Yup, such is the fascist mentality that lurks in the dark corners of the CiF site.
I propose a drinking licence, something very similar to the driving licence. On your 18th birthday you are given a laminated card that entitles you to drink as much as you like. When at the pub or off-licence buying alcohol you show them your card.
If you find yourself spending time in A&E for being drunk, charged with drunkenly smashing a restaurant window, or punching your girlfriend in the face because you are drunk and she “winds you up” then you get points on your drinking licence.
A point here, a point there, and when you accumulate enough points to prove that you are not adult enough to use a mind-altering substance responsibly then, much like someone who is too dangerous to drive, your drinking licence is taken away.
Okay, so the author has experience of dealing with the fallout from excessive drinking. Well big deal, so have I. This is not an excuse for such outrageous state intrusion into personal lifestyles though. He also suggests – apparently in all seriousness – that excessive drinking carries no consequences for the imbiber. Ask them the morning after and see what response you get. Also, a lifetime of excess most certainly does have consequences. The point, though, is that it is their choice to make – it being their bodies an’ all.
The author also appears to be oblivious to the little matter of alcohol consumption in the UK falling over the past decade. Still, we don’t want little things like facts to get in the way of our nasty authoritarian agenda, do we? The author also appears to be staggeringly ignorant of the little fact that we already have laws that can be used to prosecute people who engage in vandalism and violence.
I don’t see this as infringing liberties any more than a driving or firearms licence.
Sigh…
“The author also appears to be staggeringly ignorant of the little fact that we already have laws that can be used to prosecute people who engage in vandalism and violence.”
This is precisely the point.
All it takes is the police and justice system to uphold the current laws. We don’t need new ones. But then what would the busybodies do if they couldn’t make up even more petty rules for us to ‘follow’.
Perhaps we should bring in a drugs licence for taking heroin, cocaine, ecstasy etc. Take it away and you won’t be able to consume those drugs any more. That’ll work, won’t it? What problem could there be?
Many people labour under the misapprehension that the Guardian is a ‘liberal’ newspaper. This is not true. It is a left-wing, often extreme left-wing authoritarian newspaper. It’s opposition to authority in the past is simply a result of them disagreeing with the reasons for that authority being exercised, rather than a general opposition to overbearing state power.
When it suits them they advocate State power on an enormous scale.
I’m wondering if this is deliberate, if they have any idea the resentment they’re causing. I’m wondering if they realize something will break and that they want this result.
jameshigham
I have a horrible suspicion you arte correct.
However, given that well over 60% of the population do drink magic CH3CH3OH, they can get stuffed.
Who or what, rather is this Kellet creep?
What hole did it crawl out from?