Are current politicians turning into the new Victorians? I ask as in recent days there has been an increasing case of prudishness in a number of things that have been done.
Of course firstly the UK has decided to bring in line what is allowed in online pay on demand pronography with what is produced in DVD in this country. The new law bans scenes of caning, aggressive whipping, penetration with an object "associated with violence", physical or verbal abuse (regardless if it is consensual), urolagnia (ingesting during "water sports"), female ejaculation, strangulation and face sitting. This list seems more an arbitrary list of things the panel dislike rather than based on any reasoning as to dangers etc.
Over in Northern Ireland this week we have the latest stage of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill, which somehow is actually the introduction of the Nordic model on all sex workers including those that aren't trafficked or exploited. One of the amendments on Monday even raised the question, which the DUP refrained from answering were they now looking to ban lap dancing, strippergrams or kissograms with the clause of B touching themselves for the sexual gratification of A, whilst B is in physical proximity to A.
Of course with also all the moves as well to bring in a minimum price for a unit of alcohol it seems that those in power are trying to restrict people's morality to suit their perceptions.
So are our politicians becoming modern day Victorians with their attacks on the modern day equivalents of whore houses and gin joints? Are we entering the early stage of prohibition on a number of activities that the free market always seems to have provided through time immemorial.
Somehow, somewhere people will still access the sex workers that they want to, although by pushing it underground you are making it less likely that victims will come forward for support when they need to. People will still find ways to consume cheap alcohol, though if they are forced to set up illicit stills will what they produce be safe. As for porn, well as Avenue Q famously tell us, "The Internet is for...PORN!" somewhere out there in the unmanageable back streets of the interwebs there will still be British productions of all the porn that has just been made illegal. How you find it? How you determine it was made in a room in the UK (when all rooms can look alike)? How you can persecute the content creator who may well use a foreign domain? These are the questions that politicians have not and will not answer through their prudishness.
* Apologies to the all the debauched, drunkard and promiscuous Victorians that lived. Some of your generation gave your entire era a bad name as goody two shoeses.
Though if you are viewing this in the UK terms and conditions now apply so maybe the Internet isn't quite so great...
Showing posts with label Alcohol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alcohol. Show all posts
Thursday, 4 December 2014
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Banbridge Oktoberfest denied beer
Someone in Banbridge came up with the good idea of holding an Oktoberfest in Solitude Park. It would have brought people to the County Down town to sample beers and hospitality in a controlled way before the winter rolls in.
However, the puritans (AKA the Democratic and Ulster Unionist Parties) have stepped in to keep the temperance movement alive and well in the 21st Century and banned any temporary license to serve alcohol in the park for the weekend festival. Initially the DUP were against the whole event but Alliance, Sinn Féin the SDLP and two of the UUP group voted down the objections to holding the event. However, an Oktoberfest without any amber nectar defeats one of the cultural points of the festival.
DUP Councillor Junior McCrum said:
Not according to event organiser Neil Loy, who said that along with the beer tents there would be yodelling competitions, German singalongs, traditional Oompah-pah bands, a visiting performance from one of BBC's The Voice contestants and traditional German food such as bratwurst sausages from an open charcoal swing grill.
Maybe Mr McCrum should visit some places where there are temporary licensed outdoor premises, like the Christmas and Continental market in Belfast, Belfast Pride or similar. People still are able to enjoy themselves and the drinkers are disrespectful to others using the area. Indeed such events, as they often charge a premium for their alcohol are actually usually a better behaved crowd than you would see weekend in, weekend out in most of our town centres.
Earlier I'd called those unionist councillors opposed to this temporary alcohol license puritans. You'd almost expect them to stop dancing, Christmas or kids playing in parks on a Sunday. Of course there is one thing that the modern day Northern Irish puritan differs from his English forebears, unlike Cromwell et al, they don't want to get rid of the monarchy as well as jollity, enjoyment and fun.
