Putting Scotlands relationship with alcohol under the spotlight.Have your say here.
RULES FOR THE ALCOHOL DEBATE
We welcome your comments about Scotland’s drinking culture and how it affects our lives. However, to keep contributions civil, tasteful and relevant we have rules that apply to submitted comments.
1. To ensure your posting is genuine, the email address you submit will be used to send you an email and ask you to confirm your message. Clicking on the link in the email will post your comment live. Please note that individuals are personally liable for the comments they submit and that email addresses provided will not be displayed.
2. All comments are moderated and any that are abusive, indecent, unlawful, defamatory or contain hyperlinks will not be displayed. Comments should also be limited to a maximum of approximately 150 words and multiple postings may be subject to removal in order to keep contributions per debate to a reasonable level.
If you would like to submit a comment not for display on this
site, please use the e-mail address:
contact@alcoholdebate.com
Hi I'm 13 and I do drink with my mates every now and again. Mainly at nights at the weekend or during school holidays. It dosent help that in my area Evesham there is nothing to do, no cinema bowling alley shops youth club decent skate park clubs, NOTHING! We have asked and asked the council but nothing ever happens. What do they expect us to do? Most of the kids where I live smoke drink and do drugs, most start smoking and drinking at the age of about 11. Now my mum does set a good example she dosen't drink or smoke. I think that other towns and cities that have nice things should appreciate them. And raising the drinking and smoking age will not help and is not fair on those who will be 19 and have already started smoking and then find they have to stop when its raised to 21. It is VERY hard to stop smoking.
Vicky, Evesham. Friday, 29 August, 2008, 11:35. Report this comment.
O yes my kids are drinking 2 much 2.
Jackie Graham, Fife. Sunday, 24 August, 2008, 17:35. Report this comment.
Although parents do have the responsibility to set a good example for their kids, many do not. Being underage to drink, i know that parents buy the teenagers their drink and let them stay out till all hours of the morning. And these parents are not just from less fortunate areas, some parents are teachers and business owners!
amy, wishaw. Saturday, 23 August, 2008, 23:19. Report this comment.
I started drinking at an early age, this was within a controlled environment and was overseen by my peers. I learn't to respect alcohol and it effects. Since then I have taken the same approach to drinking and have ignored the law but have instilled my experiences into the 'younger generation' The problem is not going to be solved by legislation but by positive role models and guidance. It is a cultural problem and not a legal one, look at our European partners and this demonstrates that a basic introduction to alcohol can lmit long term problems.
Jonny, Dumfrieshire. Sunday, 17 August, 2008, 00:44. Report this comment.
I am so tired of hearing such patronizing and biased comments from the "older" generation. Why is it that younger people are always considered public enemy no.1, it's no wonder there is such a feeling of resentment. Perhaps those who think young people should "know better" or stop being "idiots" should think back to how they were and how they felt when they were younger instead of just throwing out the first idealistic yet completely unthoughtout comment that comes into they're heads? How, for example, is raising the drinking age to 21 going to make the slightest bit of difference? In fact it will make the situation much worse because it will move 18/19/20 year olds out of the controlled environment of the pub and and into friends houses where they can drink as much as they like. A much better idea would be to limit the amount of drinks such as alcopops which are just designed to get you drunk as fast as possible. It really is so annoying to hear narrow minded and belligerent old folk going on about how the world was so much better in their day and how the kids of today are the bane of society.
Dave, Edinburgh. Friday, 15 August, 2008, 18:49. Report this comment.
Drinking is an acceptable social past time and in moderation can be very pleasant. However, the current culture amongst young people - clubbing and getting absolutely 'stocious' is not acceptable. They won't listen to those who do know better, the young never do....until its too late. Its very much up to parents to take the lead by example, by firm but considerate upbringing and concern for the youngsters they bring into the world. Parenting is a full time job - you just don't get a rest and shouldn't look for one, it has to be done is such a way that kids respect and take on board the lead given by parents, unfortunately the lead given by some parents falls very short of what is required whether that be in their attitude to alcohol, relationships, manners and concern for others, hence the problems.
David Valentine, Selkirk. Tuesday, 12 August, 2008, 15:28. Report this comment.
i had a friend at school who went home for lunch every day and when he came back in the afternoon he was a bit merry as he had been drinking the family sherry. years later we found out he started drinking becuase he had been raped by a man, not told any one and drank to dampen the feelings of shame and disgust.
Robin Bate, Edinburgh. Tuesday, 29 July, 2008, 16:26. Report this comment.
I know it's supposed to be cool, but it's so not. I think the companies that are selling these alcopops need to look at the alcohol content, it is far to high, why can't they make them 1 or 2% instead. I remember as a child that alcohol was for adults, being aloud to have a drink of creme De menthe or martini was being very grown up at the age of 14 or 15, proper alcohol was, yuk! an acquired taste and just for grown ups, not the sweet tasting, high alcohol drinks that my 13 year old wants to have, and I know he has tried them with friends and thankfully he tells me what he has had. We, as parents do allow our son to have the odd shandy in our company when we are all socialising together and hope that he understands that drinking is not supposed to be the normal, every day, get sloshed to have a good time event! The companies that make these sweet tasting high alcoholic drinks need to realise the market they are selling to and how easily lead they are?!!!!
alli, midlothian. Friday, 27 June, 2008, 23:19. Report this comment.
Drinking IS cool. That's why so many of us drink! We don't do it because we're depressed or stressed, we do it bwcause we like it and we're not all dying from it or beating up our husbands/wives or going to jail. We just like the feeling that it gives us. You can't get that feeling from 3 - 4 units a day.
sceptical 2, Edinburgh. Monday, 16 June, 2008, 15:32. Report this comment.
Yes our kids are drinking far too much, but they see it as cool and its readily available. there is so much advertising regarding alcohol. the kids still prefer cider, wine and buckfast, these are drinks of choice, as i said, readily available. the alcohol industry needs to cut back on the advertising. supermarkets need to make the law 21, pubs need to do the same. the local goverments need to address this issue too, as the kids will say that they dont have anything to do. GIVE THEM A CHOICE, ASK THEM. deprived areas seem to be highlighted more then any other, its every walk of life, even the 1s that no better, just cause they can - they will
FIONA ALLARDICE, GLASGOW. Friday, 13 June, 2008, 16:04. Report this comment.