How to tackle the drink problem

franciebellew wrote: »

Id love a few beers now but I'm bursting to do a poopy

You can have a can while taking a crap, have a fag while your at it. Multi tasking isn't just for girls you know.

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

do you have any idea of the number of TD's historically who have been publicans ??

Yeah and how many national legislatures have 2 bars.

Tazz T wrote: »

I agree with QuietRiot's licensing system. You need a licence to drive a car, you should have a licence to drink which can have points added for anti-social behaviour etc. Anyone got drinking or intoxicated without when should be charged with an offence.

But I disagree with your 'our drinking culture starts at home'. Our drinking culture comes from drink being demonised in Irish society mostly as a result of the Catholic church - confirmation and all that. As a result of that and parents disallowing alcohol consumption, it's the first things teenagers do to rebel when they become teenagers.

To a certain extent, your right! In mainland Europe, the legal age for alcohol consumption is 16 (Well, last time I checked:D). Anyway, when the legal age for alcohol consumption is set higher in some countries such as Ireland, the UK and even more so in Canada and the USA, it becomes more of a taboo or an act of rebellion. When restrictions like this are lifted, any rebellious activities gradually loose a large portion of their novelty. It is the exact same with the restrictive opening hours in nightclubs and pubs. Due to the short length of time customers often have in such establishments, they feel compelled to drink at a much faster pace. Consequently, when all of the clubs shut their doors at the same time, it becomes a recipe for disaster with the increased likelihood of disorderly behavior.

I amn't necessarily saying that the whole drinking problem would be completely eradicated by lifting such restrictions. Unfortunately, there will always be alcoholics which is a common feature amongst most cultures in civilization. However, removing restrictions would more than likely lead to a considerable reduction in our alcohol problem if other less restrictive countries are anything to go by. This process may take a while as a calming down period would be needed. Nevertheless, alcohol-related disorderly conduct would not be entirely eradicated as alcohol consumption still makes a lot of people aggressive.

To prepare for this, a system could be put in place whereby the guards would work closely with nightclub security. For example, if someone is caught assaulting a fellow club goer, they could be detained in the nightclub and arrested when the guards arrive. Essentially, assaulting someone in a nightclub would mean the express way to the cell block. Most (if not all) nightclubs are fitted with cameras at every angle. Therefore, if two or more people are involved in a physical fight, the security should be able to determine the ring leader i.e. the person who threw the first punch/kick. The same thing goes for anyone caught with drugs.

Either-way, it should be possible to allow establishments to remain open for the more responsible folk while the law becomes tougher and more focused on disorderly people. At least, detaining disorderly/violent people in a nightclub for arrest is safer than simply kicking them out whereby they become a danger to those outside on the streets. If this did work in one nightclub, it could then be rolled out to the rest of them.