However, the puritans (AKA the Democratic and Ulster Unionist Parties) have stepped in to keep the temperance movement alive and well in the 21st Century and banned any temporary license to serve alcohol in the park for the weekend festival. Initially the DUP were against the whole event but Alliance, Sinn Féin the SDLP and two of the UUP group voted down the objections to holding the event. However, an Oktoberfest without any amber nectar defeats one of the cultural points of the festival.
DUP Councillor Junior McCrum said:
"We spent £1.5m on Solitude to turn it into a space for people to walk and enjoy the park without being subjected to verbal abuse.
"Does everything have to revolve around drink?"
Not according to event organiser Neil Loy, who said that along with the beer tents there would be yodelling competitions, German singalongs, traditional Oompah-pah bands, a visiting performance from one of BBC's The Voice contestants and traditional German food such as bratwurst sausages from an open charcoal swing grill.
Maybe Mr McCrum should visit some places where there are temporary licensed outdoor premises, like the Christmas and Continental market in Belfast, Belfast Pride or similar. People still are able to enjoy themselves and the drinkers are disrespectful to others using the area. Indeed such events, as they often charge a premium for their alcohol are actually usually a better behaved crowd than you would see weekend in, weekend out in most of our town centres.
Earlier I'd called those unionist councillors opposed to this temporary alcohol license puritans. You'd almost expect them to stop dancing, Christmas or kids playing in parks on a Sunday. Of course there is one thing that the modern day Northern Irish puritan differs from his English forebears, unlike Cromwell et al, they don't want to get rid of the monarchy as well as jollity, enjoyment and fun.
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Amy Winehouse another gone at 27
On 3 July 1969, 18 September 1970, 4 October 1970, 3 July 1971, 5 April 1994 and today we lost some of the iconic names in music. In order they were Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, Jim Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse, they all died aged 27.
In the case of Amy it is even more tragic as her top charting single, while she was alive*, was Rehab which of course opens with the line. "They tried to make me go to rehad, I said No, No, No!". She lived out her addiction in the public eye. They were court appearances for possession and her ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil once told a magazine interview that he had introduced the singer to crack cocaine and herorin.
Her father said that he and his family made public statements about her substance and alcohol abuse as a form of intervention to get her to get help. In October last year she cliamed that she had been drug free, but earlier this year in a comeback performance in Slovakia she appeared obviously drunk on stange and her come back tour was cancelled.
She was a talent, but for whatever reason, and her parents believe it was the death of her grandmother in 2006, she plunged into addiction.
If you are or know someone who has an addiction to drugs or substance you can get help just Talk to Frank free at 0800 77 66 00, by texting 82111. For Alcoholics Anonymous call 0845 769 7555 (charged at local rates from a BT landline)
In the meantime here is my favourite Winehouse song Back to Black
* There is possibly going to be a bigger hit now she is dead.
- Jones 27 and 125 days
- Hendrix 295 days
- Joplin 258 days
- Morrison 207 days
- Cobain 44 days
- Winehouse 314 days
In the case of Amy it is even more tragic as her top charting single, while she was alive*, was Rehab which of course opens with the line. "They tried to make me go to rehad, I said No, No, No!". She lived out her addiction in the public eye. They were court appearances for possession and her ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil once told a magazine interview that he had introduced the singer to crack cocaine and herorin.
Her father said that he and his family made public statements about her substance and alcohol abuse as a form of intervention to get her to get help. In October last year she cliamed that she had been drug free, but earlier this year in a comeback performance in Slovakia she appeared obviously drunk on stange and her come back tour was cancelled.
She was a talent, but for whatever reason, and her parents believe it was the death of her grandmother in 2006, she plunged into addiction.
If you are or know someone who has an addiction to drugs or substance you can get help just Talk to Frank free at 0800 77 66 00, by texting 82111. For Alcoholics Anonymous call 0845 769 7555 (charged at local rates from a BT landline)
In the meantime here is my favourite Winehouse song Back to Black
* There is possibly going to be a bigger hit now she is dead.
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Crossing Dublin without alcoholic temptation
"A good puzzle would be to cross Dublin without passing a pub."
Well a computer engineer, with way too much time on his hands, and way too much sobriety, thinks that he has come up with the solution. Read his explanation for more of how he used modern technology to chart his route.
