A report out today suggests that alcohol abuse costs each adult in Scotland £900 each year! That's each adult, whether they are heavy or light drinkers, or who take no alcohol at all. Staggering isn't it? I could think of many good ways that money could be used in the NHS. This is sometimes referred to in the media as 'Scotland's shame'.
This abuse takes the form of domestic violence by a usually tanked up father on his children after their team loses a match, and also husband to his wife. This can happen without the man going out of the house! It will be the effects of an argument which could not be defused outside the pub, because all and any reason is lost. These again, usually young people, find themselves in the local A&E department with injuries of their own making, causing even more trouble for the staff and other 'normal' people who need urgent medical attention- which is not of their own making. We all have experience of people coming to work still 'under the influence' of the night before, and his or even her workmates having to cover for them.
The services who have to deal with the many ways alcohol abuse affects folks, are people like, doctors, nurses, police, fire crews, ministers, priests, husbands, wives, children and the list could go on. Ask any of these abused people if something should be done and they will shout, YES!
Governments in Scotland and Westminster have looked at the problem seriously, and have suggested a 'minimum pricing policy' be brought in as soon as possible. Independent sources say there is a clear link between the price of alcohol and the abuse suffered by innocent people.
Now for the turkeys. No harm to the real turkey, but they are not the brightest animal in the kingdom, and are seen to be slow and an easy mark for someone looking for a nice meal at Christmas and Easter. However, there are other turkeys out there who obviously would not vote for Christmas, or in this case vote for a curtailment of their lifestyle or profits. People like the supermarket who might make a small reduction in profit. The publican who sees his customer base (and then his profit) drop. The brewery that sees its production affected. Do you see the common theme? It's not the harm alcohol does, or the innocents who suffer, its the profit and loss accounts... oh diddums.... Like you, I have seen some of these 'good' people in the news saying (in the best accents, and trying to look educated beyond the many clever people who conducted the study) '.. look here, there is no scientific evidence that raising the base price of alcohol will help these unfortunate people'! Eh?? What??? I remember the same arguments being raised when there was the prospect that smoking might be banned in public places. History tells its own story on that one.
Obviously, turkeys don't vote for Christmas, so I don't really expect anything less from the supermarkets, publicans or brewerys, but please, please don't make the mistake of thinking we are ALL turkeys. Oh, there is another big bird who is probably just as daft as a turkey, and that's the 'let's bury our head in the sand', Ostrich!! I wonder if the ostrich has a vote?
