Booze Britain: The Alcohol #MUP Debate?

There is no doubt about it, we have to call time on the Booze Britain Culture however; the arguments around how best to tackle the issue rumble on ad infinitum. I suspect that will still be the case for many more years to come…

I don’t think many right-minded people would disagree, the negatives of excessive drinking are having a profound impact on our society. Our NHS see the impacts, our police and other emergency services are in constant combat against it and ultimately, many members of our society are suffering from it. The health and anti-social behaviour issues are myriad.

Nevertheless, some of the figures being bandied about on all sides of the arguments are not always what they seem. Take for instance the £2.7 billion price tag impact for the NHS in 2012, claimed by David Cameron as fact but found to be questionable (see Full Fact).

When the Government published their Alcohol Strategy, they emphasised the drain of alcohol abuse on our society. Central to that argument was the “overall cost of alcohol-related harm” which they placed at a staggering £21 billion a year to the UK economy.

Was that right? Investigations into the claim found that “Neither the Home Office nor the Department of Health were able to explain properly where the figures were from, and there is no obvious single point of contact to verify the original calculations” (see Full Fact).

Political spin on statistics aside. in the blog Representing the Mambo a self-professed ‘leftie’ alluded to her support for the MUP policy. A policy that was being put forward in 2011/12, but now appears now to have been shelved by David Cameron.

Obviously there are class issues and base political calculation at play and any minimum price would affect working class people disproportionately, but the solution is obvious. Drink less. The left shouldn’t be encouraging heavy alcohol consumption and siding with the drinks companies and their socially destructive agenda…(Supporting the Mambo)

In March this year there was a political U-Turn on the previous rhetoric and David Cameron wobbled on his minimum price for alcohol pledge. Despite the recent adoption of a similar policy in Scotland last year, the legality of the process is having a difficult birth due to an objection from Europe about its legality.

What about the costs/benefits analysis surrounding Minimum Alcohol Pricing?

The Full Fact website responded to the very same question (see here) however; there is also a growing body of research and evidence which suggests, many of the claims made in the past are simply tosh. Despite all the rhetoric from politicians, who want to be seen as proactive about the Booze Britain issue, the proposals for Minimum Unit Pricing won’t actually achieve the desired results it sets out to do.

The Government wants to set higher prices for alcohol. We think this will punish the responsible majority. Why should responsible drinkers pay more? (www.whyshouldwepaymore.co.uk)

Despite the Why Should We Pay More campaign actually being ‘the voice’ of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association, who obviously have a vested commercial interest in the matter, there are also a number of valid reasons why Government-set higher prices aren’t likely to cure the Booze Britain problem (see here).

SABMiller, one of the largest brewing organisations in the world (another vested interest), have also released poll results from YouGov which show that, contrary to the Government’s claims of a boost to the industry, a 45p minimum price for alcohol will turn people away from pubs (Download YouGov report PDF -0.48Mb).

The Institute for Fiscal Studies have also examined the significance of a minimum unit price for alcohol, especially relating to on and off-licence sales and concluded; “ it is unlikely that a minimum price would have much direct impact for on-licence (pub) prices” (see here).

It’s a valid factor that could have influenced a decisions by the chief executives of 12 pub chains, nightclub groups and brewers; they recently wrote to The Daily Telegraph, urging the Prime Minister to “stick to his guns”, saying that the proposed (MUP) measure would “save lives and protect great British pubs” (see here).

Despite all the UK-wide calls for minimum pricing by many politicians, medical professionals, health campaigners and people from both inside and outside the industry, it appears the battle over alcohol pricing is set to continue for some time yet. With all the controversy and divided opinion, the minimum unit pricing policy could be dropped all together!

But what of my views and opinions?

Those who’ve been here before may already know some of the answer to that question, at least in part. With upwards of forty years ‘booze’ experience, firstly as a purveyor, secondly as an enforcer and latterly as a purveyor again but throughout, always a fan of the enjoyment obtained from sensible drinking, I think you could say I’m more than qualified to comment.

The first observation is; the ‘Booze Britain’ problems we face today are as a direct result of the changing attitudes now imbedded in our society over several generations. Getting off your head on alcohol is no longer the side-effect of having a good time, it is the sole intention of many who drink, in particular our younger citizens.

The second major impact on the issue is this; with the advent of and predominance of pub-chain conglomerates within the licensed trade, provision of alcoholic beverages has become a major commercial concern. It is no longer the ‘cottage industry’ it once was, the halcyon days when pubs were the hub of our communities and also, the actual home of the majority of licensees and their families. And all that before we even start to consider the impacts of loss-leader booze sales in our supermarkets.

