A 'Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' can we have one like the Afghans to save us from ourselves?
There the post-Taliban new Labour controlled clerics want their people to "...move to God, through education, preaching and encouragement" without the need for special police, prison and clubs of the bad old days of the Taliban he cautiously added.. so said the Minister for Haj and Religious Affairs .
I don't mind changing "God" for 'New Labour government designed lifestyle' . A bit more of a mouthful, but much better than a mouthful of disgusting sinful beers and wines, the devil's pish I tell you. Better we do these things voluntarily than force our government to back up the education, preaching and encouragement with 'prison, special police and clubs' !
Dave, Edinburgh, UK
There already is an indication on every bottle of wine that tell us how much alcohol it contains. This is a world standard. The UK government wants to advertise its own alcohol maximums, requiring every producer, shipper or distributor to put a new label on every bottle. They will, naturally, pass those increased costs on to the consumer.
What if the governement changes it's guidelines? Do the back labels need to be scratched off and replaced with the new ones?
Please write to your MPs to prevent this nonsense.
Jonathan Hesford, Wolverhampton, England
The problems with drink are two-fold - health issues and public drunkenness.
Health in this respect (that of the choices we make about the legal substances which we use) is a private concern which the government should not play a part in, so that can be safely ignored.
Public drunkenness is unpleasant and dangerous. So simply do as they do here in Ontario - enforce the laws (which already exist in the UK) that prevent serving or selling alcohol to people who are already drunk, and minors, and don't allow open containers on the street. Job done!
And then all these nasty little nagging notices on bottles can be removed, leaving those of us who are responsible sensible adults to enjoy our alcohol in peace.
Margot, Toronto, Canada
The choice of whether or not one wants to drink to the point where they are incoherent and uncoordinated, either ocassionally or on a regular basis should be theirs. However when their subsequent uninhibited behaviour impacts on others it is entirely another matter.
It is not so much a question of what one drinks, or how frequently one drinks it, as the way it affects that person and those they come into contact with. The principle difficulty appears to be that a number of people are unable to say no, or in some cases have lost the ability to say no. As an addictions counsellor, I encounter many of the latter, the devastation that alcohol has visited on them and their families, their friends and colleagues has to be seen to be believed.
No amount of regulation will change this situation. We should not overlook the fact that it is regulation and ensuring that alcohol is cheaper in real terms than ever before which encourages people to spend more time drinking.
Peter O'Loughlin, Beckenham, UK
I agree that pregnant women should never ever drink a single drop of alcohol.
It's a known fact that the consumption of alcohol by a pregnant woman results in brain damage of the unborn.
We already have too many liberals, why make more.
Olin Ryan Faust, Morristown,
During 2005, 16,885 people in the U.S. died in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes, representing 39% of all traffic-related deaths.
"Drink responsibly" means "Don't get drunk and try to drive home". It means "Don't give yourself alcohol poisoning." It means "Drink as you will, but don't put yourself or others in danger."
Nobody's stopping you from drinking as much as you wish. If the warning labels are ineffective, you've lost nothing. If the warning labels have an effect, then maybe someone's death has been prevented.
The moral of the story: quit whining.
Carmen, Anchorage, Alaska
To be fair, one useful aspect of this would be to have the number of units in a drink published more clearly. Many alcopops and some beers already do this, but the rest of the time I often don't have a clue (especially with wine etc). To force bars to display this information would have the beneficial effect of allowing people to decide how much they want to drink and just giving them a heads up if certain drinks are stronger. The choice to drink or not, however, would be fully in their (now informed) hands.
It's also useful for broke students working out the maximum number of units of alcohol that can be bought for the minimum amount of money. Not sure that was the aim.
Liz, Manchester, UK
Getting worried how often I'm agreeing with Mick Hume these days, but of course he's right. If he'd had more room I dare say he might have added that the health police would also like to clobber us with higher taxes on alcohol, never mind they're already so high that people willing to take the time and trouble find it profitable to hop across the Channel for their supplies. So those of us who simply like a glass or two of wine with our meal would have to pay even more just because a minority don't know when to stop.
Barry , Wallington, UK
The Government must be seen to do something about people's unhealthy drinking habbits. With an increase in violent crime being reported by people who have been drinking I feel that they are being responsible in setting some guidance. Every individual is diffrent and what effects one person doesnt necessarily effect another. We dont want to live in a nanny state but we dont want people to have their health and mental well being put into turmoil through irresponsibe choices.
