Binge Drinkers, only a UK problem?
Posted by: Geoff P on 07 June 2004
Saw Panorama last night. Basically it showed Nottingham as a town with 300 bars right next to each other, a population of predominantly binge drinkers, both men and woman, who have the disposable income to support it, so will never stop, and a Police/ casualty response group who stood no chance of dealing with a problem, which secretly OK for the Acohol providers, who public claim they ARE trying to do something to help reduce or stop it.
Basically not a place to be out in after dark.
Is this a one off or is it typically of most UK towns??
Is it also symptomatic in other european countrys or not??
GEOFF
Listening every day planning to "not fade away"
Basically not a place to be out in after dark.
Is this a one off or is it typically of most UK towns??
Is it also symptomatic in other european countrys or not??
GEOFF
Listening every day planning to "not fade away"
Posted on: 09 June 2004 by Steve G
quote:
Originally posted by JeremyD:
I wouldn't dream of going anywhere on foot at night in a British city.
I would in Edinburgh because it's my home patch (and it's generally not bad although there are a couple of problem areas), however I'd definitely be more cautious in a city I didn't know as well.
The safest city I've lived in for wandering about a night was definitely Hong Kong as there very rarely any trouble (in 2 years living there I don't recall seeing any at all, and I used to go out a lot), even with the Brits and even when the rugby sevens were on.
Posted on: 09 June 2004 by JohanR
quote:
The problem with Swedes is that Viking blood, one or two horns of beer and they are off looting and pillaging, which unfortunately they do in England and not Sweden
If I have understood it correctly, it was the Danes that troubled you Brits. Swedes went eastward, started up Russia and became security staff to the emperor in Constantinople. We are nice and responsible people!
BTW. Last night on the telly there was leading politicians being interviewed about Sweden having to lower it's alcohol taxes because of the competition from abroad. For you who don't know, in Sweden you can only buy your booze in shops owned and controlled bye the state, called 'Systembolaget' (and to be even more safe that nothing goes out of control, the 'Systembolaget' is headed by the prime ministers wife! Writing this made me suddenly think of the Marcos era in the Phillipines...). Well, back to the politicians and tax cuts. They have been interviewed before on the subject, the difference this time was that they didn't deny it was coming!
JohanR
Posted on: 09 June 2004 by MarkEJ
I saw the Panorama in question, and what they portrayed seemed indistinguishable from Bristol City Centre on a Friday or Saturday after about 9pm, which while slightly better on weekdays is still pretty unpleasant, and these days not somewhere one would go without very good reason at these times.
It seems to me that the problem is not booze per se, but the attitude people have to it. If licensing hours were going to be abolished, then the time to do it would have been 10 years ago, IMHO. Now is far too late -- the culture of abuse is entrenched, and removing licensing hours entirely would simply extend the problem over a greater part of the day/week. It seems to me that, like other drugs, the problem is now such that the law should be formulated with the primary aim of protecting non-abusers from the results of abuse rather than abusers from themselves. This may not be popular, of course.
Best;
Mark
It seems to me that the problem is not booze per se, but the attitude people have to it. If licensing hours were going to be abolished, then the time to do it would have been 10 years ago, IMHO. Now is far too late -- the culture of abuse is entrenched, and removing licensing hours entirely would simply extend the problem over a greater part of the day/week. It seems to me that, like other drugs, the problem is now such that the law should be formulated with the primary aim of protecting non-abusers from the results of abuse rather than abusers from themselves. This may not be popular, of course.
Best;
Mark
Posted on: 09 June 2004 by gusi
It is not so much the drinking as the drinking and getting violent. Continentals also get drunk but don't feel the need to beat everyone up.
My cousin was conscripted in the dutch NATO forces in the 80's. In winter they'd all go to germany to practise capturing siberia in the snow. Afterwards everyone would go to the german pubs. While most guys were having a few drinks and were hitting on the local girls the brits would just get drunk and start hitting each other.
Maybe it is related to locking all the boys in boarding schools where the only expression of masculinity is to be stronger than the others.
But seriously I think that while it is cool or acceptable to get extremely drunk and violent you'll have a problem.
I don't think that controlling supply through licensing hours or prohibition will change behaviour. You can use supply control to keep the criminal element out of drinking but behavioural change would have to come through education. Maybe you can get some footballers and actresses to say it is not ok to be drunk and violent.
Gus
My cousin was conscripted in the dutch NATO forces in the 80's. In winter they'd all go to germany to practise capturing siberia in the snow. Afterwards everyone would go to the german pubs. While most guys were having a few drinks and were hitting on the local girls the brits would just get drunk and start hitting each other.
Maybe it is related to locking all the boys in boarding schools where the only expression of masculinity is to be stronger than the others.
But seriously I think that while it is cool or acceptable to get extremely drunk and violent you'll have a problem.
I don't think that controlling supply through licensing hours or prohibition will change behaviour. You can use supply control to keep the criminal element out of drinking but behavioural change would have to come through education. Maybe you can get some footballers and actresses to say it is not ok to be drunk and violent.
Gus
Posted on: 09 June 2004 by Geoff P
There has always been a lighter and less intense approach to "having a good time" on the mainland which in part stems from the fact that the cafe culture with it's relaxed atmosphere and extended evening opening hours (often because of siesta in some of the hotter climbes) removes the famous game of finding the local pub that will stay open after hours or ordering trebles of everything because closing time is approaching.
There also seems to be a lingering respect for authority which is still ingrained enough to work in most mainland country's. In my local area the "kids" as I call them, have fun at the weekends and disco/drink until 2-3am. Then they spend some time finding their bicycles, and a bit more time seeing if they are sober enough to ride them, and set off home. There is a rowdy atmosphere but they still seem to be able to differentiate between their mates and innocent passers by. If a local police man is called because it is getting too rowdy, his arrival brings an immediate reduction in trouble.
None of what I describe above seems to hold true any more ( if it ever could) for the UK. It has gone to the point where anarchy is just around the corner.
As an ex-pat I have read this:
http://www.shamedagain.blogspot.com/
which was introduced in the "God I hate this country" thread. I have travelled in western europe extensively for the last 15 years, most of which was done from the UK as a home base. Interestingly there was this attitude in the UK 10 years ago or more, especially amongst the insular local areas,that continental europe was a barbaric place and the UK was the only civilised location. That was sad then and is even sadder now.
regards
GEOFF
Listening every day planning to "not fade away"
There also seems to be a lingering respect for authority which is still ingrained enough to work in most mainland country's. In my local area the "kids" as I call them, have fun at the weekends and disco/drink until 2-3am. Then they spend some time finding their bicycles, and a bit more time seeing if they are sober enough to ride them, and set off home. There is a rowdy atmosphere but they still seem to be able to differentiate between their mates and innocent passers by. If a local police man is called because it is getting too rowdy, his arrival brings an immediate reduction in trouble.
None of what I describe above seems to hold true any more ( if it ever could) for the UK. It has gone to the point where anarchy is just around the corner.
As an ex-pat I have read this:
http://www.shamedagain.blogspot.com/
which was introduced in the "God I hate this country" thread. I have travelled in western europe extensively for the last 15 years, most of which was done from the UK as a home base. Interestingly there was this attitude in the UK 10 years ago or more, especially amongst the insular local areas,that continental europe was a barbaric place and the UK was the only civilised location. That was sad then and is even sadder now.
regards
GEOFF
Listening every day planning to "not fade away"