The final negative impact is this; for several decades we have seen a decline in any realistic proactive enforcement of our licensing laws. Add to that a (mostly) ineffective reactive response to today’s anti-social behavior, resulting from the after effects of too much alcohol, and we have some serious problems. Issues which then have a profoundly negative impact upon crime statistics and our health services.

It’s unlikely there will be a sea-change in any of these factors overnight, despite what politicians may think or desire. Although MUP may seem a sensible measure at face value, it is a facile and inadequate solution. It is also unlikely to ever result in the aims it is designed to achieve.

The price of booze isn’t the problem here, or the route cause of the issues we face. It’s the predominant public perception of the rights and wrongs of getting off your head, that and a devil-may-care attitude to the impacts of the aftermath on others.

There is no singular ‘quick fix’ for the ‘Booze Britain’ problems we now face, MUP certainly isn’t the magic key. Any return to the erstwhile era of simply enjoying a night out, without all the negative impacts, is likely to take a generation or more to fix!

Related articles

• David Cameron abandons plans for minimum alcohol price (telegraph.co.uk)
• Pubs demand minimum alcohol price (telegraph.co.uk)
• Minimum alcohol pricing could just work. It should be given a chance (guardian.co.uk)
• Government to shelve plans for minimum price on alcohol (independent.co.uk)
• David Cameron ‘ignoring compelling evidence’ that dearer alcohol would save lives (independent.co.uk)
• Calling time on the Booze Britain culture? (bankbabble.wordpress.com)
• Poll: Should there be a minimum price per unit of alcohol? (eadt.co.uk)
• Is cheaper beer a sign of muddled thinking? (bbc.co.uk)

Calling time on the Booze Britain culture?

Current Alcohol licensing laws of the United Kingdom were designed to regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol however; there is a plethora of widely available evidence which suggest these laws are actually failing us…

As in many other areas of the nation, a Teesside town is now considering calling time on late-night drinking. These plans are being made as a direct result of public and police concerns about alcohol-related crime (see here).

An Early Morning Restriction Order (EMRO) could be in force by August following talks with Cleveland Police…(bbc.co.uk)

But Hartlepool is not alone. Similar processes are being implemented across the land, a fact which makes it increasingly clear; our society wasn’t ready for the 24/7 ‘cafe culture’ idea. An ideal and proposal which I originally supported and one which was largely created by our current licensing laws, in particular the Licensing Act 2003.

In August last year Nightclubs in Norwich voluntarily agreed to call time on sales of alcohol in the early hours in a bid to cut crime and anti-social behaviour (see here). In a step aimed at a further reduction of the problems, Norwich council’s licensing committee have now approved plans to cut ‘permitted hours’ at premises in the area (see here).

Elsewhere in the UK, clubs and pubs in Northampton could be banned from selling alcohol between midnight and 06:00 (see here) and within the Thames Valley, a scheme to limit the sale of super strength lager could be coming to town centres in the area soon (see here).

It’s a sad state of affairs that our society wasn’t mature enough to make sensible use of a much-needed relaxation to the previous archaic licensing laws. Many have but not without negative impacts upon their health, our public services and our society as a whole.

With this lengthening night-time economy and the associated anti-social issues that go with often excessive drinking later into the night something had to give. The cost of policing and clear up operations alone have become a necessary but undesirable burden upon the ever-decreasing public purse.

This is why many authorities across the land have now been forced into utilising early morning alcohol restriction orders (EMROs) made under The Licensing Act 2003 (Early Morning Alcohol Restriction Orders) Regulations 2012.

Irrespective of any previously licensed ‘permitted hours’ under the act, an EMRO can enforce a temporary or permanent change to those hours. It can apply to any period on each day beginning at or after 12am and ending at or before 6am.  It does not have to apply on every day and can apply for different time periods on different days.

An EMRO can apply to the whole or any part of the licensing authority’s area.  The EMRO will apply to premises licences, club premises certificates and temporary event notices in relation to premises situated in the specified area. As previously mentioned, an EMRO can apply for a limited or unlimited period of time.  For example, an EMRO may
apply for a few weeks in relation to a specific event or apply for an indefinite period.

These controversial regulations, allowing EMROs (and an additional late-night levy) came into force in October 2012 however; some elements of the licensed trade have concerns regarding their application (see here). Many in the trade are concerned about the impact upon their livelihoods but I would ask; why worry if you operate your business and premises correctly? The sale of alcohol is not just a money-making opportunity, it also holds moral obligations to the community and our society.

