This remains a debate about something that has existed for as long as drink has,the only time I can recall there being no drunken violence is the 90's (e's are good),80's=football violence, 70's = punks &teds & skins & more football violence,60's = mods & rockers, 50's = razor gangs-teddy boys, 40's = a war , ad infinitum .
As for the vilification of the working classes I stand by that,I made a general point that was misconstrued as a specific one (of course anyone who kicks to death another person deserves to be vilified)
I make no apologies for making a political point,this is(as are most things) a political subject.
The present media hysteria about binge drinking is a cheap conjuring trick,it is smoke and mirrors,misdirection,while you are looking the other way we are all being shafted.
last post on this subject.
P.S. I also stand by my statement that if a person has an inclination towards violent behaviour,it is there drunk or sober,alcohol may reduce your control it does not change you on any basic level.
There could be many factors that could contribute to binge drinking.
Death of a person that is loved and missed, relationship or marriage breakdown, bullying, peer pressure, bad parenting, no future prospects, to name a few.
All these could lead to low self esteem, drink and drugs is something that you could hide behind use it to cover up the real way you feel. But I think what happens a lot of the time is the real frustrated you comes out. So I think what stagger said about it doesn’t change a personality is somewhat true. The real personality only comes out when the alcohol takes over, as we lose the ability to control our hidden self.
Before anyone once again asks if I live in an ivory tower, or sees life through rose tinting glasses, no I don’t.
My father was an alcoholic he was never physically abusive but was mentally abusive which sometimes is worse. I know why he was like this he had insecurities which we understood he had never gotten over the loss of his mother at the age of 10, not that it made how he treated us right, but when not under drink we just knew he loved us. I don’t think drink changed his personality it was his insecurities that did. Plus I have helped and nursed my dad through 3 suicide attempts.
So when I make a post it is on my own experiences in life not through rose coloured glasses.
I have vowed to myself never to drink at home with my children around, yes I have had a drink when we have been out with the children to a restaurant etc, and they have witnessed me a little tipsy. But I only have done this a couple of times a year. I never drink on a regular basis I feel it all becomes the norm. My brother went the same way as my dad he was different under drink was the life and sole of a party as he had no insecurities to overcome.
I think binge drinking is something that need more care and understanding, not for these children always to be labelled problems, more understanding about why a lot of them do it may help. It isnt just children with these problems.
Lets take a place like Bristol, how many are on the street looking for booze? 5000? A majority would be 2501, They are not all roaming the streets beating up people.
This is what happens. A bar closes, some who were there just to booze now have to find something new to do. It really is a small number of those coming out of the bar, believe me!
Now there are many personality that each of us have. We hide them! Drink, washes away the ones we think we should show the world. It could be said that is when the real person comes out. So a group, normally friends find something to do. Break windows, have ago at someone. It may end there. Sometimes a person comes along and tries to stop it. It is at that time that real trouble starts. That is one reason that police put a show on outside of bars etc when they close. The best way to stop trouble is to keep people moving until they break up and go home or find another bar.
The police can only act to pick up drunk who are incapable of looking after themselves, to stop a breach of the peace or to arrest someone who has committed a crime.
Drunks are normally left in the hands of friends to take them home, there are just to many.
When the whole street is full of singing drunks, it is hard to arrest them all. It would not go down well with the Sergeant, court or the public. At least not the public that are singing there way home.
When there has been a crime, there is a lot, mostly committed by just a few.
Would I like to lock up those who commit the crime? Yes! Do the police get a chance? Mostly they are looking after the fouls who drink to much, but are basically nice people. Most cities have an overlapping shift at the time bars turn out. It is just to sit and look good outside pubs, to disperse trouble before it starts. Since the 24 hour licencing that double shift has had to become longer. Far from reducing crime it has increased the cost of preventing trouble.
Take a look at the stories on the site and see how many of them have references to drink, such as 'by now she was well tipsy', 'we'd had a few too many', 'John was so out of it he didn't realise' etc etc. I skip those stories as if the action is alcohol induced or facilitated it loses any erotic value for me.
Living out of the UK and looking back it seems pretty clear that alcohol abuse not only widespread but also something no-one is ashamed of. I write this in full knowledge of the fact that years ago as a student I spent most weekends doing what wasn't then known as binge drinking.
I can remember once when I was drunk, it was just once. Now I do intake all manor of booze, but never to the point of being drunk, or tipsy.
Aah, but what is drunk, tipsy and just relaxed?
Perhaps we should all get drunk once in a controlled environment?
no one is going to flame anyone directly on here. I think what's happened and I felt this also is that sometimes parents get blamed for so much. I get so angry, frustrated and upset when us as parents do all we can to 'prevent' our kids from any harm, drinking smoking etc.