However, there is a caveat. When Joyce wrote Ulysses serialised from 1918-1920 and printed in full in 1922, there were probably more pubs in Dublin. So does anyone else want to map the known pubs of that time and see if it is possible?
Although why anyone would want to be in Dublin and totally miss out a pub is anyone's guess. Sláinte.
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
Top 'o The Morning
It is St. Patrick's Day so I'm going to round up some Irish news stories this morning.
First up and some sad news for Cardiff Blogger, Jedward have been dropped by Sony after just one single. John and Edward Grimes who were Louis Walsh's last remaining act on the show released their cover of Under Pressure mashed up with Ice, Ice Baby but it was kept off the top slot by Owl City and then dropped like a stone the following week.
Walsh said:
"I'm completely committed to Jedward and I know they still have a great career ahead of them.“I am in talks with a major record label about a new deal for them."
The Metro is telling me that tomorrow's hangover will cost the UK economy £560 million. Almost a quarter of all workers will be nursing a hangover tomorrow. Now I know us Irish are renowned for breeding like rabbits but seriously 11.5 million adult Brits claiming to be Irish, I'll await next years census results with interest.
Chris Sorek of Drinkaware urges caution:
"If you are heading out after work, have a big, late lunch. It's also a good idea to pace yourself with non-alcoholic drinks and plenty of water and opt out of rounds."
Back home in Northern Ireland it is the big day for school sport. Belfast Royal Academy face Ballymena Academy in the Northern Bank School's Cup final for rugby at Ulster's Ravenhill ground. St. Malachy's college will face De La Salle in the Maxol Direct Senior Cup for football at Lisburn Distillery's New Grosvenor Stadium. While in Gaelic Football Omagh Christian Brothers School faces St Colman's, Newry for the MacRory Cup at Casement Park.
And finally The Irish Times tells us that we may have been celebrating the Irish Saint's day over 6 weeks ago on 1 February if Patrick hadn't outdone Brigid of Kildare in the nations affections for patronage.
"WHILE ST PATRICK has had the edge in terms of recognition as Ireland’s patron since the dawn of recorded history, St Patrick’s Day has only been a national holiday in Ireland since 1903, when the British Parliament passed the Bank Holiday (Ireland) Act. St Patrick’s Day parades have a somewhat longer pedigree, with the earliest recorded taking place in 1762 in Manhattan, when the participants were Irish-born British soldiers. Parading for St Patrick’s Day does not seem to date back any further than the 19th century in Ireland."
I won't tell the Cheltenham Festival, Guinness, New York or Boston etc if you don't.
Anyway that is it for this morning. Sláinte mhaith.
Thursday, 8 October 2009
There Must Have Been Wastage in Tory PPC's Glass
On The Daily Politics today Andrew Neill asked Lord Tam Strathclyde the leader in the Lords if Eric Pickles had restricted Tory PPCs to one unit of alcohol a night. You can watch the exchange here on BBC iPlayer.
Now of course one unit isn't very much. Indeed it isn't even a full drink. So what could they have drunk.
A half pint 284ml of beer under 3.5% abv would have been fine. But in Manchester the Cream of the City ie Boddingtons t osatisfy most would have to be drunk from a can of 3.8% abv, but don't drink all the 330ml can. The draft is 4.1% so just over a unit, but the pub ale is 4.8%.
Those looking to take on the Lib Dems in the South West would have been denied their cider. Regular cider at 5% is about 1.4 units a half pint.
A weak wine of 8% served in a 125ml glass would be one unit but most wines are more like 12% bars and hotels sell in 175 or 250 ml glasses. so 12% in the 250 ml comes in at 2.4 units a shot oops.
As for an alcopop at 1.4 to 1.5 units per bottle again best to avoid.
As for that glass of champagne that David Cameron drank, hope he left a third of it, at 1.5 units a glass he's have been over his limit and Eric will have had to have words.
So a single of spirits it is then. A 25ml measure of spirits would be fine one unit exactly, just check you weren't being served the increasingly popular large single measure of 35 ml.
