Minimum Prices For Alcoholic Drink

[Tubthumper]

I like a pint or a dram. In my younger days I indulged in regular 'binge drinking' sessions. However I have concerns that today's drinking habits seem to be wrecking society.
Scottish Government seems to be aiming for minimum prices for alcohol - do orgers think it will help?

[joxville]

£4 for a can of beer
£5 for a pint
£15 bottle of wine
£20 bottle of whisky/brandy/port

Hopefully that would help. ;)

[tonkatojo]

I like a pint or a dram. In my younger days I indulged in regular 'binge drinking' sessions. However I have concerns that today's drinking habits seem to be wrecking society.
Scottish Government seems to be aiming for minimum prices for alcohol - do orgers think it will help?


Honestly as a teetotaler (now) I don't give a toss, but the ones it does effect it will be a kick where it hurts.
But in my youth it didn't matter what the cost was on a friday we just paid up, and we were ripped of even then, having said that it wasn't 6 or 7 nights a week we didn't have the cash in our pockets to do it, nor would my/our parents put up with it.

[Tubthumper]

What about Buckfast Jox?

[tonkatojo]

What about Buckfast Jox?

Yeah JOX what about buckfast, or homebrew

[Cattach]

I like a pint or a dram. In my younger days I indulged in regular 'binge drinking' sessions. However I have concerns that today's drinking habits seem to be wrecking society.
Scottish Government seems to be aiming for minimum prices for alcohol - do orgers think it will help?

Will encourage some to cut back or stop which is good. The very hardened drinkers, like drug addicts, will find a way and probably affect their families through even great spending on alcohol.

I am not against drink and do drink in moderation myself but am willing to pay the extra price if it helps cut out the binge drining by groups of youngsters I see parading the streets, half dressed and generally making a nuisance, on a Friday and Saturday night.

[Bazeye]

Will encourage some to cut back or stop which is good. The very hardened drinkers, like drug addicts, will find a way and probably affect their families through even great spending on alcohol.

I am not against drink and do drink in moderation myself but am willing to pay the extra price if it helps cut out the binge drining by groups of youngsters I see parading the streets, half dressed and generally making a nuisance, on a Friday and Saturday night.

Why should we be penalised for other peoples behaviour?

[Tubthumper]

Who are 'We' that's being penalised?

[tonkatojo]

Who are 'We' that's being penalised?

I think that's the ones who say they are sensible/social drinkers.

[Tubthumper]

Ah. I though he was talking about the half-dressed young gimps causing mayhem in the streets.
Or 'We' could be the Scottish people are paying the price for irresponsible drinking. No-go areas on the streets, police tied up dealing with neds when they could be catching speeders on the castletown road, ,NHS expense on pumping kids stomachs, broken wives noses, liver failure in 30 year olds etc.
I wonder; were all these problems around when we were young, they just weren't reported?

[tonkatojo]

Ah. I though he was talking about the half-dressed young gimps causing mayhem in the streets.
Or 'We' could be the Scottish people are paying the price for irresponsible drinking. No-go areas on the streets, police tied up dealing with neds when they could be catching speeders on the castletown road, ,NHS expense on pumping kids stomachs, broken wives noses, liver failure in 30 year olds etc.
I wonder; were all these problems around when we were young, they just weren't reported?

Ahh those ones. I don't know your age but I'm 59 and those types were around. but only about 2% of the numbers in circulation now. :(

[Tubthumper]

I'm in my forties. The liver is holding up, but the brain...? Is it access to cheap drink that's made the problem so much worse nowadays?

[Leanne]

All the more reason for a reincarnation of the home brew craze! Maybe I should have made eldberry wine instead of elderberry jam...

[Kodiak]

When I was a Teen a Can of MeEwans Export cost 2/6d or 5 Mars Bars. So if a Can of beer costs the price of 5 Mars Bars, then now a can of Beer should be at least £2.50.

[Bazeye]

When I was a Teen a Can of MeEwans Export cost 2/6d or 5 Mars Bars. So if a Can of beer costs the price of 5 Mars Bars, then now a can of Beer should be at least £2.50.

Mars Bars are over priced.

[Alice in Blunderland]

The price of alcohol should be increased although this is only one factor in the current crisis.

There are many reasons why we are seeing more and more binge drinking or even social drinking fullstop.

In todays climate its much more socialy acceptable to be seen out and about drinking. (Forty years ago I could imagine what would would have been said if my mother was seen in a pub downing a pint far less walking down the street blazing drunk.) There is more money in young peoples pockets and opening hours allow more time for drinking.Supermarkets are open almost all day selling cheap drink making it altogether easily available should one want to indulge.

