Well said Eric!!
Regards
Nigel.
Axe the Beer Tax
Moderators: Guru's, The Ministry
Re: Axe the Beer Tax
:doho: Now why did I not think about saying that?
Well said Eric!!
Regards
Nigel.
Well said Eric!!
Regards
Nigel.
I used to be an optimist but with age I am now a grumpy old pessimist.
Re: Axe the Beer Tax
Its not so much the cost of fuel, but the cost of wheat, hops malt and water (we spend £1.5M + on water for our smallest brewery) have gone up across the board. And I know that excess drink and irresponsible people can cause accidents, but thats like saying Bikers are more likely to die in an RTA so we'll put a levey on them.
There is not doubt that abuse of alcohol can kill people, either due to the various illnesses that can be caused by that lifestyle, or by young (and sometimes old) buckos getting plastered and kicking seven bells out of someone. But the attatude of this government on several issues like this is to make it more expensive so it becomes the preserve of the elite who are less likely to cause hassle, and after all, if people drink in their own homes its not our problem.
An interesting statistic is that compaired to 1988 the 2008 figures for beer brewed (and its therefore assumed drunk) are approximately 27% lower, yet the crime / violence is on the increase. This would suggest that drinking isn't actually the problem, more likely the fact that the criminal justice system is far more softly softly than it was and thus the deterant for dickhead behavior is not there. As an example, I was in court a few years ago in Inverness in the public area, watching the preceedings. 5 youths who were drunk attacked a police officer, ripping his radio from them so he couldn't get assistance.... the longest term was 6 months suspended... now that is disgusting.
Its perfectly fine for people to go to their local for a drink, infact it should be encouraged as it gives folk the oportunity to meet other people and helps them to interact without a keyboard! Its even fine for people to get drunk, theres nowt wrong with it so long as you behave in an acceptable manor. Hands up who didn't go out as a young man or woman and get drunk of a friday or saturday night? But we didn't then go on to beat people up or vandalise.... although we may have had a pee against the wall.
Its all about consequences and learning the consequences of our actions. We are increasingly relying on the state to protect us from oursleves and thus never need to learn consequences... a scary thought.
And back on topic, the Axe the Tax campaign is all about responsible drinking and by supporting responsible drinking, we should all be able to enjoy a reasonably priced pint in a pleasant environment for years to come.
There is not doubt that abuse of alcohol can kill people, either due to the various illnesses that can be caused by that lifestyle, or by young (and sometimes old) buckos getting plastered and kicking seven bells out of someone. But the attatude of this government on several issues like this is to make it more expensive so it becomes the preserve of the elite who are less likely to cause hassle, and after all, if people drink in their own homes its not our problem.
An interesting statistic is that compaired to 1988 the 2008 figures for beer brewed (and its therefore assumed drunk) are approximately 27% lower, yet the crime / violence is on the increase. This would suggest that drinking isn't actually the problem, more likely the fact that the criminal justice system is far more softly softly than it was and thus the deterant for dickhead behavior is not there. As an example, I was in court a few years ago in Inverness in the public area, watching the preceedings. 5 youths who were drunk attacked a police officer, ripping his radio from them so he couldn't get assistance.... the longest term was 6 months suspended... now that is disgusting.
Its perfectly fine for people to go to their local for a drink, infact it should be encouraged as it gives folk the oportunity to meet other people and helps them to interact without a keyboard! Its even fine for people to get drunk, theres nowt wrong with it so long as you behave in an acceptable manor. Hands up who didn't go out as a young man or woman and get drunk of a friday or saturday night? But we didn't then go on to beat people up or vandalise.... although we may have had a pee against the wall.
Its all about consequences and learning the consequences of our actions. We are increasingly relying on the state to protect us from oursleves and thus never need to learn consequences... a scary thought.
And back on topic, the Axe the Tax campaign is all about responsible drinking and by supporting responsible drinking, we should all be able to enjoy a reasonably priced pint in a pleasant environment for years to come.
Ben.
Re: Axe the Beer Tax
well , the only thing that works , is people behaving themselves
as I say
Who is the No trespassing sign for . ?
the trespasser
……everybody else minds their business
as I say
Who is the No trespassing sign for . ?
the trespasser
……everybody else minds their business
Re: Axe the Beer Tax
All over the place I see people trying to pin the blame for drunken behaviour on one organisation or another be it governments, supermarkets, super-pubs, clubs etc etc, but what about the drunks themselves? I am in my mid twenties and sadly still know a few people who think its impressive to go out and get wrecked every weekend (or buy something from a supermarket and get trollied that way, to my mind it doesnt matter where they buy it). Some people I have noticed are now unable to actually resist doing that.
Call me old fashioned but I like to go to a traditional pub a few times a week, have a pint or two of something that hasnt been produced by Faceless Corp plc and doesnt taste like a refrigerated carbonated sample from next door's cat and come home knowing the only damage I may have done to myself is from my own choice of alcohol consumption, not from someone else's smoke (I dont smoke and never have, consequently am personally very happy with the ban).
