Categories: uncategorized
Date: 20 February 2010 11:21:48
Out in Newcastle last night, an interesting experience. Due to train times, (last train back to Durham is v. early), we ended up going out early....early enough infact to discover the world of the early evening drinks promotion. The cocktail bar we ended up in was doing one of these things where you pressed a buzzer and they decided your discount (half price in our case). Add this together with a realisation of how many bars there are in Newcastle, (something I knew but kind of didn't take on board) and I started to realise the complexity of the current debates on alcohol.
A look at the Newcastle Pubs website gives an indication of how much of the city's economy is based upon the leisure industry now. Pubs and clubs are in competition for each other, but they unite in marketing the city as a party place. Yes it's got some great culture, something being increasingly marketed but the nightlife is also a key feature of the city. This means that alot of the city's income these days depends upon the consumption of alcohol and people getting a little merry, to put it bluntly. Whilst atmosphere is one way of competing price becomes a key issue, particularly in a city with 3 universities and another 2 under half an hour away by public transport.
This gives rise to a few questions: 1) how do we facilitate economic prosperity in an area like this whilst not relying on excessive alcohol consumption?, 2) if action is taken to reduce binge drinking in our society what will the effect upon areas like this be?, 3) what can we do to take personal responsibility? and 4) what responsibility do we have for others in our society?
In this recent article on Ekklesia, David Bradwell, a Methodist Church peep says, "Cheap booze blights lives. We need radical action to tackle the devastation caused by alcohol abuse." The Church believes that further action will be needed to tackle Britain’s binge drinking culture, and it is pressing for the Government to introduce a minimum sale price for each unit of alcohol. They also say in relation to the labelling of alcohol with units which at the moment is voluntary, "But because responsible marketing is not a priority for many alcohol producers, mandatory labelling has to be the answer."
To be honest I'm not actually sure about the use of labelling and info on units. Last night I was being responsible for a range of reasons, a) others in my group were, b) Third Party was sending me texts checking when I would be home and telling me not to drink too much and c) starting local preacher training has made me think more about how my behaviour and actions need to match my faith and beliefs. However, I was basing my sensible drinking on thinking about how long I had between drinks rather than the alcohol content of what I was drinking. Not sure if I were out, or even in, I would even want to think about how many units I were drinking.
The price thing is something I reckon will make a difference though. As a society we do need to be drinking less. Yet, as I say what will be the effects on places like Newcastle which have based their renewed prosperity on this industry? We need joined up thinking on this one.