The government may be getting the tax on all this alcohol being sold but it is the taxpayer who ultimately will be footing the bll as the hospitals are now seeing a large increase in alcohol related admittances.

[tonkatojo]

The price of alcohol should be increased although this is only one factor in the current crisis.

There are many reasons why we are seeing more and more binge drinking or even social drinking fullstop.

In todays climate its much more socialy acceptable to be seen out and about drinking. (Forty years ago I could imagine what would would have been said if my mother was seen in a pub downing a pint far less walking down the street blazing drunk.) There is more money in young peoples pockets and opening hours allow more time for drinking.Supermarkets are open almost all day selling cheap drink making it altogether easily available should one want to indulge.

The government may be getting the tax on all this alcohol being sold but it is the taxpayer who ultimately will be footing the bll as the hospitals are now seeing a large increase in alcohol related admittances.

Aye that will be the NHS ones footing the bill (even). Not a private one in sight.

[Alice in Blunderland]

Aye that will be the NHS ones footing the bill (even). Not a private one in sight.

I think the Priory (nice Private Clinic) does not too bad a job at dryng out some of those well off celebrity alcoholics who have paid big taxes ( if their accountant hasnt cooked the books) leaving a few more beds for Joe Public in the NHS hospitals. ;)

[tonkatojo]

I think the Priory (nice Private Clinic) does not too bad a job at dryng out some of those well off celebrity alcoholics who have paid big taxes ( if their accountant hasnt cooked the books) leaving a few more beds for Joe Public in the NHS hospitals.

Is that the voice of experience again ?. ;)

I feel another headache coming on I wonder why. :( ;)

[Alice in Blunderland]

I feel another headache coming on I wonder why. :( ;)

Silly, Billy its cause you keep forgetting to take your tablets. :Razz

(Oh and I cant afford to get into the Priory............ only a poor one I am I can only afford the drink .)

[Jeid]

Alcohol, like drugs, will be taken regardless of price or it's legal status.

Will it reduce the problems that stem from drink, to an extent. It's a shame that people who drink and have a good time/don't cause any problems etc have to suffer because of idiots. I see it every week. It's part of peoples lives to drink, for some, going to the pub for a pint is their only way of socialising.

Banning smoking from public places never stopped people from doing it, either did raising the price of cigarettes. It did reduce the number of cigarettes people would have in a night, but it's not cured the problem.

It's a tricky subject really. Prices on booze (in the pub anyway) are up 50%-75% on 5/6 years ago. It's a steep rise. £1.90/£2 for a pint then and it's around £3 now. Nips used to be £1.40 and now it's £2.15.

I think drinking can be reduced and with proper education, it'll have a longer lasting effect. There's a big drinking culture in this country just now, it's gonna be hard for it to be stopped just by raising the prices. Too many people are keen on going out and getting "hammered", I prefer the social aspect of drinking, which is why I tend to drink with friends at home.

[tonkatojo]

Alcohol, like drugs, will be taken regardless of price or it's legal status.

Will it reduce the problems that stem from drink, to an extent. It's a shame that people who drink and have a good time/don't cause any problems etc have to suffer because of idiots. I see it every week. It's part of peoples lives to drink, for some, going to the pub for a pint is their only way of socialising.

Banning smoking from public places never stopped people from doing it, either did raising the price of cigarettes. It did reduce the number of cigarettes people would have in a night, but it's not cured the problem.

It's a tricky subject really. Prices on booze (in the pub anyway) are up 50%-75% on 5/6 years ago. It's a steep rise. £1.90/£2 for a pint then and it's around £3 now. Nips used to be £1.40 and now it's £2.15.

I think drinking can be reduced and with proper education, it'll have a longer lasting effect. There's a big drinking culture in this country just now, it's gonna be hard for it to be stopped just by raising the prices. Too many people are keen on going out and getting "hammered", I prefer the social aspect of drinking, which is why I tend to drink with friends at home.


Having A pint isn't the problem though is it, its the multiples.
Drinking lager was lethal for my sanity it used to effect me in a bad way I just gave the lot up havn't missed it and I no longer get in trouble.

[Alice in Blunderland]

I think drinking can be reduced and with proper education, it'll have a longer lasting effect. There's a big drinking culture in this country just now, it's gonna be hard for it to be stopped just by raising the prices. Too many people are keen on going out and getting "hammered", I prefer the social aspect of drinking, which is why I tend to drink with friends at home.