Bilal Lockart , London ,
Be warend - the health police are coming.
First they came for the cannabis users, I did nothing because I wasn't a cannabis user
Then they came for the tobacco smokers, I did nothing because I wasn't a tobacco smoker.
Now the come for the beer drinkers, and there's no oneleft to help me.
Personally, I am sich and tired of enforced good health, nearly as sick and tired as I am of politicians.
Derek Williams, Norwich, Norfolk
This type of government control is standard operating procedure, in a Socialist state.
Those labels will become law. After they become law, they will become more, & more restrictive. It's the Marxist way.
Aliene Clark, Valentine, Nebraska, USA
Have you not noticed how often slimy Tony Bliar is photographed with a nice cup of tea? See recent Private Eye for details.
Then again, perhaps I have misunderestimated him, and this is the start of the legalisation of the much safer drug, cannabis...
C Blackmore, Melksham, Airstrip One
What quality journalism! Have you bothered to check the figures Mick? The liver wards are filling up, British alcohol consumption is sky-rocketing while the rest of Europe is on a downward trend. It's not about young binge drinkers, it's about people your age, it's about the drinks industry upping the alcohol content and glass sizes (since when did a "small glass" of wine become 175ml?), it's about taking the long view. I don't think you can see further than your next pint of "premium".
Bob, London,
Ok, wow. It's a label, and it's a good idea. Too many people ruin their lives as well as the lives of others with alcohol - a warning label is not a bad thing.
And regarding pregnant women and drinking - good God. Of course there is no "double-blind placebo controlled" study. That would be totally inhumane.
There is enough evidence to suggest that alcohol consumption while pregnant causes brain damage to warrant a label. Is it really worth taking the chance? If a person is unable to abstain from alcohol consumption during pregnancy - such that a label like this would be offensive - that person might want to step back and sort out their priorities.
What is the problem, really? Why such opposition? I suspect there is a subconscious fear of admitting one has a problem...
Jason, Eau Claire, WI
A 'Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' can we have one like the Afghans to save us from ourselves?
There the post-Taliban new Labour controlled clerics want their people to "...move to God, through education, preaching and encouragement" without the need for special police, prison and clubs of the bad old days of the Taliban he cautiously added.. so said the Minister for Haj and Religious Affairs .
I don't mind changing "God" for 'New Labour government designed lifestyle' . A bit more of a mouthful, but much better than a mouthful of disgusting sinful beers and wines, the devil's pish I tell you. Better we do these things voluntarily than force our government to back up the education, preaching and encouragement with 'prison, special police and clubs' !
Dave, Edinburgh, UK
There already is an indication on every bottle of wine that tell us how much alcohol it contains. This is a world standard. The UK government wants to advertise its own alcohol maximums, requiring every producer, shipper or distributor to put a new label on every bottle. They will, naturally, pass those increased costs on to the consumer.
What if the governement changes it's guidelines? Do the back labels need to be scratched off and replaced with the new ones?
Please write to your MPs to prevent this nonsense.
Jonathan Hesford, Wolverhampton, England
The problems with drink are two-fold - health issues and public drunkenness.
Health in this respect (that of the choices we make about the legal substances which we use) is a private concern which the government should not play a part in, so that can be safely ignored.
Public drunkenness is unpleasant and dangerous. So simply do as they do here in Ontario - enforce the laws (which already exist in the UK) that prevent serving or selling alcohol to people who are already drunk, and minors, and don't allow open containers on the street. Job done!
And then all these nasty little nagging notices on bottles can be removed, leaving those of us who are responsible sensible adults to enjoy our alcohol in peace.
Margot, Toronto, Canada
The choice of whether or not one wants to drink to the point where they are incoherent and uncoordinated, either ocassionally or on a regular basis should be theirs. However when their subsequent uninhibited behaviour impacts on others it is entirely another matter.
It is not so much a question of what one drinks, or how frequently one drinks it, as the way it affects that person and those they come into contact with. The principle difficulty appears to be that a number of people are unable to say no, or in some cases have lost the ability to say no. As an addictions counsellor, I encounter many of the latter, the devastation that alcohol has visited on them and their families, their friends and colleagues has to be seen to be believed.