Personally I think we need change young people's drinking habits, although I'm not sure how. I suspect the only way is when the next generation see their parents dieing early from liver or kidney failure. Around the time I was growing up far fewer people were taking up smoking for similar reasons. As far as the licensing laws go, I think its great that I can stay in a pub till 12:00 or 12:30 now and for the landlords of this country, this means if you have me as a customer, I'll probably be buying an extra whisky chaser that I wouldnt have bought before they changed the hours. However, I dont like the whole change to clubbing where everyone now expects to stay out till 4am or later. To me it starts getting rather sour after about 1am or 1.30. In this town, the worst of the violence occurs around 3am, by which time a few years back people would have mostly made their way home.
Call me old fashioned but I like to go to a traditional pub a few times a week, have a pint or two of something that hasnt been produced by Faceless Corp plc and doesnt taste like a refrigerated carbonated sample from next door's cat and come home knowing the only damage I may have done to myself is from my own choice of alcohol consumption, not from someone else's smoke (I dont smoke and never have, consequently am personally very happy with the ban).
Personally I think we need change young people's drinking habits, although I'm not sure how. I suspect the only way is when the next generation see their parents dieing early from liver or kidney failure. Around the time I was growing up far fewer people were taking up smoking for similar reasons. As far as the licensing laws go, I think its great that I can stay in a pub till 12:00 or 12:30 now and for the landlords of this country, this means if you have me as a customer, I'll probably be buying an extra whisky chaser that I wouldnt have bought before they changed the hours. However, I dont like the whole change to clubbing where everyone now expects to stay out till 4am or later. To me it starts getting rather sour after about 1am or 1.30. In this town, the worst of the violence occurs around 3am, by which time a few years back people would have mostly made their way home.
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DaveB
- The Ministry
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Re: Axe the Beer Tax
Ah.. Toby. I remember you not wanting to go home smelling of smoke but aren't particularly fussed about going home smelling of drink I'm pulling your leg ;-)
The 24-hour drinking law is a bit of a red herring. Those who drink 'out' on a regular basis will know how it works but the occassional drinker or 'Annual' drinker (we have some) do not. For those not au fait.. the 24-hour drinking law does NOT mean that all pubs and bars can stay open (or are allowed to stay open) for 24 hours. I still get folk on a regular basis who are completely miffed when they walk down the footpath at 10am and can't get a drink! Even pubs/bars who are 'in' the 24-hour system can't actually stay open for 24 hours. You still have to justify asking for 24hr opening so.. if you're in a one-horse village like I am.. it would never be accepted by the local council as public outrage would knock it on the head.. and rightly so. ;-)
I don't think it's a simple matter of blaming youngsters for causing trouble (either through drink or otherwise). They are a consequence of the national breakdown of parental control from certain quarters. If parents (read adults who have children or not so adults who have children) have little or no respect for anything but themselves.. what chance do the imbeciles spawned from their loins have. It is another sad reality of the breakdown of societies moral fibre. Shout at your average kid for a wrong doing and they'll think twice about doing it again. Shout at your not so average kid for a wrong doing and you're likely to get knifed. WHAT THE F*CK YOU LOOKIN' AT. How often do we come across this
Soapbox stowed. I have a VA flight to do ;-)
ATB
DaveB :tab:
I'm pulling your leg ;-) The 24-hour drinking law is a bit of a red herring. Those who drink 'out' on a regular basis will know how it works but the occassional drinker or 'Annual' drinker (we have some) do not. For those not au fait.. the 24-hour drinking law does NOT mean that all pubs and bars can stay open (or are allowed to stay open) for 24 hours. I still get folk on a regular basis who are completely miffed when they walk down the footpath at 10am and can't get a drink! Even pubs/bars who are 'in' the 24-hour system can't actually stay open for 24 hours. You still have to justify asking for 24hr opening so.. if you're in a one-horse village like I am.. it would never be accepted by the local council as public outrage would knock it on the head.. and rightly so. ;-)
I don't think it's a simple matter of blaming youngsters for causing trouble (either through drink or otherwise). They are a consequence of the national breakdown of parental control from certain quarters. If parents (read adults who have children or not so adults who have children) have little or no respect for anything but themselves.. what chance do the imbeciles spawned from their loins have. It is another sad reality of the breakdown of societies moral fibre. Shout at your average kid for a wrong doing and they'll think twice about doing it again. Shout at your not so average kid for a wrong doing and you're likely to get knifed. WHAT THE F*CK YOU LOOKIN' AT. How often do we come across this
Soapbox stowed. I have a VA flight to do ;-)
ATB
DaveB :tab:
Old sailors never die.. they just smell that way!
Re: Axe the Beer Tax
You can smoke in there too! :drinkers: :fart:Don't suppose the subsidised bars in the Houses of parliament will be affected by this will they?Another example of do as I say,not do as I do.Perhaps I am being a little too cynical. :@ EricT
"Speed building both sides.....passing one hundred knots.....V1..rotate...oh sh*t..."
Re: Axe the Beer Tax
Just received this in the post this moring.
This is follwed on the reverse with: -
"I can assure you that I will continue to monitor the state of the pub trade, and will maintain pressure on the Government over this important issue..
Once again, thank you for taking the trouble to write to me.
Yours sincerely,
Robert Goodwill
Graham
This is follwed on the reverse with: -
"I can assure you that I will continue to monitor the state of the pub trade, and will maintain pressure on the Government over this important issue..
Once again, thank you for taking the trouble to write to me.
Yours sincerely,
Robert Goodwill
Graham
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
Re: Axe the Beer Tax
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.