So after carefully drinking their unit and leaving their unemptied glass to one side there really must have been a lot of spare alcohol sitting around in glasses in Manchester.
Maybe after all the orange juice Tory PPC's must have been quaffing they really were as clean cut as the High School Musical kids and for a grand finale really did fill the basketball court to sing "We're All in This Together".
Now of course one unit isn't very much. Indeed it isn't even a full drink. So what could they have drunk.
A half pint 284ml of beer under 3.5% abv would have been fine. But in Manchester the Cream of the City ie Boddingtons t osatisfy most would have to be drunk from a can of 3.8% abv, but don't drink all the 330ml can. The draft is 4.1% so just over a unit, but the pub ale is 4.8%.
Those looking to take on the Lib Dems in the South West would have been denied their cider. Regular cider at 5% is about 1.4 units a half pint.
A weak wine of 8% served in a 125ml glass would be one unit but most wines are more like 12% bars and hotels sell in 175 or 250 ml glasses. so 12% in the 250 ml comes in at 2.4 units a shot oops.
As for an alcopop at 1.4 to 1.5 units per bottle again best to avoid.
As for that glass of champagne that David Cameron drank, hope he left a third of it, at 1.5 units a glass he's have been over his limit and Eric will have had to have words.
So a single of spirits it is then. A 25ml measure of spirits would be fine one unit exactly, just check you weren't being served the increasingly popular large single measure of 35 ml.
So after carefully drinking their unit and leaving their unemptied glass to one side there really must have been a lot of spare alcohol sitting around in glasses in Manchester.
Maybe after all the orange juice Tory PPC's must have been quaffing they really were as clean cut as the High School Musical kids and for a grand finale really did fill the basketball court to sing "We're All in This Together".
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
They Couldn’t Organise a P*** Up in ….Well Anywhere
The SNP Government brought in its new licensing laws yesterday, the net result is that several licensed premises have been forced to either shut, or open illegally across the country. One of the worst hits areas was North Lanarkshire where 25 premises were forced to shut.
Some of those affected have said that their renewal claims were in before the 28 February cut off under which the licensing board, within 182 days, is legally obliged to consider an application. The fact that some of these have merely been told to remain shut until further notice after 6 months of consideration shows a failure on the behalf of certain licensing boards. Those being punished for their slackness should not be the licensee, in most cases they appear to have done everything by the book, but the boards’ failures to comply to their requirements under the law.
Frankie O'Connor, whose wife is licensee of The Clock Bar in Coatbridge, said:
"My business is now closing through no fault whatsoever of my own. I submitted my application last October, paid around £5000 for the privilege of selling alcohol after today but am now being told I'll have to close until they get around to processing my application.
"This is because of their processes, not me, but it will be me and my staff suffering. There's no consistency here. It's taken four years to get to this point and there's not a man who hasn't made a mistake but in no other area are they being shut down.
"There's a chain here. I suffer, my staff suffer, their families and the people in the supply chain suffer. That's aside from our regulars."
Elsewhere is off licenses there is still confusion over the new laws it was initially though that that promotions in shops were not to be targeted however Gavin Partlington, a spokesman for the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, has said:
"In the last few days we've had evidence from local licensing officers and the police that shops offering things like three bottles of wine for a tenner now won't be allowed to because of the legislation.
"Our fear is that consumers are not aware of how they may be affected by this legislation, depending on how different licensing boards interpret it.
"The reason is that we've not had specific up-to-date guidance from the Scottish Government."
It is possible that the SNP have given us a headline grabbing campaign against binge drinking but have been so vague on the details of the legislation they pushed through. So vague indeed that they themselves are now unable to give guidance to those that are required to enact the legislation. Heaven be it for me to point fingers but one of the reason that people are often unable to organise a p*** up in brewery is because they forget about the detail, all the requirements are there in place just the lack of planning and foresight.
