By Clear Memories
The subject of alcohol sales is once again taxing the few brain cells of UK Prime Minister Camoron and his cohort of acolytes, laughingly referred to as a Cabinet. Suppliers, for their part, desparate to protect their profits are throwing around warnings that even the chattering classes might find the costs too high if they cannot sell the volumes they currently do.
But rather than look at prices, those proposing any form of alcohol control might do well to look at the point of sale. I would contend the UK needs a root-and-branch review of how it sells alcohol, before penalising the innocent in an effort to cure the guilty.
Alcohol in the UK is far too freely available from far too many poorly regulated outlets. That is the main problem and the first area to be considered and regulated. The problem with cheap alcohol IS the supermarkets and bringing them in as part of the solution will not work. The whole method of retailing alcohol has to change.
The most appropriate approach is to return to the system of off-licences, selling alcohol through specific locations and remove the sale totally from supermarkets, general stores, grocers et al. Not even in the same building, not a fenced off area, perhaps not even in the same Mall. Whilst nothing should preclude supermarket chains from owning these outlets, they must be accounted separately with no cross-subsidisation. This approach has numerous advantages – outlet locations can be more tightly controlled through the liquor licence. The licences must be issued to a named Manager, who must be present at all times when the store is open and who cannot be substituted easily. If the parent Company wants to open 24/7 (but why should they be permitted to?), they must have enough Managers dedicated and licenced for that specific outlet to cover opening hours, holidays and sickness with a set maximum working period of no more than 8 hours over 6 days. Managers cannot hold a liquor licence for more than one store. No Licence holder – the outlet closes. If an employee breaches the licencing laws eg underage sales, the Manager loses their licence and the outlet closes until Magistrates approve another licence holder – no Manager can be ‘parachuted’ in from Head Office or another branch. The legislation needs to be worded to ensure that, if an outlet Manager offends, especially under pressure from the site owner, the parent Company must suffer.
Ban linked Sales ie buy a BBQ, get a case of beer cheap. No money-off vouchers. And while we’re at it, prevent these outlets accepting the proposed Universal Credit Welfare Cards – people don’t pay taxes for the non-working to spend on drink.
This approach will increase the cost of alcohol without increasing supermarket profits and the higher costs will, in turn, produce more VAT. As importantly, it will bring the myriad small ‘family’ businesses under tighter control or possibly drive them out of the business altogether – quite important this area as these are being largely ignored as a source of much under age alcohol supply for the simple reason that many are owned by our ethnic cousins and are largely unpoliced for PC reasons. They are also the primary outlets for pirated and bootleg booze.
For ‘On Sales’, we need to adopt the Australian approach and start back-tracking from the point of offence to the point of sale and levying heavy fines on those who purvey alcohol to those already drunk. Start at, say £500 for the Seller, £2,500 for the licencee. And perhaps it’s time to return to specified opening hours. Ask most landlords and they’ll tell you – people only have so much to spend on alcohol, extending the hours has not extended the spend. And consider this, in Queensland, drinking is only permitted within specified licenced areas. Whilst widely ignored when no problem is being caused, it allows the Police to confiscate alcohol on, say, beaches without any (legal) argument if problems eg anti-social behaviour is taking place. And drinking in the street is simply not an issue here.
Why not consider, in tandem, a permit to purchase alcohol? This works in some Countries, can be linked to income to limit the amount of alcohol that can be purchased in a given period, virtually stops under age alcohol sales and can be withdrawn as punishment for alcohol-related unlawfulness. Possession of a permit would be necessary to enter any establishment selling alcohol for consumption on the premises. The hardware, software and procedures are available ‘off the shelf’ (Non-nationals visiting the UK as tourists simply produce their passport for a grace period, perhaps 30 days. Thereafter, they need a permit. Oh, guess what, illegals won’t have one, so there’s another benefit.) The cards contain chips and carry a photograph making them difficult to forge. The cost to administer the system could easily be met by the alcohol industry, with a deposit sum charged for the permit. Again, misbehaviour forfeits the deposit, which can go towards funding the scheme.
A large proportion of the British population demonstrate, day in – day out, that they cannot handle alcohol responsibly and that includes the vendors as well as the consumers. This is an area where the good of society has to take precedence over personal freedoms (and I write as a happy tippler)
Good stuff, though I’m guessing that the photo was taken on a freezing January night as, compared with the dress code paraded on Friday nights in Birmingham or Newcastle, those three are wearing way too many clothes.
Clear Memories.
I’m afraid that you are asking the actual perpetrator of a continuing offence against us to cease and desist in its criminal behaviour.
The ‘relaxation’ of alcohol sales has been merely one part of a general campaign, an element of the liberal ethos of progressively lowering moral standards, resulting in turn of the debauching of the population for as a result of lobbying by the powerful alcohol industry. That population, the core of which is our youth and future, is immature, often intellectually inadequate and too poorly educated to recognise that the authorities who are actively facilitating and encouraging their debauchery are in fact those who should be preventing it.
To the Alcohol industry and to its retained lobbyists and representatives in Parliament they are not citizens or victims but that de-humanising term, consumers. The discerning might more properly describe them as prostituted citizens, victims of a Corporate consumerism managed through successive government initiatives. These initiatives have also resulted in the relaxation of gambling and and the virtual legalisation of drug use, and this has been assisted in turn by the easing of credit restrictions and the demotion of morality and thrift as worthy personal virtues.
