Cheeky Wee 50p

Living in Scotland makes me acutely aware of our national love affair with alcohol, and especially its abuse. It is deeply rooted in our culture, and now the Scottish Government are planning to introduce a minimum price per unit of alcohol of 50 pence. It seems that no one sits in the middle of this argument. You either recognise that it will help, or you think it won’t.

I don’t hear anyone say, “I’m going to open a cheeky wee bottle of Coke”, or Irn Bru, or Sparkling Spring Water. No, it is always, yes always, used in reference to a bottle of wine, or even a hard spirit like vodka or whisky. A party isn’t a party without alcohol, and the more the better. A restaurant meal out is not really complete without a visit from the wine waiter, and a “cheeky wee beau jolly”. I wonder why we have this fascination in Scotland? There are TV programs and presenters dedicated to telling us about the “fruity, full bodied, earthy, peaty, scented, etc etc, flavour and presence of their particular favourite bottle.

So, what’s the story in Balamory? On the other side of the scales are victims at A&E, filled police cells at the weekend, early deaths, and high school children who have swallowed the idea that a ‘wee drink’ is good, social, and very acceptable. That’s the story we portray, and so we shouldn’t be surprised that this younger generation will become the highest alcoholic generation ever! I wonder whose fault that is? Maybe you think it’s their own fault, and no one to blame but themselves. After all, I’m ok, and I drink responsibly, don’t I?

There are many groups who are happy to tell us how good a ‘wee drink’ is, and that it can be good for you, but what other independent groups are lined up on the other side? I accept that taking a ‘wee social drink’ is a personal decision, but have you noticed that the churches who once took a strong stand against alcohol, have melted into the background in the past few years? Mine included! Question: Is there a moral or ethical argument for abstinence from alcohol, or do we leave the “drink responsibly” lobby in the hands of the doctors, nurses, police and the courts? Should the church have a voice in the debate, and if so, who would that church be? Just asking......