Putting Scotlands relationship with alcohol under the spotlight.Have your say here.
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The government say 40,000 people a year are treated in hospital as a result of drinking! Thats 0.7% of the population.hardly the massive problem its made out to be. If you started enforcing the laws concerning under age drinking and punishing the idiots among us that figure would drop even more,leaving people to enjoy a drink without big brother watching you.
Colin Stewart, Ayrshire. Tuesday, 16 September, 2008, 12:32. Report this comment.
Most folk who are heavy drinkers will blame everything else on why they do it. If only they could take a good look at themselves and see that the amount and trouble that drink is causing them is the root cause and be honest about it and seek help before they either end up dead or wearing nappies in psychiatric hospital (loony bin in old terms).
Charles Wood, glasgow. Thursday, 11 September, 2008, 16:00. Report this comment.
Yes, we are drinking too much. Yes we all know it but does it stop us? No, we drink because we enjoy it and we want to. The only people to blame for it is ourselves and as long as we're not harming anyone else and aware of the consequences then leave us to it.
Robin, Aberdeen. Friday, 5 September, 2008, 05:04. Report this comment.
Whilst I agree that we all have free will and make our own choices in life, I don't think it is as clear cut as that. We live in a culture where drinking is the norm and a good night out consists of getting drunk. The easy availability of cheap booze only makes things worse. We need to teach our kids that alcohol is not the best way to boost your confidence and have fun!!
Laurie, Aberdeen. Thursday, 28 August, 2008, 10:21. Report this comment.
nobody forces any body to get drunk.you cant blame the drinks companys for what people do.people should be responsible for their own actions.its up to the individual.if you want to get drunk go ahead but dont blame the manufacturer for your actions,just like you cant blame burger king for fat kids.its down to you at the end of the day.
colin, ayrshire. Monday, 25 August, 2008, 12:43. Report this comment.
i am 44yrs old and do agree that we in scotland rely on drink to much .i have a son at 14yrs and yes i do worry about his future with the drink culture as you have to have a drink to fit in to life not.
pauline, west lothian. Sunday, 24 August, 2008, 01:00. Report this comment.
Currently i am watching my 36 yr old brother drinking himself to death - his birthday is on september 17th, docs have told him he wont see it, he will be leaving behind a 7 yr old daughter and a 4 yr old son. drink is more important to him. He does not even register that this is going to have an effect on his children - whom also have an alchoholic/drug addicted mother. Currently they live with my 68 yr old mother who - surprise surprise will not live forever. His drink and drug abuse has caused a major rift in a close loving family - as we have had to watch his lifestyle change from a rebellious teenager- to a troubled adult- bringing his aging mother into the gutter!
Phil, Aberdeen. Monday, 18 August, 2008, 16:44. Report this comment.
I never was a big drinker and in 2002 I stopped all together, never drank since and don't intend to. How much is too much? For me any amount, for you? You decide, but be quick about it! Drinkiing too much is a major contributing factor in so much of this counties misery and I don't want anything to do with it! I am a Scot who hates alcohol and what it stands for, whisky or otherwise, we need a cultutre change Scotland is far more than that!
Steven McCorkindale, Dumfries. Sunday, 17 August, 2008, 00:33. Report this comment.
Is no one else fed up of being what we can and can't do! Were not idiots, in all fairness some people do drink to much but as far as im concerned why is everyone who enjoys a drink being tarred with the same brush! Why should we have to pay the price for a small group of idiots, im sick to the back teeth of our nannying state that sees the solution to all our problems by increasing the price, drink = price increase, smoking = price increase, pollution = petrol increase! its outragous and Ive had enough but no one ever listens.
Barry, Fife. Wednesday, 13 August, 2008, 10:04. Report this comment.
The youngsters of to-day are our future citizens - if they don't heed the warnings what does the future hold for us. Having said that, not all young people drink to excess but there is no doubt that there is a massive increase in irresponsible consumption of alcohol. You can give so many reasons for this - poor parenting, advertising and marketing of alcohol, irresponsible licensing boards, alcohol is cool, probably a combination of many reasons including some of the above but the bottom line is that alcohol is a POISON which acts on the brain and nervous system with the result we are familiar with - lowering of inhibitions ( people do things they wouldn't dream of doing when sober, I am thinking of the behaviour of some young ladies when in that state - of they could only see themselves), loss of balance, vomiting, aggression, emotional upset...we could go on and on and then there is the cumulative effect, when you come to the point that you won't or can't enjoy yourself or social activities without alcohol being an ingredient..then its time to think.
Dave, Selkirk. Tuesday, 12 August, 2008, 15:44. Report this comment.