Should the sale of alcholic drinks be further restricted in the UK?

Question

Don't get me wrong, I like a few drinks on a night out and have been known to get drunk, but I was wondering....having visited a country in Europe that has severely restricted the sale of spirits and heavily taxed beer sales (to a point where they are merely a treat now and then) and seen such a different culture with people in their daily life.... it made me wonder whether such a move could ever happen in the UK?

Thinking about the savings in the Health service not to mention the populations health improvements as a whole, the police being able to tackle real crime rather than just the anti-social / drunken problems and generally just a more desirable atmosphere for everyone.

I'm in no way suggesting prohibition or anything like that, say it would be socially acceptable to have a glass or two of wine with a meal in a restaurant .... if the UK wants more of a cafe culture, would this not be the way to go?

Who knows.... such a move may even make me lose this darn beer belly!

OK, I think people are slightly missing the point judging by some of the answers so far. Yes, we know the Brits are known for their love of drink but that doesn't neccessarily mean that its right and we all should indulge too far on an all too often basis.

10 years ago, who could see a smoking ban coming... yet lets look at what has happened ....if you could travel back in time and walk into a Working Mans club (yes...no women allowed) and stand up and say, OK tomorrow smoking is banned....would they believe you, would you leave alive?

So, if your country had to make a change to a culture to solve many problems in society how would you do it? Maybe as a start, education needs to change..... maybe some Social Responsibility Classes from the age of 5 through to 16 years?

Hmm, not sure where you get your figures for Finland from, but according to my sources Estonia and Hungary are the highest for Suicides. Maybe there is a link and maybe not, the issue you raise is a mental health one, not something that Alcohol cures, it simply represses it until they take the plunge as it were.

If its only a cultural thing that needs to be solved....how do you do it? What would be the logical thing to do?

Another issue is, as Alcohol is a drug, in effect a poison to humans is it not a privilege rather than a right to have access to it?

Half of people may have to dictate to the other half if people drag their feet over issues such as this, I'm sure that over 50% of people that have been affected by anti-social behaviour would argue that alcohol had played a major part in what they had experienced. It is a pity that what began as a minority problem experienced by few has now grown into a bigger issue for people.

There has to be alternatives to banning or restricting alcohol sales, and everyone is too quick to say, no, its our rights to have it.... but it doesn't solve the problems in saying that. Who's rights are infriged when their property is damaged on a weekly basis, outside their own front door because of drunks? Who's rights are infringed when a partner gets a drunken kick or a punch? Ultimately, why should the people on the receiving end of this pay for the drunks?

Answer 1

yes we should be more healthy like europeans.
There are several scientific reasons for the prohibition of consumption of intoxicants i.e. alcohol. The maximum number of deaths in the world related to any one particular cause is due to the consumption of alcohol. Millions of people die every year only because of intake of alcohol. I need not go into the details of all the ill-effects of alcohol since most of them are commonly known. Below is a simple list of few of the alcohol related illnesses:

Cirrhosis of Liver is the most well known alcohol associated disease.

Others are Cancer of Oesophagus, Cancer of Head and Neck, Cancer of Liver (Hepatoma), Cancer of Bowel, etc.

Oesophagitis, Gastritis, Pancreatitis and Hepatitis are linked with alcohol consumption.

Cardiomyopathy, Hypertension, Coronary Artherosclerosis, Angina and Heart Attacks are linked with heavy alcohol intakes.

Strokes, Apoplexy, Fits and different types of Paralysis are linked with alcohol intake.

Peripheral Neuropathy, Cortical Atrophy, Cerebellar Atrophy are well-known syndromes caused by alcohol consumption.

Wernicke – Korsakoff syndrome with amnesia of recent events, confabulations and retainment of memory to old events with different types of paralysis are mainly due to thiamine deficiency due to excessive alcohol intake.

Beriberi and other deficiencies are not uncommon among alcoholics. Even Pellagra occurs in alcoholics.

Delerium Tremens is a serious complication that may occur during recurrent infection of alcoholics or post operatively. It also occurs during abstention as a sign of withdrawal effect. It is quite serious and may cause death even if treated in well equipped centres.

Numerous Endocrine Disorders have been associated with alcoholism ranging from Myxodema to Hyperthyroidism and Florid Cushing Syndrome.

Hematological ill effects are long and variable. Folic acid deficiency, however, is the most common manifestation of alcoholic abuse resulting in Macrocytic Anemia. Zeive’s syndrome is a triad of Hemolytic Anemia, Jaundice and Hyperlipaedemia that follows alcoholic binges.

Thrombocytopenia and other platelet abnormalities are not rare in alcoholics.

The commonly used tablet metronidazole (flagyl) interacts badly with alcohol.

Recurrent infection is very common among chronic alcoholics. The resistance to disease and the immunological defense system are compromised by alcohol intake.

Chest infections are notorious in alcoholics. Pneumonia, Lung Abcess, Emphysema and Pulmonary Tuberculosis are all common in alcoholics.

During acute alcoholic intoxication, the drunk person usually vomits, the cough reflexes which are protective are paralysed. The vomitus thus easily pass to the lung causing Pneumonia or Lung Abscess. Occasionally it may even cause suffocation and death.

The ill effects of alcohol consumption on women deserves special mention. Females are more vulnerable to alcohol-related Cirrhosis than men. During pregnancy alcohol consumption has a severe detrimental effect on the foetus. Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is being recognised more and more in the medical profession.

Skin diseases are also related to alcohol indulgence.

Eczema, Alopecia, Nail Dystrophy, Paronychia (infection around the nails) and Angular Stomatitis (inflammation of the angle of the mouth) are common diseases among alcoholics.

Answer 2

I would like to know what country. Finland or Norway perhaps? I do know that back in 1978 alcohol was hard to come by in those countries, and was expensive if you could get hold of it, especially spirits. What we do need is for parents to take full responsibility for teaching their kids by example that alcohol can be a very dangerous thing to use. It could also become a science lesson so that the kids can actually see what alcohol does to their brains. A lot of kids are hardened drinkers by the time they reach 18 and once they can do it legally then look out, here comes the drunk. I don't believe further restriction is necessary but I do think education at a very early age is one way to combat the problem.

Answer 3

March 14, 1994

Answer 4

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Answer 5

I don't think so. Everyone has the right to a jolly good hangover without guilt. Besides, a heck of a thing to suggest just before Christmas and New Year's.
Agreed, though, it might cut back a bit on police being tied up with drunken probs and drink driving.
"Maybe Next year....The cheeky Lad"

Answer 6

Are youtalking about Finland? You know they have the highest suicide rate in Europe?

It's a cultural thing. Alcohol is much cheaper and certainly as redily available in France or Germany. Britain alone as far as I know, has a drink to get drunk mentality.

Answer 7

I can't see anything like that ever happening in the UK. Brits are known for their love of alcohol and being able to down a few pints.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

we are losing our rights one by one soon enough without you giving then more ideas you are right in saying about years ago if you walked into a working mans club back then they had back bone that's whats wrong to day we give in to easily why should one half of the country have the right to tell the other half what to do and get away with it so easy.

Answer 10

Enjoy your beer belly, life is too short....