Happy hours to be banned in alcohol ‘problem areas’

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Title – Happy hours to be banned in alcohol ‘problem areas’
Source – The Independent
Date – 10th November 2008

The headlines are much easier to write than the problem is to resolve. ‘Ban Happy-Hours’ the latest holy-grail to resolve the generations of an un-balanced relationship between alcohol and consumers in the UK; it is not a new problem.

The increasing murmurs coming out of government suggest a change of approach is afoot. However if the arguments in this article are going to be the reason for change, then the solution will be as ineffective as so many before and realistically the problems will remain. The only obvious change that will occur through the suggested solutions will be that responsible drinkers will pay yet more and therefore be pushed into drinking away from the on-trade as it gets more expensive.

So if the key battle ground in this argument is going to be; a child under 10 is admitted to hospital every 3 days with an alcohol related problem; 12,500 16 -17 year olds are admitted to hospital every year with alcohol related problems; the question we have to ask is, are they really ending up in hospital as a result of drinking in happy-hour? What exactly is banning the happy-hour going to achieve?

I have to agree that there are some promotions (Happy-Hours and other s) that are clearly irresponsible, but local licensing authorities already have the law on their side under the

Licensing Act 2003 to deal with these irresponsible alcohol retailers; in many cases, they just do not have the resources or man power. A blanket ban on happy-hours is hardly the ‘creative’ approach the ‘source’ is suggesting. It is crude, difficult to enforce, damaging to an industry that is vital to the economy and will be ineffective.

The ‘loss-leading’ sale of alcohol many will agree needs to be addressed; for that there is no plausible justification beyond the business argument.

‘Creative’ approaches should be ones not considered before; how do other countries get away without the night-time problems of drunks? Take France; public drunkenness is not something people celebrate, but rather it is frowned upon and considered highly socially unacceptable.

What is the punishment for public disorder as a result of excess alcohol consumption in the UK, sometimes a night in a cell (this is usually used as a way of sobering up drunks rather than a punishment), more generally a fixed penalty fine (often less than the cost of a night out), both of which are sadly often considered badges of honour for perpetrators to brag about… So let’s try the French approach and let’s try and approach that can be supported by the authorities, the community and the Licensed Retail Sector. Why not instead of a fixed penalty fine issue community service orders. Let’s take the’ trouble-makers and make them spend 3 or 4 (or as many as it takes) nights cleaning up the streets, cleaning up after other drunks dressed in fluorescent ‘unflattering’ outfits in the very centre of the town where they caused the disruption in the first place… it’s just an idea, it shows at least a little ‘creativity’. The point is the solution has to be supported by all except those causing the problems.
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