to spend the money that they receive in taxes from alcohol in a positive way to encourage teenagers not to binge drink and about the side affects of this. Increasing the cost of alcohol will just further line the pockets of Government and will not achieve any proper long term results.
March 15, 2009 at 11:20 pm
I do agree that the key to fight binge drinking is education, this will at least help reducing alcoholism among teenagers but it is not just the young ones who have a problem.
Britain has a huge drinking problem because of its pub culture.
Politicians have to attack the problem from many angles and upping the price for alcohol is a start but a lot more effort is needed.