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
If You Gonna Do It, Do It Right
The SNP wanted to sneak in their alcohol minimum pricing policy, and other alcohol related laws, in as an amendment to the 2005 Licencing Bill. However, with the far reaching ramifications of it in European law and to Scottish industry in distilling and brewing the business committee has quite correctly in my opinion said it should be presented as primary legislation.
The differences are that as a piece of Primary legislation these proposals will get the parliamentary time and scrutiny they deserve. The legal ramifications can be fully looked into, something that the SNP may well have been trying to avoid by tagging it as an amendment to existing legislation.
However, the fact the the party that wants to lead us into an Independent Scotland is prepared to flaunt, edge around or downright ignore or overrule existing legislation is a worrying concept. What would they do if they had carte blanche over all legislation in Scotland. We've already seen worrying signs that they will whip up what exists and not necessarily replace it immediately, PPP/PFI has yet to be replaced with the Scotland Futures Trust for example. They are only willing to do things their way, look at Budget the First's failure earlier this year. So it does lead to the question. Can a party which already wants to shirk around European or UK law really be trusted to do the same with Scottish law, even if they want to be part of Europe?
The differences are that as a piece of Primary legislation these proposals will get the parliamentary time and scrutiny they deserve. The legal ramifications can be fully looked into, something that the SNP may well have been trying to avoid by tagging it as an amendment to existing legislation.
However, the fact the the party that wants to lead us into an Independent Scotland is prepared to flaunt, edge around or downright ignore or overrule existing legislation is a worrying concept. What would they do if they had carte blanche over all legislation in Scotland. We've already seen worrying signs that they will whip up what exists and not necessarily replace it immediately, PPP/PFI has yet to be replaced with the Scotland Futures Trust for example. They are only willing to do things their way, look at Budget the First's failure earlier this year. So it does lead to the question. Can a party which already wants to shirk around European or UK law really be trusted to do the same with Scottish law, even if they want to be part of Europe?
Monday, 23 February 2009
Don't Drink and U-Turn
Be careful that Kenny MacAskill hasn't been drinking before performing the next hand brake turn in SNP policy. For as a comment on Kez's blog also failed to omit any mention of plans to review alcohol policy possibly because this is going to be watered down from what was originally announced it seems.
The SNP were promising that they would lift the minimum age for off sales to 21 across Scotland, yet it seems that MacAskill is leaving this decision up to local authorities rather than making a central decision. There is also a problem with the pledge to make business pay for the social problems associated with alcohol. The proposed separate checkout for alcohol sales is also likely to be dropped.
Don't forget that no matter what ends up remaining in the policy paper brought forward the Nats had promised far reaching steps to deal with a major problem. If they are truly watering down their plans it is not because they are being less authoritarian probably more to do with trying to get at least part of this one through. But again it is another climb down as they are unable to argue their corner.
The SNP were promising that they would lift the minimum age for off sales to 21 across Scotland, yet it seems that MacAskill is leaving this decision up to local authorities rather than making a central decision. There is also a problem with the pledge to make business pay for the social problems associated with alcohol. The proposed separate checkout for alcohol sales is also likely to be dropped.
Don't forget that no matter what ends up remaining in the policy paper brought forward the Nats had promised far reaching steps to deal with a major problem. If they are truly watering down their plans it is not because they are being less authoritarian probably more to do with trying to get at least part of this one through. But again it is another climb down as they are unable to argue their corner.
Monday, 10 November 2008
Labour Back Sensible Drinking Plans
The Government in Westminster is taking onboard some of the more sensible and enforceable plans from the SNP's drink policy* on in England and Wales.
In order to take on the problem of drink fuelled disorder they are looking at banning pub happy hours and ensuring that supermarkets do not sell alcohol as a loss leader. They said that the biggest problem faced by police forces was violence and disorder caused by excessive drinking of cheap alcohol. SNP please note this is not an age dependent issue.
The report also claims that increased police powers to tackle drunkenness were not working and powers to review or revoke premises' alcohol licences were not being fully used. This was emphasised last week when one sheriff overruled a decision by one Scottish council to revoke one off-licence owner's licence having been found on three occasions to sell to underage drinkers. If council licensing boards are unable to control this power at present without judges claiming that they are restricting trade how does the SNP ever hope top enforce the law with a different criteria.
