Alcohol Sales

[Martin]

Has anyone heard of this and/or will it also apply in Scotland ?
The manager of my local shop was just telling me that very soon beer and cider over 5% will not be available at retail outlets, also they will no longer be allowed to sell half and quarter bottles of spirits. He seemed to think this is being implemented due to parents lack of ability to control their little darling's drinking habits.

[daftdog]

Has anyone heard of this and/or will it also apply in Scotland ?
The manager of my local shop was just telling me that very soon beer and cider over 5% will not be available at retail outlets, also they will no longer be allowed to sell half and quarter bottles of spirits. He seemed to think this is being implemented due to parents lack of ability to control their little darling's drinking habits.

I've heard of that system Martin, in fact it is in place as we speak.. right here in Finland

You can buy beverages containing no more than 4.7 per cent alcohol by volume in most supermarkets or grocers, but all beverages containing more than 4.7 per cent alcohol by volume are the sole right of Alko inc to sell.

This hasn't stopped the overall drinking problem here in Finland and under-age drinking control is somewhat more by culture than access to it. (18 for all alcohol under 22% ABV and 20 for anything above that ABV).

[Tosh]

Has anyone heard of this and/or will it also apply in Scotland ?
The manager of my local shop was just telling me that very soon beer and cider over 5% will not be available at retail outlets, also they will no longer be allowed to sell half and quarter bottles of spirits. He seemed to think this is being implemented due to parents lack of ability to control their little darling's drinking habits.

I'm not sure of the exact details but I presume this is the same legislation that will increase the age for off sales to 21, comes in in Scotland only in September doesn't it?

[£3.73]

My own thoughts on this are that prohibition doesnt work ... nor does increasing age limits or any form of restriction.

People, especially adolescents, will still find a cheap & cheerful way to get "mad wi it"
How out of touch with reality would you need to be to think otherwise.

Even removing alcohol from the equation altogether ... there's always some aspiring junior chemist who will figure out you can inhale a burning wheelie bin, sniff glue or paint, inhale cat urine (see South Park episode), smoke banana skins, etc etc .... or .... abuse prescription drugs or just buy illegal ones !!!

The only real solution is to change the whole psyche of the nation. (not an easy task) ... anything else is literally pissing in the wind.

With recession comes despair, hopelessness & and the need to escape ...... alcohol is a means, not an end ...

[EMDEE]

What about the story on the news today that youngsters should not be allowed alcohol even at home under parental supervision? Talk about nanny state! How would anybody be able to monitor this and police it?

[LANDROVER ROGER]

What about the story on the news today that youngsters should not be allowed alcohol even at home under parental supervision? Talk about nanny state! How would anybody be able to monitor this and police it?

Probably by installing C.C.T.V.in everyone`s home.

[daftdog]

Probably by installing C.C.T.V.in everyone`s home.

Rodger... two words... "Web Cams" SSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[LANDROVER ROGER]

Probably by installing C.C.T.V.in everyone`s home.

Rodger... two words... "Web Cams" SSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Conspiracy theory?

[four eyes]

is there no end to goverment madness? cctv what a waste of time and money,still im sure bill thinks its keeping him safe.

[Martin]

Probably by installing C.C.T.V.in everyone`s home.

Years ago I thought that the TV would evolve into the telescreen as we started to slip into Orwell's dream. I've changed my mind now, for a while I've come to think that the computer will be the spy in homes, just look at how eager the government is for every household to have broadband. This is not because our beloved government wants everyone to sample the delights of the internet, this is leading to total control of our everyday lives, just as George Orwell forecast. The large telescreens are already here, they have been installed in several major cities, some places already have voices booming out if you drop a piece of litter, children are already encouraged to grass on their parents (The Spys), the Thought Police are slowly creeping in, careful what you say and who to, it may be held against you later.
OK, I admit I'm a bit paranoid about 1984 and all that, but we are living it now and it's getting worse.
But, back to alcohol sales....I object to not being being able to buy a small quantity of spirit, or a strong beer or flagon of Scrumpy. Surely this is my right ? I don't see why I won't be able to buy a cheap bottle of imitation cider at 7% volume or a half bottle of Scotch, if I only need that much then why should I be forced to buy a full bottle ?
A group of kids, get together enough money for a half bottle by fair means or foul, they discover that the half bottle option is no longer available. Who is going to suffer for that ? The next person they mug for the price of a bottle, a home being burgled, a car being broken into or stolen ? Then, when they have the full bottle instead of the half they are twice as pissed, going to have even less control and cause more trouble. Why ? Because they couldn't buy a half bottle.
I'm an alcoholic (I won't deny it), and I control my drinking (sometimes) by limiting what size bottles I buy to take home,( I only drink at home) a half bottle would be fine, some days a full bottle would be fine, somedays a full or litre bottle could mean serious trouble. Now this government is going to take that choice away from me and a load of others. Is this right ? No, it bloody well isn't.
Sorry, I'm annoyed.

[gizmo]

The comment about youngsters not being allowed alcohol is not quite right, it does not need policing. I believe it is non-enforcable advice from the Surgeon General that kids under 15 should not be given drink, above 15 common sense should be used.

[Beachcomber]

Probably by installing C.C.T.V.in everyone`s home.

Rodger... two words... "Web Cams" SSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Remember that new legislation comes into force next week that allows the Police to install software on your PC to monitor your activities. There's plenty of software out there already that can remotely turn on someone's webcam and pipe it through to another location.

[EMDEE]

The comment about youngsters not being allowed alcohol is not quite right, it does not need policing. I believe it is non-enforcable advice from the Surgeon General that kids under 15 should not be given drink, above 15 common sense should be used.

I appreciated that it was just a press release from some kind of study. I really don't think that we need scientists or medics to point out the obvious to us that it is inadvisable to feed spirits and six-packs of beer to our 9 year olds. My own experience of this is that a few years later they will do what they like irrespective of any guidance from us. Come to think of it, why should we try to dictate to them anyway, they are probably no worse than we were a couple of decades ago!

If we listened to all the advice handed out by scientists and doctors on a daily basis our lives would not be worth living. The expression that springs to mind is "Ye're naw here tae enjoy yersel"!

[gizmo]

Can you not get to sleep either, maybe need a wee toddy.
As in most of these things the vast majority of people can use their common sense however did you read about the woman earlier in the week that was allowing her 4 year old to smoke (maybe some people can use advice). As to whether we were as bad, things have changed in my opinion for the worse, younger people seem to have more cash or at least are not as scared of credit cards, drink is cheaper and pubs are open much longer, apparently teenage alcoholism is not that unusual neither is alcohol related liver disease in much younger people. I dont think we can dictate to kids, but trying to advise our kids is surely part of our job. We dont have to take advice but it is his job to point out problems and if it helps someone what harm does it do.. Bugger it I'm going to have a half..

[daftdog]

Rodger... two words... "Web Cams" SSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Remember that new legislation comes into force next week that allows the Police to install software on your PC to monitor your activities. There's plenty of software out there already that can remotely turn on someone's webcam and pipe it through to another location.

Exactly.. Put some clothes on man..