Putting Scotlands relationship with alcohol under the spotlight.Have your say here.

A compromise between prohibitionist and elbow bender - anybody over sixteen gets a license from the post office for one pound, to sell alcohol literally any time any place. wiith but one condition. They must not sell or manufacture any other product at all whatsoever. Think about it.

Riky, glasgow. Thursday, 25 September, 2008, 17:36. Report this comment.

How can any alcohol dealer classify himself a responsible license holder: that's an oxyemoron

Riky, glasgow. Thursday, 25 September, 2008, 17:09. Report this comment.

The cost and availability of alcohol is not the issue, it's the atitude towards drinking that causes the problem. It's socially acceptable to drink to excess, as long as it happens on the weekend - Scotland seems almost proud of its binge-drinking culture. A hangover is not seen as a stigma. Part of the issue traditionally has been licensing laws, and a culture of going out "to drink" - no food present. We need to take a look at some of our European neighbours, to learn from them. Some countries do not serve alcohol without food (often just a free snack), bills are settled at the end of the night so there's no pressure to keep up with a round, and there's no rules about closing times - and therefore people do not feel under pressure to drink quickly. We need to learn fast, as our drinking culture, coupled with other social problems, are affecting us all considerably.

Susie Anderson, Glasgow. Thursday, 18 September, 2008, 16:19. Report this comment.

People don't consume alcohol because of pressure at work or because of difficulty with finance, mortgages, rates, bills etc. It's the consumption of their money by the alcohol dealer and his product, knowing that fools and their money are soon parted.

ricky, glasgow. Monday, 15 September, 2008, 15:59. Report this comment.

Alcohol should not be on sale in supermarkets on open shelves. It should be behind a counter as are cigarettes. Supermarkets or other companies should not be allowed to sell at such low prices. The prices should be risen in the same way as food prices. I think parents have to take responsibility for educating their children about alcohol. Both the good and the bad effects of alcohol and the dangers of both. I also think there have to be more places for young people to go to that does not sell alcohol. Places that they can enjoy each others company.

Catherine Duncan, Perthshire. Monday, 8 September, 2008, 12:20. Report this comment.

i own a shop and am a responsible licence holder, however when supermarkets are offering 30 bottles of miller draught for £16 working out at 53.33p per bottle, does the scottish goverment wonder why we have an alcohol problem in this country. Get a grip of the supermarkets selling alcohol cheaper than my cheapest bottle of water, or is our goverment scared of the power these companies have? Come on look after the public, you banned smoking in public places, get a set selling price for all when it comes to selling selling alcohol.

Graeme Rankin, Edinburgh. Monday, 1 September, 2008, 14:37. Report this comment.

There seems to be a lot of people that is drinking to much. I think the pressures of daily living cause most people to drink, pressures because of overwork, financial (mortgage rates, increasing domestic bills), family problems & family expense (children asking for the up to date fashion or gadget), vehicle running costs, these are all pressures that build up on people who have jobs, and this extends to people who can't find work. For under age drinking, the main cause is there is not proper facilities or clubs in place for youngsters to go to. Children of today do get more money than children of past times, and if they have no place to go, they get a hold of alcohol and end up drinking. There needs to be more investment in facilites for children all over the country, be it youth projects, sport, or general hobbies, but it has to be interesting for them.

Ian Gerrard, Aberdeen. Friday, 29 August, 2008, 21:02. Report this comment.

I work with young people who offend and consume alcohol. Much of their offending behaviour, is a direct result of alcohol. Many will shoplift the alcohol, and find it easy to access. I believe too much importance is placed on consuming alcohol and we have a very bad attitiude in this county towards the consumption of alcohol, exposing young people to drunkeness or adults neglecting them in order to get intoxicated. My major concerns are the damage that this does to adolescents who are still developing, they have inappropriate sexual relationships, are exposed to illegal substances and lose out on valuable social and emotional relationships. I would like to see a change in attitude amonst the adult population about drinking and have more restrictions in place to keep young people safe and also more edcuation from within the family reather than serivces like mine when they reach crisis point.

Jackie Cruickshank, Highland. Friday, 29 August, 2008, 10:15. Report this comment.

i dont think it has anything to do with price or availability or advertising.you cant nanny people from cradle to grave, its a free country!i think the problem especially with underage drinking,lies with the parental control.you should know what your kids are up to.education might be the answer but price hikes and bans are definatly not,that only hits low income earners whose only pleasure is a few drinks.cigs are more than a fiver a pack now but that hasnt stopped anyone i know from smoking,wont work with drink either.i'll put my hand up and say i,ll buy it out the back of a transit van if the legal price is to high and i wont be the only one.

colin, ayrshire. Thursday, 28 August, 2008, 12:22. Report this comment.