*These are also some of the points highlighted in the recently passed Scottish Liberal Democrats policy countering the SNP's plans.
In order to take on the problem of drink fuelled disorder they are looking at banning pub happy hours and ensuring that supermarkets do not sell alcohol as a loss leader. They said that the biggest problem faced by police forces was violence and disorder caused by excessive drinking of cheap alcohol. SNP please note this is not an age dependent issue.
The report also claims that increased police powers to tackle drunkenness were not working and powers to review or revoke premises' alcohol licences were not being fully used. This was emphasised last week when one sheriff overruled a decision by one Scottish council to revoke one off-licence owner's licence having been found on three occasions to sell to underage drinkers. If council licensing boards are unable to control this power at present without judges claiming that they are restricting trade how does the SNP ever hope top enforce the law with a different criteria.
*These are also some of the points highlighted in the recently passed Scottish Liberal Democrats policy countering the SNP's plans.
Friday, 3 October 2008
Safe Sex or Jailed for Sex
Kathleen Marshall Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People has slammed the SNP's Sexual Offence's Bill asking for it to be postponed while further evidence to the effect was gathered. The bill which would make it a crime for 13 to 15 year olds girls from having sex with those of the same age she says could well deter underage girls seeking medical advise of assistance if they were also facing criminal proceedings when requiring medical advice.
When the Nats proposed the equality measure in June it was counter to the Scottish Law Commission call to decriminalise young teenagers from having consensual sex. They claimed it was a conflict to the safe sex message they wanted to pursue.
However, what happens if a girl does become sexually active before the age of 16 and wants to seek birth control, pregnancy, or STI advise. If she has to go to a Doctor she would know under this legislation that she is liable to be taken before a children's hearing and have that on her record. She may seek street advise, a backstreet abortion or go full term without medical assistance.
Is this safe?
The SNP seem determined to be a parent to us all, they think that they can deter underage drinking by raising the off sales age higher. They think they will stop underage sex and make it safe with this new legislation. While they do highlight issues by being so heavy handed in the approach they are taking they are making forbidden fruit more inviting to people of an age where rebellion and finding your own way has always been the way.
Education for responsible drinking and sexual activity are more important than banning, because no doubt underage drinking and sex will still go on and the health issues will still need to be dealt with. However, if seeking medical assistance leads to a criminal record will such assistance be sought.
When the Nats proposed the equality measure in June it was counter to the Scottish Law Commission call to decriminalise young teenagers from having consensual sex. They claimed it was a conflict to the safe sex message they wanted to pursue.
However, what happens if a girl does become sexually active before the age of 16 and wants to seek birth control, pregnancy, or STI advise. If she has to go to a Doctor she would know under this legislation that she is liable to be taken before a children's hearing and have that on her record. She may seek street advise, a backstreet abortion or go full term without medical assistance.
Is this safe?
The SNP seem determined to be a parent to us all, they think that they can deter underage drinking by raising the off sales age higher. They think they will stop underage sex and make it safe with this new legislation. While they do highlight issues by being so heavy handed in the approach they are taking they are making forbidden fruit more inviting to people of an age where rebellion and finding your own way has always been the way.
Education for responsible drinking and sexual activity are more important than banning, because no doubt underage drinking and sex will still go on and the health issues will still need to be dealt with. However, if seeking medical assistance leads to a criminal record will such assistance be sought.
Wednesday, 17 September 2008
Students Sensible Over Drinking
Unlike certain members of the political leadership Scottish student leaders are showing sense in targeting the real issues of our binge drinking culture. It isn't the age that is the problem it is the promotions, CARDAS (the Campaign Against Raising the Drinking Age in Scotland) are slamming promoters who organise booze tours etc.
