Binge Drinking

[The Pepsi Challenge]

Maureen MacMillan MSP Supports New Bill to 'Call Time' on Binge Drinking

A new Licensing Bill has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament designed to tackle binge drinking and give communities more of say on the granting of alcohol licences.

Maureen Macmillan MSP is backing the Bill, which also sets a requirement for all licensees to operate on a 'no-proof, no-sale' basis to stop underage drinking.

Welcoming the publication of the Bill Mrs Macmillan said, "I am delighted that this Bill has been introduced to Parliament. These are the first major changes to Scotland's licensing laws for over 25 years and it is critical that we respond to the needs of our local communities and tackle the antisocial behaviour that is often associated with alcohol.

Throughout the consultation process people from across Scotland said that they wanted more of a say in the granting of licences. I believe that giving local people a voice before new licences are granted is an essential reform, and I am glad that the proposals for Local Licensing Forums are included in the Bill. There will also be a far more extensive complaints procedure introduced, including assessments on overprovision and the ability to block licences on this basis."

The MSP is also supporting moves to tackle antisocial behaviour and underage drinking. She added "Recent figures have also shown a shocking rise in the number of young teenagers drinking alcohol. That is why I am solidly behind the requirement for all licensed premises to operate on a 'no proof, no sale' basis.

I'm also glad that the Bill will crackdown on irresponsible drinks promotions, which encourage binge drinking and so often lead to drunken antisocial behaviour on our streets. We need to cut the link between alcohol and crime, and I believe that this new Bill is a significant step in the right direction. Constituent's can be assured that I will be supporting these measures as they pass through Parliament."


If you can manage to read that, what do you make of it?

For me, personally, I'm rather selfish on the subject. In Edinburgh, the city where I live, the average pint costs anywhere between £2.70-£3.20. I don't earn vasts amount of money, but I do like to socialise with friends at least once a week. Thing is, I can only afford four beers before I'm fleeced.

I don't mind pubs doing away with cheap bevvy - you know, the 4pm-6pm buy 2 for 1 deals. However, if all pubs reduced the prices of their beer to something more sensible i.e. £2 a pint, it would be better for all concerned. Well, for a guy in his late 20s living in the city on a pittance anyway.

How about you?

[gleeber]

I think this is going to become a hot potato in years to come a bit like fox hunting is now with perhaps strong calls to change the laws on drinking alcohol.
Mrs Macmillans support for the bill paves the way for more authoritarian measurse to be taken when dealing with alcohol. You can be sure if there a vote to be won a politician will be there. :D
One thing is for sure, something needs to be done.
Town centres and city centres can be intimidating places on nights when theres a lot of drinking going on. Weve all seen the city centre battles on close curcit television. Its awful.
On the other hand there are many people who enjoy and saviour a wee dram or a glass of wine. Nothing wrong with that.
Its going to take an awful lot more than the measures covered by this bill to change the culture of alcohol but i think ultimately either it will be banned, or altenatively, people have a more sensable attitude towards cannabis use. Alcohol needs competition in the mind altering business.
Have a trial run in cafes run in the same fashion as pubs are now with strict laws governing sale and heavy penalties for people who overstep the mark whilst stoned on dope. Apparently cannabis creates a peaceful easy feeling. :eek: Maybe a little bit o dope and a little bit o booze wid create a balance on the city streets on a Saturday night and they would all go to sleep after they got drunk.
Maybe it wouldnt make a difference to the city streets and although I feel a little uneasy about the idea I recall the social democrats had some policy regarding talks on legalising cannabis if they ever came to power. Where does John Thurso stand on the matter?
Whatever happens something fundamental has to change.

[kenimac1]

Another classic case of attacking the symptom and not the cause because its the easy option. Binge drinking does not cause antisocial behaviour. The cause is the irresponsible and uncontrolled attitudes of certain sectors of society.
Another example is the 'speed kills' campaign. Excess speed does not cause accidents althougfh it does make the results much worse. The cause of accidents is poor driving but it's much easier to hammer speweding than to address the real problem.