For years now there has been two responses by government to a percieved social problem either ban it or tax it. Neither works.
U-Turn on minimum alcohol price
- Thread starter girasol
- Start date
For years now there has been two responses by government to a percieved social problem either ban it or tax it. Neither works.
Super strong beers are probably harder on a person both physically and maybe mentally than either heroin or crack, but raising the price of super strength lager isn't going to stop people from sipping from the black can. Plus, when you look at the price of a can of super, it works out about the same per unit as 5% beer, it's just that people like the "hit" from 9% beer.
girasol
Addicted to handstands!
When you consider that some (often cheap) wines are 13%, it makes you wonder whether this is a class thing
edit: although I am aware the price minimum would affect wine too, just wasn't mentioned by the 'charities' quoted.
coley
Well-Known Member
One of the things they supposedly want to target is 'binge drinking' yet from what I seen of it,it's usually tossers in pubs lining up to hoy lines of shots down their necks that causes the majority of problems in this area.
And restricting the strength of lagers, beer and cider would help,but as, already said, 13% cheap wine is readily available
And restricting the strength of lagers, beer and cider would help,but as, already said, 13% cheap wine is readily available
bi0boy
Power User
They could reduce the tax on lower alcohol versions of drinks and increase it on higher alcohol versions. For example, beer would be cheapened if it was below 4% and expensified if it was more than 5%.
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
You've got it wrong, they should make crack and brown *cheaper* of course.
I think you're forgetting that the poshos in charge generally drink quite strong alcohol compared to beer, even strong beer. And 5% isn't that strong.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Alcoholic drinks are already taxed according to strength.
They could, of course, just leave it the fuck alone and stop exploiting drinkers.
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
I think there's an element of 'preventing fun amongst the poor' as well. After all only the well off have worked hard enough to have money, so only they deserve to get pissed up...
bi0boy
Power User
Perhaps not to the correct degree.
Yes I am sure drinkers are being repressed by the system. Perhaps they should hold a protest march or something.
DotCommunist
So many particulars. So many questions.
if you could get five tins of ordinary strength lager for a bin lid nothing would even get done. We'd be merrily tanning five cans in a lunch hour and england would fall.
coley
Well-Known Member
If its binge drinkers they want sorted,arrest them when they get up to their 'harmless fun' such as pissing and vomiting in doorways and gardens, smashing the high st up etc, and the next morning have them scrubbing said high st with toothbrushes
And just leave them who like a drink alone.
And just leave them who like a drink alone.
gosub
~#
except when they dished out a tot of rum a day, we ruled the waves - only got rid of it when parliament was full of people, like me, who have never tried working in a force 5 in the artic. Don't think my Dad ever landed on a carrier entirely sober, but with an attrition rate of almost 38% you needed to take the edge off
_angel_
.
It is a class thing however, wine is no longer as solely middle/ upper class as it used to be. More people drink wine than they used to do.When you consider that some (often cheap) wines are 13%, it makes you wonder whether this is a class thing
It might affect some of the 3 for a tenner deals but more often than not even a cheapish bottle of wine is at the £4-£4.50 mark and probably already on the/ above the minimum unit pricing or not far off it.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Did I say repressed? No, I said exploited, and by a regressive duty that hits the poorest most.Yes I am sure drinkers are being repressed by the system. Perhaps they should hold a protest march or something.
bi0boy
Power User
Following what suggested, most of them would end up paying less.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Here's what I said last time we did this:
Minimum pricing adds an additional layer to this by making people buying cheaper booze pay artificially high margins to the shops.
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
They just don't want you sober...I always knew my comment on here about prising K Cider from my cold dead hands would force the government into submission<cracks open a can to celebrate>
I always knew my comment on here about prising K Cider from my cold dead hands would force the government into submission
Tell you what, I said more or less exactly the same thing about corn beef a couple of years ago - I was at it, all blithe "it'll never happen" bluster - "If Tony Blair's serious about making life on benefits a less attractive option he needs to increase the price of corn beef. " Now look at it, £1.54 a tin. If that sacred cow can be slaughtered, I genuinely fear for the future.
Right there there with the worst things Labour did, that, IMO
CAMRA are dead set against it
Click that link for more info/links -- including the petition -- please add your name to this!!
And to the (separate) lobby your MP bit (might just be worth adding to the shedloads of hassle they'll be getting on this, ahead of the Budget).
TBH I think the beer duty escalator is more of a real issue than minimum pricing.
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
I think they should have a beer duty escalator in meatspace instead of finance. The further you make it up a really long escalator before falling over the less you pay.
Seems fair.
A de-escalator, then? 
coley
Well-Known Member
Something does have to be done about gangs of drunken young men who terrorise well known English cities;
If ever there was the perfect target for a 36 mills grenade,thats it, not Boris though
What about Pulse? Christ that was/is evil stuff.
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