Educaton as well as higher prices.

We are all taught maths right up to third year in High school but do we take that on board and remember it when we leave .............. you can only educate someone who is willing to be educated.:)

[Jeid]

Having A pint isn't the problem though is it, its the multiples.

I know... which is what I meant with this statement. I guess it wasn't clear.


It's a shame that people who drink and have a good time/don't cause any problems etc have to suffer because of idiots.

[BINBOB]

£4 for a can of beer
£5 for a pint
£15 bottle of wine
£20 bottle of whisky/brandy/port

Hopefully that would help. ;)

Double it and it might!!!!!;)

[tonkatojo]

Educaton as well as higher prices.

We are all taught maths right up to third year in High school but do we take that on board and remember it when we leave .............. you can only educate someone who is willing to be educated.:)

Your logic has left me Alice, I done/did more than 3 years maths in high school, secondary modern as it was in those days. And my teacher made sure I couldn't forget the basics. Different era's I suppose.

Still confused about your statement, are you on the sauce. LOL.

[tonkatojo]

I know... which is what I meant with this statement. I guess it wasn't clear.


I wasn't knocking your statement JEID, I was and do agree with you.

[Jeid]

No worries, a crossing of wires clearly :)

[Gizmo]

Alcohol, and it's abuse, is wrecking society, and it wrecks peoples health and relationships. It certainly has more cons than pros. And i'm not just saying that because i've been sober for nearly two years, i knew all that long before i stopped drinking, but i enjoyed getting pissed way too much to really care. My own personal abuse of alcohol pretty much ruined my life, for the last 6 months of 2007 i was pretty much an alcoholic, and i had a lot of demons because of it, my mental health was a mess, and on the last day that i went drinking i assaulted someone who had previously been part of a two man attack on myself, that assault cost me my job, and also 5 weeks of my life locked up in one of Her Majestys rancid hotels. I had become something i despised in others, so it was time to step away from the bottle before i hurt my family more than i already had. And i'm not alone, i've seen alcohol ruin the relationships and lives of so many people i know. It's not a fun thing to watch.

In December i will have been sober for two years, but i'm still living with the consequences of my drinking, and the bad decisions i made, i have a conviction hanging over me for another 5 1/2 years, that makes it damn near impossible to get a job, regardless of how much i have changed since then, and 18 years of heavy drinking have had a terrible effect on my memory, i'm sometimes as forgetful as someone in their 80's, and apart from my unfixable worn out knees, losing my memory is the most frustrating thing i have ever had to deal with, my mind just does not function as sharply as it did before 2007.

I doubt that setting a minimum price for alcohol will have any effect on the trouble it causes society or peoples health, it's too late for my generation, and even those in their 20's, the drinking culture has a firm grip of them, and it won't let go, no matter how expensive alcohol becomes. This country is drinking itself to an early grave, and if todays teenagers do not make some drastic changes to their lifestyles they are going to have incredibly short lives, they are already an obese generation through a total lack of exercise, and that, mixed with binge drinking, is a recipe for disaster.

We live in tough times, and the future is not bright, a lot of people drink to escape the harsh reality of life, i did it for years, but i'm so glad i got out when i did. A few years ago i just couldn't have imagined a life without alcohol, i would have said you were mad, and despite all the difficulties that life seems to be throwing my way, my life is 100% better off away from the demon drink. I have some fantastic fun filled memories from many brilliant drinking sessions, but i also have many dark memories that i'd much rather forget.

[crayola]

Good grief Gizmo, if you can write cogent stuff like that after all you've been through you must have been awesome beforehand!

[Alice in Blunderland]

Your logic has left me Alice, I done/did more than 3 years maths in high school, secondary modern as it was in those days. And my teacher made sure I couldn't forget the basics. Different era's I suppose.

Still confused about your statement, are you on the sauce. LOL.

My logic is that, unlike you ;) and ahem I :eek: with maths some of the kids dont give a hoot about what is being taught. They are educating the kids just now about teen pregnancy but the rate is still rising. If folks dont want to hear it they wont listen.

Wish I was on the sauce but I have to take one of the monsters into Wick shortly so no sauce for Alice............yet. :cool:

[tonkatojo]

Well done GIZMO, its a pity more would not catch on like you did, I gave up because I couldn't abide the headaches from it, that was in 1978. I never could drink much, before I was a nasty person, that's over with and I pity the youth of today because if they do not drink they are not in with the so called "in crowd" and image is everything to them. As I stated earlier there is a huge difference to my era and now, I know which I prefer.

