The UK's drink problem....
Just some thoughts/observations:
Where I live, alcohol is very strongly controlled and very highly taxed. It is claimed that the alcohol consumption per capita is one of the lowest in Europe. However, the statistics do not take into account illegal import (very easy and widespread) and "homemade" spirits (rampant in the countryside). SO, actually, the goverment has lost control of what its citizens are drinking by making it so expensive and difficult to purchase.
Also, making alcohol expensive and difficult to obtain is unfair to those responsible drinkers, and there are many, who just want to enjoy a good bottle of wine on a Saturday evening. Is it fair to punish them and make them suffer because a minority of the population -- like you and me -- have a problem controlling our alcohol intake?
Advertising for alcohol is also forbidden here. This I believe is a very good thing. I cannot see any benefits from advertising alcohol whatsoever (except for the money the advertising companies rake in, and presumably the taxes they pay on that income, which I'm certain is not enough to cover the health costs stemming from alcohol.)
Education is of course very important. Also, changing the perception of drinking as something to do often and to intoxication into something to do rarely and in moderation. The perception of smoking has been changed over most of the western world in the past couple decades. My children think smoking is disgusting and dirty-- not cool and elegant, as past generations did. Smokers have to stand outside in the cold to get their "fix". This is the image our children see of smokers... hunched over, freezing, desperately puffing on their "cancer sticks". I think they will have a much easier time to resist smoking than drinking.
I don't know. I don't have any answers. I just think image and education are more important than access.
One last thing. I think governements and the health care community in general should take more responsibility for those that do become addicted to anything, and follow up on the latest science and research to help them get rid of their addictions. It should not be that only the rich have access to the latest progress in "curing" people, while the rest go either treated by old-fashioned, outdated, ineffective methods.... or just untreated. As long as it is such a stigma to be addicted to alcohol, many people will go untreated or put off the treatment they need for too long.
Just some thoughts/observations:
Where I live, alcohol is very strongly controlled and very highly taxed. It is claimed that the alcohol consumption per capita is one of the lowest in Europe. However, the statistics do not take into account illegal import (very easy and widespread) and "homemade" spirits (rampant in the countryside). SO, actually, the goverment has lost control of what its citizens are drinking by making it so expensive and difficult to purchase.
Also, making alcohol expensive and difficult to obtain is unfair to those responsible drinkers, and there are many, who just want to enjoy a good bottle of wine on a Saturday evening. Is it fair to punish them and make them suffer because a minority of the population -- like you and me -- have a problem controlling our alcohol intake?
Advertising for alcohol is also forbidden here. This I believe is a very good thing. I cannot see any benefits from advertising alcohol whatsoever (except for the money the advertising companies rake in, and presumably the taxes they pay on that income, which I'm certain is not enough to cover the health costs stemming from alcohol.)
Education is of course very important. Also, changing the perception of drinking as something to do often and to intoxication into something to do rarely and in moderation. The perception of smoking has been changed over most of the western world in the past couple decades. My children think smoking is disgusting and dirty-- not cool and elegant, as past generations did. Smokers have to stand outside in the cold to get their "fix". This is the image our children see of smokers... hunched over, freezing, desperately puffing on their "cancer sticks". I think they will have a much easier time to resist smoking than drinking.
I don't know. I don't have any answers. I just think image and education are more important than access.
One last thing. I think governements and the health care community in general should take more responsibility for those that do become addicted to anything, and follow up on the latest science and research to help them get rid of their addictions. It should not be that only the rich have access to the latest progress in "curing" people, while the rest go either treated by old-fashioned, outdated, ineffective methods.... or just untreated. As long as it is such a stigma to be addicted to alcohol, many people will go untreated or put off the treatment they need for too long.
c: :heart:
Comment