Minimum alcohol pricing is nigh

I was at a party last night and a Gin and Tonic was 13 euros. 13 euros. And this was a nice hotel in kilkenny but it wasnt a wine bar in Dublin 4.

The vintners don't need help. Some decent PR maybe. Prices like that would make one think twice about a night out.

Addicts can not reduce their consumption. A fully addicted person will seek it any time day or night, but at times might go into dangerous medically unsupervised self-detoxes. It is a state of total denial and a parting from the realities of what’s going on in life. It’s an all or nothing scenario, and seems to be mostly genetically underscored, although to become an alcoholic you of course need access to it, and the cheaper it is the more accessible it is, especially to more meagre pockets. Starting young is another trigger factor, especially when the brain has more plasticity. Nobody sets out to become dependent. So slipping up the price gradually enough is probably the only way to allow those addicted to have the best essay access to it until/unless some time they make a decision for themselves to seek treatment.

At the same time if it starts to look unaffordable to those starting out on life’s adult journey, people may look to other priorities or if they have alcohol addiction genes, then it might be delayed and maybe less damage done if they are to eventually recover. Pricing alcohol beyond the reach of moderation is no bad thing, although I could then see people taking to the home brew as was fashionable in the 70s/80s.

I don’t think any of us want the greedy major vintners to the winners here.

I’m in Romania atm, where it is impossible to get a drink out, at all. There’s not even mulled wine at the Christmas Markets. All alcohol consumed must be done before 8pm and with a major meal. I qualified for a beer upon ordering a T-bone steak last night. To put it in context, under 40% are vaccinated, so there is a panic on and the government here decided one safety measure was not to allow most people to get drunk.

Yep, I’m thinking much more of a health related tax. I enjoy my pint/glass of wine etc, but have no quibble about having to pay for it if a decent amount goes towards medical services. I have witnessed enough of the destructive effects of alcoholism to know to know that services should be immediately available when somebody gets the notion to seek them out, as should all mental/physical health services.

Vat, excise etc is one aspect, but to be fair to the taxpayer a percentage should go straight to health services.

I’ve intervened specifically in 3 situations through course of my work relating to excessive alcohol consumption. One, a staff member I supervised who came into addiction, and could no longer function in their work as they were interfacing with public with a bottle of vodka under the desk and totally incapable of functioning: job was lost and it was a nemesis: very happy to report they recovered over a decade and have carved out a great career since. I intervened also when a new born baby was left to the care of a then 9 year old daughter when parents couldn’t be roused from drink, whom I caught up with many years later and with whom I enjoyed a great chat. The outcome was good in the long run, was told I had done the exact right thing when it was needed, but it makes for huge unpopularity at the outset.

But really it’s only possible to intervene from the perspective of distance. That staff member or perhaps another adult member of the child’s family could not have thrown a spoke in successfully with authorities. One common denominator among the alcoholics I have known, they were all damned intelligent people, above average. Being intelligent or otherwise has zero connection with becoming addicted.