[tonkatojo]

My logic is that, unlike you ;) and ahem I :eek: with maths some of the kids dont give a hoot about what is being taught. They are educating the kids just now about teen pregnancy but the rate is still rising. If folks dont want to hear it they wont listen.

Wish I was on the sauce but I have to take one of the monsters into Wick shortly so no sauce for Alice............yet. :cool:

I was not a perfect pupil in fact far from it but I knew how far to go with the teachers then, besides the blackboard duster was a heavy object when thrown, and with great accuracy. LOL.
I learnt more education when I joined the army, with even greater discipline, I loved it.
Pregnancy is abused by some to feather their nest or extort from the social system, I don't know what is the answer, well I do but the human rights brigade will be up in arms.

[Gizmo]

Good grief Gizmo, if you can write cogent stuff like that after all you've been through you must have been awesome beforehand!

Hahaha, not really, that post took me an hour to compose :lol: alcohol may have killed off many of my brain cells, but a life without alcohol has made me a lot more focused than i was before.

[joxville]

What about Buckfast Jox?

£15 per bottle

[joxville]

Edited to save space.
Alcohol, and it's abuse, is wrecking society, and it wrecks peoples health and relationships. It certainly has more cons than pros..............but i also have many dark memories that i'd much rather forget.

You are one of the lucky ones Gizmo that woke up to what you had become, sadly, for too many, the realisation is often too late. I saw a very intelligent man in a responsible job ruin his marriage and die from the effects of alcohol. You have my admiration in admitting your problem on an open forum and my support in having a better future that is alcohol free.

[Alice in Blunderland]

Pregnancy is abused by some to feather their nest or extort from the social system, I don't know what is the answer, well I do but the human rights brigade will be up in arms.

Make it cost them heavily as with alcohol and it would deter some ?

Human rights now I bet there was none of that when you were in school recieving the attention call from the blackboard duster. :lol:

[Tubthumper]

Go Gizmo. That is one of the most superb posts I have ever seen!

[Gizmo]

Edited to save space.

You are one of the lucky ones Gizmo that woke up to what you had become, sadly, for too many, the realisation is often too late. I saw a very intelligent man in a responsible job ruin his marriage and die from the effects of alcohol. You have my admiration in admitting your problem on an open forum and my support in having a better future that is alcohol free.

Cheers Jox, thanks for the kind words, all i need is for someone to give me a bloomin job and my life transformation will be complete :)

And thank you to everyone else for the kind words and good rep, reading back the post, i never knew i had a post like that in me :lol:

[tonkatojo]

Make it cost them heavily as with alcohol and it would deter some ?

Human rights now I bet there was none of that when you were in school recieving the attention call from the blackboard duster. :lol:

If there was, no one told my maths teacher, at least I am numerate and know right from wrong. :roll: sort of.

[cuddlepop]

Hahaha, not really, that post took me an hour to compose :lol: alcohol may have killed off many of my brain cells, but a life without alcohol has made me a lot more focused than i was before.

You'll also discover the person you were before the alcohol took hold.

That was a very "thoughtfull" post Gizmo,thanks for writting it down.:D

If alcohol was invented today it would be classed as an illegal substance but as its already here we have to as a society treat it with the respect it deserves and stop seeing it as "harmless".

Pricing it beyond the reach of irresponsible drinkers will not make them responsible nor will educating them.

Ask any addiction support worker, or someone who has walked in the shoes or footsteps what its like and they tell you the grip it has.:(

[Tubthumper]

You'll also discover the person you were before the alcohol took hold.
That's a very interesting point. But bearing in mind that me and most of my generation seem to have been at the boozing since we were 16 or so, it might be better to say
"You'll also discover the person you might have been, were it not for the alcohol."
This thread is starting to worry me...

[Gizmo]

That's a very interesting point. But bearing in mind that me and most of my generation seem to have been at the boozing since we were 16 or so, it might be better to say
"You'll also discover the person you might have been, were it not for the alcohol."
This thread is starting to worry me...

That is exactly what i was thinking.

[ShelleyCowie]

Im not a big drinker. Will have a morgans and coke every now and again in the house with my OH. Had one last night (yes just the one!)

Prices of alcohol dont bother me since i dont drink alot. Bought a bottle of morgans yesterday, 70cl bottle cost me £10.49, but the bottle we finished last night with one drink each lasted us 18 months at least! :eek:

Raise the prices, maybe it will make people appreciate the taste of the drink more than concentrating on the effect!