The Government claim these measures will help pay the nation’s estimated £11bn a year bill for alcohol-related crime and disorder. The Home Office have suggested that around £17M per annum will be realised in England and Wales, a drop in the alcohol ocean perhaps but I suppose every little helps?

At this point in my observations I resemble Jake the Peg, as I actually have a foot in all three main camps of the arguments associated to this issue. As a drinker myself, I appreciated the relaxed opportunity created by the ‘cafe culture’ idea and subsequent legislation. I seldom used those ‘opportunities’ but they were there if I wanted to. Being employed to serve alcohol to those who drink, I understand some of the trade concerns although I don’t agree with many of them.

Finally, having spent all my adult life in and around pubs, thirty years of which was spent dealing with the after effects of excessive drinking, associated antisocial behaviour and public disorder, I can confirm these problems are more widespread now than ever before, especially (but not exclusively) amongst the young.

The licensed trade must shoulder its share of responsibility in trying to reverse these trends however; it does appear that the more traditional community pubs are being tarnished by the alcohol retail methods of supermarkets, along with the larger pub-chain premises and nightclubs. Usually there is a distinct difference. It appears that many see the Swiss idea to nip a similar problem in the bud as a step too far?

A growing trend among Swiss towns and villages to introduce curfews for the under-16s is causing anger and frustration among the country’s teenagers…(bbc.co.uk)

Sadly, if the only way to curtail many of the alcohol related problems we see today is the EMRO then so be it. The downsizing of public sector services, particularly within enforcement and health, coupled with an emptying public purse means; we simply can’t allow the cost of clearing up this mess to continue any longer!

Related articles

• Calling time on 24-hour boozing (hartlepoolmail.co.uk)
• Region’s alcohol impact revealed (bbc.co.uk)
• Evaluating the Impact of Flexible Alcohol Trading Hours on Violence: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis (plosone.org)
• Excess drinking ‘is underestimated’ (bbc.co.uk)
• Many more Britons drinking harmfully than thought, survey suggests (guardian.co.uk)
• Alcohol pricing flawed, say officials (telegraph.co.uk)

The Don’t Drink and Drive Message!

I saw the following message on Facebook. I don’t usually circulate chain messages that appear in my social media pages however; if the following prevents just one person from getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, whilst unfit to do so because of drink (or drugs), it has to have been worthwhile…

I was walking around in a Big Bazar store shopping, when I saw a Cashier talking to a boy couldn’t have been more than 5 or 6 years old.

The Cashier said, ‘I’…m sorry, but you don’t have enough money to buy this doll. Then the little boy turned to the cashier and asked: are you sure I don’t have enough money?”

The cashier counted his cash once again and replied: ”You know that you don’t have enough money to buy the doll, my dear.” The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand.

Finally, I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give this doll to. ‘It’s the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much . I wanted to Gift her for her BIRTHDAY.

I have to give the doll to my mommy so that she can give it to my sister when she goes there.’ His eyes were so sad while saying this. ‘My Sister has gone to be with God.. Daddy says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister…”

My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said: ‘I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until I come back from the mall.’ Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where he was laughing. He then told me ‘I want mommy to take my picture with her so my sister won’t forget me.’ ‘I love my mommy and I wish she doesn’t have to leave me, but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister.’ Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly.

I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy. ‘Suppose we check again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll?”

‘OK’ he said, ‘I hope I do have enough.’ I added some of my money to his with out him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough for the doll and even some spare money.

The little boy said: ‘Thank you God for giving me enough money!’

Then he looked at me and added, ‘I asked last night before I went to sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll, so that mommy could give It to my sister. He heard me!” ‘I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn’t dare to ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose. My mommy loves white roses.’

I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I started. I couldn’t get the little boy out of my mind.

Then I remembered a local news paper article two days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a truck, who hit a car occupied by a young woman and a little girl. The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-sustaining machine, because the young woman would not be able to recover from the coma. Was this the family of the little boy?

Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the news paper that the young woman had passed away.. I couldn’t stop myself as I bought a bunch of white roses and I went to the funeral home where the body of the young woman was exposed for people to see and make last wishes before her burial.

She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest. I left the place, teary-eyed, feeling that my life had been changed for ever…

The love that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is still, to this day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second, a drunk driver had taken all this away from him.

Simple…DO NOT DRINK & DRIVE !!!

The value of a man or woman resides in what he or she gives, not in what they are capable of receiving!