No amount of regulation will change this situation. We should not overlook the fact that it is regulation and ensuring that alcohol is cheaper in real terms than ever before which encourages people to spend more time drinking.
Peter O'Loughlin, Beckenham, UK
I agree that pregnant women should never ever drink a single drop of alcohol.
It's a known fact that the consumption of alcohol by a pregnant woman results in brain damage of the unborn.
We already have too many liberals, why make more.
Olin Ryan Faust, Morristown,
During 2005, 16,885 people in the U.S. died in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes, representing 39% of all traffic-related deaths.
"Drink responsibly" means "Don't get drunk and try to drive home". It means "Don't give yourself alcohol poisoning." It means "Drink as you will, but don't put yourself or others in danger."
Nobody's stopping you from drinking as much as you wish. If the warning labels are ineffective, you've lost nothing. If the warning labels have an effect, then maybe someone's death has been prevented.
The moral of the story: quit whining.
Carmen, Anchorage, Alaska
To be fair, one useful aspect of this would be to have the number of units in a drink published more clearly. Many alcopops and some beers already do this, but the rest of the time I often don't have a clue (especially with wine etc). To force bars to display this information would have the beneficial effect of allowing people to decide how much they want to drink and just giving them a heads up if certain drinks are stronger. The choice to drink or not, however, would be fully in their (now informed) hands.
It's also useful for broke students working out the maximum number of units of alcohol that can be bought for the minimum amount of money. Not sure that was the aim.
Liz, Manchester, UK
Getting worried how often I'm agreeing with Mick Hume these days, but of course he's right. If he'd had more room I dare say he might have added that the health police would also like to clobber us with higher taxes on alcohol, never mind they're already so high that people willing to take the time and trouble find it profitable to hop across the Channel for their supplies. So those of us who simply like a glass or two of wine with our meal would have to pay even more just because a minority don't know when to stop.
Barry , Wallington, UK
The Government must be seen to do something about people's unhealthy drinking habbits. With an increase in violent crime being reported by people who have been drinking I feel that they are being responsible in setting some guidance. Every individual is diffrent and what effects one person doesnt necessarily effect another. We dont want to live in a nanny state but we dont want people to have their health and mental well being put into turmoil through irresponsibe choices.
Bilal Lockart , London ,
Be warend - the health police are coming.
First they came for the cannabis users, I did nothing because I wasn't a cannabis user
Then they came for the tobacco smokers, I did nothing because I wasn't a tobacco smoker.
Now the come for the beer drinkers, and there's no oneleft to help me.
Personally, I am sich and tired of enforced good health, nearly as sick and tired as I am of politicians.
Derek Williams, Norwich, Norfolk
This type of government control is standard operating procedure, in a Socialist state.
Those labels will become law. After they become law, they will become more, & more restrictive. It's the Marxist way.
Aliene Clark, Valentine, Nebraska, USA
Have you not noticed how often slimy Tony Bliar is photographed with a nice cup of tea? See recent Private Eye for details.
Then again, perhaps I have misunderestimated him, and this is the start of the legalisation of the much safer drug, cannabis...
C Blackmore, Melksham, Airstrip One
What quality journalism! Have you bothered to check the figures Mick? The liver wards are filling up, British alcohol consumption is sky-rocketing while the rest of Europe is on a downward trend. It's not about young binge drinkers, it's about people your age, it's about the drinks industry upping the alcohol content and glass sizes (since when did a "small glass" of wine become 175ml?), it's about taking the long view. I don't think you can see further than your next pint of "premium".
Bob, London,
Ok, wow. It's a label, and it's a good idea. Too many people ruin their lives as well as the lives of others with alcohol - a warning label is not a bad thing.
And regarding pregnant women and drinking - good God. Of course there is no "double-blind placebo controlled" study. That would be totally inhumane.
There is enough evidence to suggest that alcohol consumption while pregnant causes brain damage to warrant a label. Is it really worth taking the chance? If a person is unable to abstain from alcohol consumption during pregnancy - such that a label like this would be offensive - that person might want to step back and sort out their priorities.
What is the problem, really? Why such opposition? I suspect there is a subconscious fear of admitting one has a problem...
Jason, Eau Claire, WI