The Scotsman

Drinking solution

- Blacket Place Edinburgh Broomyknow­e Edinburgh Ferry Road Edinburgh

VArIouS solutions have been suggested for tackling Scotland’s “alcohol problem”, each of which skirts around the core issue: the social acceptabil­ity of drunkennes­s.

No amount of price fixing, education programmes, night buses and health advice can solve the problem while entering into a state of severely diminished responsibi­lity, ability and self-control is regarded as a normal leisure activity.

In choosing to become drunk, one chooses to risk harming, emotionall­y or physically, oneself, one’s family, and other people in the vicinity, possibly entailing significan­t expense to the state in the process. Half of Scottish adult prisoners and 77 per cent of young offenders were drunk at the time of their offence.

In addition, the loud mouthed and intimidati­ng behaviour of many drunks prevents other people enjoying their environs and contribute­s to the coarsening and degrading of our society.

“Almost half of children have seen parents drunk” (your report 21 october). Sadly, the most common responses will be “so what?”, or “they really shouldn’t let the children see it”. Apathy or hypocrisy. until we can respond to this issue with principle, chaos and pain will continue to ensue.

rICHard LUCas We HAVe some big questions to ask ourselves, including why it is so normal for people to get drunk, why they feel compelled to do so, and why drinkers feel those who don’t are odd.

LoUIse mITCHeLL

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom