It isn't because it's taboo; it is because children on the continent don't see adults staggering out of pubs at 2pm. They don't see their parents shipping them off to their grandparents every weekend so they can go out and get drunk. If we allowed children in this country to drink at 14 (for example), we'd increase our problems. It's a cultural thing - people of all ages drink to get drunk, something which doesn't happen a lot in other countries. Children witness this, and it influences them.
Cut-price supermarket booze to be banned to stamp out binge drinking
- Thread starter Muffin`
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It isn't because it's taboo; it is because children on the continent don't see adults staggering out of pubs at 2pm. They don't see their parents shipping them off to their grandparents every weekend so they can go out and get drunk. If we allowed children in this country to drink at 14 (for example), we'd increase our problems. It's a cultural thing - people of all ages drink to get drunk, something which doesn't happen a lot in other countries. Children witness this, and it influences them.
Soldato
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I love these threads, somehow alcohol goes from being a quick beer in the pub with mates to being the most dangerious thing in Britain today.
Alcahol is totally besides the point anyway, whats needed is educating the young about alcohol and the good/bad things about it, and some sort of solution to the current social 'breakdown' problems. Without being too right wing about it, ive got mates from working class families and mates from middle class families, and i know exactly which are more likely to develop problems with drink. Not through any fault of their own (im not Hitler) but simply because of their circamstances and upbringing.
Alcahol is totally besides the point anyway, whats needed is educating the young about alcohol and the good/bad things about it, and some sort of solution to the current social 'breakdown' problems. Without being too right wing about it, ive got mates from working class families and mates from middle class families, and i know exactly which are more likely to develop problems with drink. Not through any fault of their own (im not Hitler) but simply because of their circamstances and upbringing.
I didnt say we should lower drinking to 14, I was saying that we need to get rid of this image. Education is the key, however I think we should perhaps allow drinking with parents with meals more well known as not many people know this. This will in turn allow kids to drink alcohol with parent supervison, and we need to stop supermarkets seeling alcohol to under 18's. Personally I believe a one strike and you cant sell alcohol rule would scare a lot of supermarkets into action.
I think you must be making an assumption that this doesnt already happen?
I know a lot of people who will let there kids drink, to a sensible level. If they abuse this, then they loose that privlage.
Raising the drinking age to 21 wouldnt make a huge differance, as people already dont stick to the 18 limit. What raising the limit would do, would be to make it easier to recognise when people are drinking under the legal age.
e.g. shift the current drinking age from 14-15, up to 17-18.
Are the general public of this country to be trusted to do the right thing though? If you lower it to 14 then it gives Mr and Mrs Chav family even more reason to not give a **** about what their kids are up to. "It's legal innit"
There is a hard core of people out there that don't give a ****, expecting them to act responsibly in the current climate is a non starter.
There is a hard core of people out there that don't give a ****, expecting them to act responsibly in the current climate is a non starter.
Soldato
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This is ridiculous. I hate our government. The people should be allowed to chose whether things get changed, not some jumped up idiots with posh titles who think they are gods amongst men.
Soldato
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Why should a minority be able to change things for the majority of the country?
Why is alcohol a luxury? We should be allowed to do what we want.Why should a minority be able to change things for the majority of the country?
You're still not getting this "government", "democracy" thing are you?
Why should a minority be able to change things for the majority of the country?
minority rules ;]
The single biggest cost in the country to longterm healthcare, emergency healthcare, police time and medical time is not a minority.
Also, i'd like to see someone here suggest some feasable ways to let half the population do what they like, whilst simaltaneously policing the other half (sorry, the minority) in to not binge drinking or consuming excessive alcohol and thus causing damage to themselves, others and the environment around them.
you cant treat some people differently to others. it makes them angry. look at the muslim issue we have, and how angry people get about that.
It's hilarious people saying "the minority are ruining it". You're making yourselves victims. Like babies throwing toys out of prams.
Also, i'd like to see someone here suggest some feasable ways to let half the population do what they like, whilst simaltaneously policing the other half (sorry, the minority) in to not binge drinking or consuming excessive alcohol and thus causing damage to themselves, others and the environment around them.
you cant treat some people differently to others. it makes them angry. look at the muslim issue we have, and how angry people get about that.
It's hilarious people saying "the minority are ruining it". You're making yourselves victims. Like babies throwing toys out of prams.
Im not asking you to ban alcohol so your car example is moot. However, i will respond to it with:
"No but you can enforce speed limits and fine people when they defy them. ths reducing the number of people who speed" (regardless of how much it is reduced)
You can increase the cost of alcohol, thus reducing the amount of people who can afford to take it to extremes.
Guns dont kill people, people do. But why give them guns in the first place?
It's a disgrace, and if you ask me doing that, and it's stupid making the age 21.
Think about it, people from the age of say 14 upwards are going to want to go drinking.
Problem is, generally severely underage drinkers have no experience with it and then try to out do their mates, getting way to drunk.
You raise the age you're just creating more of a problem, alcohol is a good thing.
Getting drunk once in a while is a good thing to.
I wish labour would stop canvasing with this sensationalist bull****. Look at what our government is actually doing for the people, taking away rights, taxing us to hell, and letting themselves be pushed about by america.
Makes me sick to my gut when people get sucked into the trap.
Think about it, people from the age of say 14 upwards are going to want to go drinking.
Problem is, generally severely underage drinkers have no experience with it and then try to out do their mates, getting way to drunk.
You raise the age you're just creating more of a problem, alcohol is a good thing.
Getting drunk once in a while is a good thing to.
I wish labour would stop canvasing with this sensationalist bull****. Look at what our government is actually doing for the people, taking away rights, taxing us to hell, and letting themselves be pushed about by america.
Makes me sick to my gut when people get sucked into the trap.
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It is pretty self evident that the existence of speeding fines makes at least some of us stick to the limits when we otherwise wouldn't.
Yes i have a whole database of every speeding ticket ever issued over the last 15 years, thus beign able to track trends in volumes, on a USB key in my back pocket.
Are you telling me that because i have no figures for that one tiny thing, that there are 0 people in the world that think "hell, i better not speed, i dont want to pay a fine and possibly lose my licence!"
Please, try addressing the rest of my statement, and not focusing on the one thing you think you can get an edge on.
Soldato
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Morba said:
The fact that you usually do it with friends, and you have fun?
some people might, but overall is it going down?
It was a silly thing to say unless you can back it up though, I was hoping you were going to provide figures for the last few years that would show less speeding fines being sent out given the rise in speed cameras.
Have you tried it?