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When drinking is a cheap shot
THE number of young people ending up in hospital because of excessive drinking is much higher than previously thought.
Statistics which were published yesterday by the Department of Health showed 53,844 under-25s were admitted to hospital in England for problems or injuries triggered by drink in 2006-07.
This is well above the 32,928 alcohol-related admissions reported for the same year under old methodology, which did not include injuries from drink-fuelled accidents and violence.
The new figures take into account 44 conditions which research shows are caused by or linked to alcohol consumption. They include road traffic accidents and assaults as well as alcohol poisoning, liver disease and mental and behavioural disorders. It is estimated the NHS in England spends £2.7 billion each year on alcohol-related hospital admissions. Which helps put into perspective the row that has blown up after one club in Bournemouth has decided to sell spirits and beer on Monday nights for 80p. The worry is not only the effect this might have on those who frequent Lava and Ignite, but also whether the move will spark a price war in the town for the custom of hard-pressed punters. Police and council officials are unhappy with the club's owners Luminar Leisure for busting the voluntary price code, having worked hard themselves to sort out alcohol-related problems in the town. Luminar say business is in a crisis situation, a point with which Richard Carr for one would no doubt sympathise.
But I can see why those responsible for the town's good name think it's a cheap shot.
7:00am Tuesday 2nd September 2008
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CommentPosted by: Ashley Miller, Bournemouth on 2:35pm Tue 2 Sep 08
At last the overpriced town centre establishments realise that they have been ripping the general public off for years & I'm pleased that they are suffering. The greed has finally caught up with them.
I'm not saying that 80p drinks are the ideal solution to get people back through the doors but fair play to Luminar Leisure for accepting that the economy is on its knees & that they are trying to re-address this (especially for the students) by cutting the price of certain brands for one night a week to begin with.
Pity its taken this long for the big town centre establishments to realise that by marking up the prices that they will in the end lose money.
At last the overpriced town centre establishments realise that they have been ripping the general public off for years & I'm pleased that they are suffering. The greed has finally caught up with them.
I'm not saying that 80p drinks are the ideal solution to get people back through the doors but fair play to Luminar Leisure for accepting that the economy is on its knees & that they are trying to re-address this (especially for the students) by cutting the price of certain brands for one night a week to begin with.
Pity its taken this long for the big town centre establishments to realise that by marking up the prices that they will in the end lose money.
Posted by: Sort It Out, Bournemouth on 8:22pm Tue 2 Sep 08
Is it any wonder that young people binge drink when alcohol holds so little monetary value nowadays?
By dropping the prices further and further, there ceases to be any respect and recognition for the power of this substance.
Customers will no longer buy single-shot drinks when it costs so little to top up another 100%.
What sort of message are we sending out when we price a shot of alcohol lower than a cola?
Is it any wonder that young people binge drink when alcohol holds so little monetary value nowadays?
By dropping the prices further and further, there ceases to be any respect and recognition for the power of this substance.
Customers will no longer buy single-shot drinks when it costs so little to top up another 100%.
What sort of message are we sending out when we price a shot of alcohol lower than a cola?
Posted by: AS~U~R, Poole on 9:03am Wed 3 Sep 08
Disgusting. Having a drink can be harmless, having a lot to drink is deadly. It is addictive, it kills. Making it so freely available and so cheap makes people think it is ok to get wasted all the time. We have a smoking ban. Smoking is dangerous, but why is it ok for our hospitals to be over run with drunks, and our streets and towns full of people who think they can take on the world after having a drink? Smoking is at least quiet. The risks of alchohol are far worse and affect more people than passive smoking.
Disgusting. Having a drink can be harmless, having a lot to drink is deadly. It is addictive, it kills. Making it so freely available and so cheap makes people think it is ok to get wasted all the time. We have a smoking ban. Smoking is dangerous, but why is it ok for our hospitals to be over run with drunks, and our streets and towns full of people who think they can take on the world after having a drink? Smoking is at least quiet. The risks of alchohol are far worse and affect more people than passive smoking.
Posted by: Steve Hudson, Portsmouth on 12:15pm Mon 8 Sep 08
Why complain now, alcohol is much cheaper in your local supermarket and is not regulated. It is illegal to be drunk on a licensed premises so people are being monitored.
There is a lot of hypocrisy from people who sit at home quaffing a few bottles of wine a week, at least these people are out socialising and enjoying their life.
Why complain now, alcohol is much cheaper in your local supermarket and is not regulated. It is illegal to be drunk on a licensed premises so people are being monitored.
There is a lot of hypocrisy from people who sit at home quaffing a few bottles of wine a week, at least these people are out socialising and enjoying their life.
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