15.02.12
Plastering over the cracks
David Cameron’s forthcoming ‘pledge’ to tackle binge drinking is well-intentioned, but may be a sticking plaster approach to an issue which needs a deeper cure.
Using ‘drunk tanks’ to allow drunk people to sober up will mitigate some of the social costs that alcohol brings, in the form of violence, abuse, crime and antisocial behaviour. But it will not deter people from continuing to drink irresponsibly. Neither will extra police patrolling the wards.
Solving this problem must go much further, working with the drinks industry to restrict the availability of alcohol, and with the people who misuse it. Identifying who abuses alcohol and why would allow a targeted campaign to change their behaviour.
Cleaning up the mess once people have drunk too much is necessary, but until people learn to change their habits concerning alcohol, it will continue to cause expensive damage.
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