Seeing as these events would be happening in clubs or Union Bars the SNP's proposals to ban off sales to under 21s would not curb these promotions of irresponsible drinking. It is these sort of promotions and excessive drinking spree's that young people once they start on can lead to irresponsible attitudes and unhealthy relationship to alcohol. There's no denying that binge drinking is a major issue but while promoters are still freely promoting such hedonism with the bottle to young people surely there is a flaw in the system, which the ban on off-sales is not tackling at the root, merely an outpouring of our acceptance that binging is acceptable and promotion worthy.
Seeing as these events would be happening in clubs or Union Bars the SNP's proposals to ban off sales to under 21s would not curb these promotions of irresponsible drinking. It is these sort of promotions and excessive drinking spree's that young people once they start on can lead to irresponsible attitudes and unhealthy relationship to alcohol. There's no denying that binge drinking is a major issue but while promoters are still freely promoting such hedonism with the bottle to young people surely there is a flaw in the system, which the ban on off-sales is not tackling at the root, merely an outpouring of our acceptance that binging is acceptable and promotion worthy.
Sunday, 29 June 2008
Supermarkets, Booze, SNP and the Border
Way back on 18 June over at Jeff's blog he rejected my comment that the SNP price per unit policy would lead to booze drives over the border to England. Something I'd earlier that day covered in more detail here.
Well it appears that the Supermarkets themselves are thinking of ways to circumvent just such a proposal. ASDA chiefs say there is nothing to stop them setting up distribution centres south of the Border so that online Scottish shoppers can pay English prices. That could be worrying for the workers at the supermarkets distribution centres that currently hug the M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
So while the SNP are salivating over the possibility of declaring internet independence by changing Government address from .uk to .sco the same world wide web also is a reminder that the border with Englandshire is only about 70 miles away from our two major cities. So making too radical a change in Scotland can affect commerce, jobs etc by companies merely moving that short hop.
Well it appears that the Supermarkets themselves are thinking of ways to circumvent just such a proposal. ASDA chiefs say there is nothing to stop them setting up distribution centres south of the Border so that online Scottish shoppers can pay English prices. That could be worrying for the workers at the supermarkets distribution centres that currently hug the M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
So while the SNP are salivating over the possibility of declaring internet independence by changing Government address from .uk to .sco the same world wide web also is a reminder that the border with Englandshire is only about 70 miles away from our two major cities. So making too radical a change in Scotland can affect commerce, jobs etc by companies merely moving that short hop.
Monday, 23 June 2008
Child Porn Compared to Drinking At Home!
"There is some suggestion that what you do in your own home doesn't really matter. That you can drink yourself to oblivion and it's your right. I think there are two arguments against that.
"First, we don't simply allow people to do anything they want. We don't allow people to watch internet porn relating to children or some other vile matters in their own home because it impacts on others. We don't allow people to consume recreational drugs in their own home because they want to and they say it won't do any harm.
"There are things that we decide as a society, and as a Government, as a Parliament, that are inappropriate. That's why we say that there has to be a speed limit, that there have to be restrictions on illicit substances, that there have to be constraints on pornography. These things, some argue, are harmless. No, they are not. And secondly what we have to say is that the abuse of alcohol by an individual in their own house does impact on others."
So says Kenny MacAskill, now nicknamed Kenny MacAskilljoy by Scotland on Sunday in defence of the SNP's latest policy initiatives regarding alcohol consumption. I thought the quote would have to be given in full and I just find it unbelievable that such far reaching comparisons were made. In this statement Mr MacAskill does appear to be lumping all home consumers of alcohol with child pornographers, illegal drug takes and speed fiends on our roads. While these three all do hold serious consequences either for the person involved or others drinking at home does not always affect others adversely.
So while Mr MacAskill does seem to pointing out the extremes of drinking at home and how it affects others surely this is covered under domestic violence legislation etc. The plans to raise costs, ages of purchasing from off licences are not going to affect these hard core drinkers he seems out to stop. They have a disease which needs treating, these actions aren't going to affect their ability or willingness to get hold of their daily does of alcohol. What all these plans does do is inconvenience the mild drinkers disproportionately. Don't label all at home drinkers along with child pornographers or shooting up drug addicts, that is overkill, using the same fear tactics that Labour seem so prone to push to when nobody else will agree with them.
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