The Friday Debate: 24 hour drinking
The Friday Debate: 24 hour drinking
Evil binge-drinkers
The Government plans to combat 'binge drinking' by allowing pubs, clubs and bars the option of staying open for twenty four hours if they want (subject to licence approval via the local authority).
Despite the obvious 'Government cracks down on drinking by encouraging it line', I think that this is a jolly good idea.
I agree that there will be problems converting to the continental-style café culture that the Government has promised will replace the current rush to get pissed before kicking-out time.
I also accept that the total amount of drinks consumed on an evening will probably rise, though not necessarily because the same people are simply drinking more.
Advanced binge drinkers: "thugs and beasts"
I don't accept that violent crime and sexual assault will necessarily rise as result of liberalisation, simply because the people who are converted into thugs and beasts by alcohol will remain to be converted, and the rest of us who are not converted to thugs or beasts by alcohol will remain unconverted. It's disgusting to assume that all of us are capable of such caddishness; we just have to drink the right amount.
Louts
So it would appear that this is an act of unprecedented liberty by the nanniest of nanny states that usually has the air of a dysfunctional Darlek - "regulate!, Regulate!, Regulate!"
Remember, this is a Government that labels us 'binge drinkers' if we have more than four pints whilst at the pub. Nous sommes tous noçons des buveurs!
I say, 'three cheers for the Government!'
Evil binge-drinkers
The Government plans to combat 'binge drinking' by allowing pubs, clubs and bars the option of staying open for twenty four hours if they want (subject to licence approval via the local authority).
Despite the obvious 'Government cracks down on drinking by encouraging it line', I think that this is a jolly good idea.
I agree that there will be problems converting to the continental-style café culture that the Government has promised will replace the current rush to get pissed before kicking-out time.
I also accept that the total amount of drinks consumed on an evening will probably rise, though not necessarily because the same people are simply drinking more.
Advanced binge drinkers: "thugs and beasts"
I don't accept that violent crime and sexual assault will necessarily rise as result of liberalisation, simply because the people who are converted into thugs and beasts by alcohol will remain to be converted, and the rest of us who are not converted to thugs or beasts by alcohol will remain unconverted. It's disgusting to assume that all of us are capable of such caddishness; we just have to drink the right amount.
Louts
So it would appear that this is an act of unprecedented liberty by the nanniest of nanny states that usually has the air of a dysfunctional Darlek - "regulate!, Regulate!, Regulate!"
Remember, this is a Government that labels us 'binge drinkers' if we have more than four pints whilst at the pub. Nous sommes tous noçons des buveurs!
I say, 'three cheers for the Government!'
More than three, actually.
I think this has parallels with the drug debate. It will work, I believe, but it will get worse before it gets better.
Whether it gets worse because there are more incidents, or simply because the nightly disturbances are spread over a longer period, keeping police working longer hours, and keeping more people awake later, is anyone's guess.
Posted by
Matt |
Fri Aug 12, 10:03:00 am
I think the latter, to begin with, and then less incidents in the long run.
Posted by
Ben |
Fri Aug 12, 10:09:00 am
I think that this debate has parallels with the one on tax: It takes a similar leap of logical faith to believe that lower taxes can result in higher tax revenues for the government…
Posted by
Ben |
Fri Aug 12, 10:17:00 am
I've just spotted an ambiguity. I definitely did not mean more than three cheers for the government, I meant it was "more than three pints", not "more than four pints".
Posted by
Matt |
Fri Aug 12, 04:36:00 pm
ah well, so long as you're being nice
Posted by
Ben |
Fri Aug 12, 06:13:00 pm