Home News Columnists Ken Oxley

We’ll all pay the price of booze price hike

Mar 8 2009 by Ken Oxley, Sunday Sun

THE big idea North of the border is to hit Rab C Nesbitt where it really hurts . . . in the pocket.

And I’m guessing it’s only a matter of time before Scotland’s whizzo scheme to set a minimum charge per unit of alcohol gets Westminster’s backing too.

But the drawback with this plan is that is doesn’t only target problem drinkers who create a nuisance in city centres and on street corners, it affects us all.

There’s no denying that anti-social behaviour caused by binge drinking is a huge problem in many areas.

Venture into a city centre on any weekend and you’re likely to see out-of-control people falling over in the street, pools of vomit, urine trails and, quite possibly, drink-fuelled punch-ups.

But will increasing the price of alcohol knock sense into the dimwits who go out on an evening with the sole intention of getting bladdered? I doubt it.

Admittedly, it might curb the behaviour of some. But, at best, this scattergun approach would only lead to a modest reduction in binge drinking. The real problem drinkers would carry on regardless.

Surely there are better, more carefully-targetted, approaches that could be taken to reduce drunkenness in city centres.

Banning the type of promotions that encourage binge drinking, such as two-for-one offers and £1 a pint deals, would be a start.

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