I don't doubt the sincerity of doctors who want to redue alcohol consumption but to the government alcohol is a huge cash cow and they will milk it for whatever it's worth, just like petrol and tobacco.

They inherited the beer escalator, which automatically hikes the price of duty on beer above inflation every year, but they won't scrap it; why? not because of anything health related but because "revenue from alcohol plays a big part in helping them reduce the deficit".

(Even though in fact it causes them to actually lose overall revenue, and they are too stupid and perverse to see it, but that's a different issue.)

I do wonder how much of this idea was all about extra VAT.

I don't really see it like that. In the long run maybe I am, but I don't know how much longer that I plan to carry on in the same way. As I said I don't drink during the week so I hope that I am giving my organs enough time to recover. In the short term I might feel sick as a dog on Sunday morning but I soon get over that. I have never sought medical treatment on the NHS, I have never been arrested (did get a telling off for climing on a roof on the way home once) so I'm not costing the Gvt. any money. I'm putting more in than taking out with the booze prices going towards giving young people wages and the VAT and alcohol tax going to line the coffers of the exchequer.

I think this will make the problems worse. I go out regularly on a weekend, and pre-drink as drinks out are too expensive.

If my home drinks were more expensive (but still cheaper than when out), I reckon many people would drink even more when they go out, so as to spend even less when out. Potentially worsening the problem.

Plus, at least in my area, I regularly hear peoples excuse for using illegal substances is that its cheaper than alcohol, which is quite worrying and would only get worse IMO.

On the subject of cheap booze: [url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/mp-eric-joyce-arrested-again-after-latenight-brawl-at-house-of-commons-8535516.htmlEric Joyce is at it again[/url

The guy obviously has a serious problem, one that won't be helped by easy access to not just cheap booze but taxpayer-funded cheap booze. After his previous drunken assault he should've been put on Parliament's equivalent to Pubwatch and banned from all ares serving alcogol.

In another "you couldn't make it up" story: In an effort to reduce the costs of refreshments in the House of Lords, it is proposed to [url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/house-lords-workers-overtime-pay-1764584reduce the pay of waiters[/url rather than pay full whack for the (again) taxpayer-subsidised food & booze.

None of them do themselves any favours do they, its not like they haven't heard all of the complaints that "they are out of touch with the real world".

The problem being: even if they are voted out, they will be replaced by the equally out-of-touch

Shurely shome mishtake? Or maybe you need to take more water with it?