Minimum alcohol pricing is nigh

I'd argue that it's simpler for the vast majority of people.

Do you really believe it is easier for the vast amount of people in this country to get drugs than it is to get alcohol ?

Do you ?

Think about what you are saying for a minute, just think about it

It's easier for someone to get drugs than it is alcohol.

I take two people at random off a street and say "right one of you has to get a line of coke the other has to get a bottle of wine, off you go and who ever comes back first with the item is the winner".

Who the fcuk do you think will win ?

I've been pretty much off the beer since after New Years. Though I'd like a few tins tonight and remembered that 15 cans of Heineken is 28 euro.

No matter what way its painted this is a penal like move by the powers that be. F**k them and AAI. Cheers lads.

Anyone who thinks drugs aren't easy to get or easily accessible needs to get out more and open their eyes.

Don't think anyone is suggesting that drugs are not easily accessible.

But the suggestion that they are simpler to get than alcohol is just stupid.

And as another poster pointed out you already need a trusted connection in place so that you can just sit at home and get drugs delivered with a few taps on your phone.

To get alcohol you just walk into a pub or shop that is selling them.

Just back in from Tescos. Utterly reprehensible the way we have been shafted here. Disgusting breach of any of joy we still had. I'd sure be interest in joining a consumer activist type group if one existed. This MUP just compounds the ride we are taken for as consumers.

Should the goal of government be to reduce alcohol consumption?

If so, what will be the next target to be marginalised?

In the context of MUP, in which this discussion about how easy drugs are to get. It doesn't matter whether alcohol is easier to get. Drugs are very easy to get through pretty much any social media platform if you don't already have a contact through WhatsApp or in person. And that's all that matters. They don't need to be easier to buy. They just need to be easy. Because MUP is going to deter people paying the increased prices so that erodes the ease of simply walking to an off license. The urge to become inebriated will still exist. While someone on an individual level may not have a drug connection. I guarantee you a fair few in their circle of mates has one.

Drugs are much more accessible these days and are cheap. And can be got on tick. So if someone wants coke on a Saturday and they don't have they money. They can still get it and worry about the cost later. They can't do that with drink. So many young lads getting into trouble because they can't pay for the drugs when they need to. But it doesn't stop people doing it.

I think there is a serious disconnect about how things actually are on the ground and work on a day to day basis. In a fair few of my WhatsApp group chats. I've already seen ecstasy being discussed numerous times this year. I don't think it's been mentioned in a number of years prior to that. It's basically mates saying f<ck getting expensive cans. A bottle of wine or vodka and some pills.

MUP doesn't apply to your local so it's no surprise it didn't affect your evening.

If you had decided to have a few cans they would have been more expensive because of MUP.

A bottle of wine once every three weeks or one or two cans the odd weekend is all I drink so it doesn't effect me really.

It won't work because it's a lazy measure instead of investing properly in addiction services and mental health in this post-colonial country, but what else to expect from this government.

My partner drinks cans for 50cents each and I have to pay multiples for the same, but that's the choice I make living here.

I am more interested in the sideshows, than people reporting the price of drink they saw in shops. One of the sideshows is whether MUP affects consumer spending. The Lancet commissioned a study on the results in Scotland and Wales, paying particular attention to the border areas in England.

Another sideshow is whether MUP will be introduced in the North and in England. The North is due to publish their plans soon. Pressure will come on England if the North joins in. There was a report about it on BBC Radio on 14 January, listen at 30 minutes 30.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001394z

Could be a useful income stream for pubs now with the big discounting being outlawed.

Are they allowed to sell take away at pub closing time?

There are definitely more shops where you can buy drink now than before due to pub licences being purchased and used in convenience stores, filling stations etc.

Plus I'm guessing they could not sell alcohol to takeaway after 10pm, regular off license closing time.