Being 21 i have been stereotyped a few times with people assuming i "hit the town" or "painted the town red" every saturday night, infact i really can not remember the last time i was drunk! Dont care either!

There is my say.

[youoldduffer]

I dont think raising the price will make too much of a diffrence when i was younger (same group as gizmo) we did drink a hellva lot and did some stupid things, but if one of us didn't have money to buy drink others did or it was supplied by parents, what am trying to say is we always found a way to get alcohol.

Just out of curiosity how many of us got their first taste of alcohol from their dad???.

[Gizmo]

what am trying to say is we always found a way to get alcohol.

Yeah, even if we brewed it ourselves mate :lol:, remember the JB rocketfuel?, potent stuff, 2 pints of that stuff was enough to floor the bravest of men, i think it was around 14% ABV, not the best tasting stuff, but it got the job done :eek:

[youoldduffer]

Yeah, even if we brewed it ourselves mate :lol:, remember the JB rocketfuel?, potent stuff, 2 pints of that stuff was enough to floor the bravest of men, i think it was around 14% ABV, not the best tasting stuff, but it got the job done :eek:

oh god that stuff tasted awful dont think we let the sugar turn into alcohol and thank god we didn't it was lethal stuff. I remember the bottles blowing their caps behind the couch JB's mum was not to pleased.

[Gizmo]

oh god that stuff tasted awful dont think we let the sugar turn into alcohol and thank god we didn't it was lethal stuff. I remember the bottles blowing their caps behind the couch JB's mum was not to pleased.

Haha, i don't think JB's mum has EVER been pleased, and last time i was there i couldn't help but think that it was like our very own version of the Heritage Centre :lol:, the house that time forgot, nothing has changed since the early 90's

But those days drinking there were the best drinking times of my life, what a laugh it was, sometimes 8 to 10 people crammed in JB's 10x8 bedroom getting blootered, i must scan and post a picture of the "Door Of Cheek" :lol:

[youoldduffer]

Yup thats very true his old bedroom is still the same. Man we could fit a lot of folk in that room. Sorry we're taking this thread off topic.

[Gizmo]

Yup thats very true his old bedroom is still the same. Man we could fit a lot of folk in that room. Sorry we're taking this thread off topic.

Nah, we're still on topic, basically, we brewed our own alcohol because we didn't have the money to buy a lot of it, and if the prices of pub/shop alcohol are raised too much, or even set a minimum level, it will just see a significant rise in homebrewing. The only thing that will make a change to the drinking culture in this country is to really educate future generations to the dangers of excessive consumption, and for there to be a significant improvement in the quality of life in this country, as while it remains bleak with little to look forward to, people will drink to escape reality.

[Margaret M.]

Powerful post, Gizmo! I hope you share your story again and again with those who need the inspiration. It is sad to see so many in Caithness, particularly young folks, drinking to excess.

[The Angel Of Death]

Think a lot of you will be suprised at the amount of people going down the home brew route now compared to a few years ago

Just to give you an idea google student brew to see the recipie and how easy it is to make and more importantly how cheap it is to do as well

[Loch not Lock]

I like a pint or a dram. In my younger days I indulged in regular 'binge drinking' sessions. However I have concerns that today's drinking habits seem to be wrecking society.
Scottish Government seems to be aiming for minimum prices for alcohol - do orgers think it will help?
A maximum price would make more sense. If the publican sells a nip for £1 that still means he is getting over £30 a bottle. Charging more than a quid should be illegal. Hopefully Lord Thurso agrees and brings it up in Parliament. Then we would get a Liberal Government!!!!!

[Loch not Lock]

A maximum price would make more sense. If the publican sells a nip for £1 that still means he is getting over £30 a bottle. Charging more than a quid should be illegal. Hopefully Lord Thurso agrees and brings it up in Parliament. Then we would get a Liberal Government!!!!!
Also maximum price for a pint of ale or cider ought to be 75 pence. Might get a bit of life in the pubs again!!!!!

[Loch not Lock]

Also maximum price for a pint of ale or cider ought to be 75 pence. Might get a bit of life in the pubs again!!!!!
And 50p for a small sherry!!!!!

[Tom Cornwall]

I thought it was against the law for publicans to serve some-one who is already drunk...if those young ones drink a load of stuff (cheaply bought in supermarkets) before they go out..why are they served in pubs or even allowed past the bouncers outside clubs...that's where the trouble lies...as someone said earlier, why should we, who like a bottle of lager watching the football or whatever, have to pay for something that can be fixed by the clubs and pubs behaving properly..and not serving people who are already drunk...