Double the price for drinks

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news /price-of-drinks-may-double-1645480.html

Will charging extra for drinks really curb binge-drinking?

I don't think so, they will still pay up no matter what the price.

If they are so concerned with the cost to the NHS, then why don't they just start to charge for the treatment of alcohol related illnesses/injuries etc.

[craft1948]

I don't think doubling the cost to give the manufacturer more profit is the answer or charging for illness either. Whatever you think about other peoples' lifetstyles as far as I am concerned they are entitled to NHS treatment, otherwise where do you draw the line - alcohol - smoking - obesity - speeding whilst driving?
Any increase in alcohol prices should be in the form of extra tax dedicated to NHS investment. However this wouldn't work either as this lying set of ***** in government would waste the money elsewhere.

[anotheoldgit]

craft1948

I meant charging at accident and emergencies departments.

Attend any A&E department during weekends, and see how many people are there for smoking or being fat, regarding injuries resulting from speeding while driving, well yes charge them for treatment also.

Regarding your idea of any increase in alcohol prices to be in the form of extra tax dedicated to NHS investment.

Wasn't it the original intentional for the Road Fund Licence to be used for the provision and upkeep of the roads?

And we all know where that idea went to.

[craft1948]

That's what I said AOG the money never goes where it is supposed to.
I still disagree about A&E being chargeable and have had the misfortune to have been in there when the drunks roll in. The majority of people contribute through NI to their health care and like it or not, through a variety of causes, self inflicted or otherwise, some take more out of the pot than others.
I think you have to accept this or get rid of the NHS.

[Hymie]

I can confidently predict this will not come to pass.

It will not be popular with the drunken voting public.

Second and more importantly, many MPs will be eyeing the additional tax revenue, gained as a result of alcohol being sold at a minimum of 50p per unit.
But the manufacturers/sellers will simply increase the price to a minimum of 50p per unit � and there will be no additional tax for the exchequer � once MPs realize this, they will loose interest in the idea.

[Prudentia]

I presume, on past experience, that this will not affect the members heavily subsidised bars in the houses of commons and lords, us lesser mortals once again pay! Time to take to the streets and bring this despicable regime down before we all go to the wall, I predict that within three months this country will be bankrupt, courtesy of clown prince Brown!!!

[DrFilth]

aog
Attend any A&E department during weekends, and see how many people are there for smoking or being fat,


at weekends the a & e is full of drunks and druggies


how can you tell if a person has gone there because of smoking. ?

aog if you had seen my mate on a trolley with a nurse holding an oxygen mask on his face because he could not get his breath would you have blamed that on smoking

[socket2008]

Voters won't stand for it. If I want a drink whether it is a Jack Daniels 1959 vintage or 12 cans for 2.99 from Asda that is my choice. I don't see why the majority should have to pay double for the actions of a few that can't hold their drink.

Of course, with the sales of tobacco down and the lost revenue, the Government need to keep finding extra excuses, sorry, taxes to compensate.

[rov1200]

It is not the actual taking of drink thats the problem. Its how that person behaves in public after consuming drink. Therefore drinkers should only consume in designated areas and not be allowed to carry liquor about their person when in public places..

[The Sherman]

interesting article that one. I am actually for it the price increase.

A couple of people mentioned that because some people cant handle their drink they should pay for it. I think they mean the social cost as in the 'louts' on a Friday night that cause a lot of disruption. Unfortunately while they are a nusicance there are eplenty of middle class -half a bottle a night kind of drinkers doing an awful lot of damage as well to their bodies. So are also included in the overall cost the NHS faces when dealing with alcohol related problems.
If things continue its quite simple people will either pay for the NHS in alochol tax or NI will go up for everyone because the NHS will need more money.

AOG while your idea of charging at A & E seems logical i feel it would be unworkable!

How many units of aolochol would you have to consume before being charged?

what about if you had 4 pints someone else had 8 pints and they started fighting you?
or other way round and you got started on even though you were clearly more drunk?
I feel there are hundreds other scenarios where it would need a court to decide who would be charged!

Anyway I would have thought you would for this because like smoking its the people who do it are being taxed and people who dont drink won't be taxed that seems...fair?

[Hymie]

I see from Mr. Brown's latest pronoucement on the subject, that it appears he has read my post above.

[anotheoldgit]

DrFilth
Attend any A&E department during weekends, and see how many people are there for smoking or being fat,

This was in answer to craft1948 and I was pointing out that I was referring to A&E and that there wasn't many being treated in there for being fat or smoking.

Whatever you think about other peoples' lifetstyles as far as I am concerned they are entitled to NHS treatment, otherwise where do you draw the line - alcohol - smoking - obesity - speeding whilst driving?

[brionon]

Perhaps you lot haven't noticed-the Countries where it is illegal to consume alcohol are the same countries where No one wants to live.