It is an apparant paradox that, whist the cost of and access to alcohol has been relaxed, accessibility to another highly addictive drug, tobacco, has been tightened.
However this is in fact, harmonious with liberal strategy. Tobacco is highly addictive but does not destroy the users intellect. It is the vice of an older generation and its progressive restriction and replacement by more fashionable addictions will have the benefit of providing the government with greater control over and revenue from its subject population of unter-menschen.
IRISHBOY 28th, – 21:34
Can’t be Newcastle…not fat enough!
“Alcohol in the UK is far too freely available from far too many poorly regulated outlets. That is the main problem and the first area to be considered and regulated.”
I disagree, this is looking at the problem from the wrong end, with the exception of those unfortunate souls who are alcoholics, most people drink in moderation, and the real problem is with a culture among some young people of going out to specifically drink until they are totally intoxicated.
Whilst I don’t disagree with your point that the problem lies with a culture of, predominantly, youth binge drinking, it is the price and ease of availability that has led to that position. My point is that, for the good of the society as a whole, going forward, a way has to be found to make that attitude less attractive.
Having had two offspring recently pass through their teens and into their early twenties and two nieces currently at Uni, I am all to aware of their behaviour. Early evening is spent ‘pre-loading’ ie getting drunk on cheap alcohol from the supermarket before going out to pubs and clubs where drinks are far more expensive. The club prices remain high because they have to cover their overheads on less revenue. Remove the cheap, easily available alcohol supply and the clubs can drop their prices. But, crucially, the ON-licence outlets must face serious fines (for the bar-staff, door-staff and management) if the sell to those already drunk. If, after preloading, the rest of the night is a pointless wander around the streets, the practice will be less attractive.
Whatever option is chosen – and I think (hope) all would agree that binge-drinking and its associated anti-social behaviour has to stop – the price of alcohol, per unit, is going to rise. This is, to some extent, unfair on the moderate, responsible drinker but it is as easy to argue that they, currently, are enjoying cheap prices because of the actions of the immoderate and irresponsible.
As for under-age drinking, it is too easy for the large supermarkets to absolve themselves of responsibility and hence punishment in so many ways – “they looked old enough”, “somebody bought the drinks for the them” and the ever-popular, “we’re too busy to check everyone!” And the evidence is, from all trading standards surveys and trial-buy campaigns, that the smaller, family-owned (and largely ethnic) businesses supply the majority of the booze that fuels the bad behaviour of the street yobs in their early teens.
Clear Memories.
Actually what you are suggesting is returning to the fairly-well regulated industry that existed before New Labour handed the regulation over to the eminently corruptible local authorities. Those of us who pointed out what the upshot would be were howled down at the time. The posited aim to ‘create al fresco cafe communities’ that exist in Continental Europe was always a pipe dream. And disingenuous – the legislators were in the pay of the breweries, the distillers, the pub chains and the Supermarkets. The tax take was another incentive.
Getting rat-arsed and behaving in a disgusting manner at weekends seems to be the aim of a large section of youth these days; thus our Friday/Saturday night town centres have become no-go areas for decent folk. The genie is out of the bottle, and it seems he bottles are out of the jeans, as a result. Without draconian legislation that can’t be reversed. As someone who once had to enforce the licensing laws (from West End night-clubs down to yer local boozer); and who later, for a few years, became a rural innkeeper with a vicarious liability for the behaviour of my customers, I think your suggestions are sensible and doable. Will it happen? Nah … sadly! The combination of vested interest and piss-poor policing on the streets means we’re stuck with it. All part of the decline of the nation, I’m afraid – and we all know who that benefits.
Why do you guts want to control everything, if people wantg to get drunk that is their business not yours.
As a teenager in the late 70’s / early 80’s we drank like fish, I was carried out of clubs on a number of occsaions , so what , I learnt a lesson and don’t have drink problem.
If someone drunk commits a crime then prosecute for the crime, simple.
Why all this fuss cause someone does something you don’t agree with.
Frank P – you’re absolutely right. Robert Mc. – you’re absolutely wrong! If you can’t see the societal damage that is being done, I suspect you preloaded before taking to the keyboard.
I used to know a Robert Mckensie, he was a sensible sort of chap and could knock a cogent sentence out, too. Obviously you are not him.
Robert Mckensie
YOU are the Phantom Spoofer and I claim my free crate of Heineken Full Strength Lager.
Nothing new.St.Dunstan was having kittens about this over a thousand years ago.It is his`measures`to oppose it which lead to the English system of `pint`measurements.The English have always been drinkers;it’s their nature.At one time they would `paint`wooden benches with high-strength beer so victims’ trouser-seats would stick to them when they tried to stand-up……and that was Lord General Cromwell’s idea of a bit of fun when he was partying.//Of cause The Boy Blair was wrong;Europe puts up shutters and 9pm.and closes for business on Sunday;including the Hypomarkets in Calais.//Present Laws can,and are,enforced where I live.Supermarkets require proof of age if “you are lucky enough to look under 25”;and that includes self-service check-outs.The Council and police [with the use of agent provocertares(what-ever)] prosecute small traders for under-age sales:and for sales to drunks.Problem areas have bans on public drinking imposed.Establishments where there has been violence are closed down.It can be done.If a law is not being upheld new laws will not solve it .What is your problem anyway?Living in the centre of`murder-mile`Ican’t remember the last shooting:and the`yardies`were not fueled by drink.The problem is employed young people and middle-class students away from parental control in City centres.This is what should be addressed