NationStates Jolt Archive

Yeah, we know what's good for you. Stop drinking, smoking, carrying knives, eating fatty food, yadda yadda...

Is there no limit to how far a government will go to "make sure you're safe"?

Is nothing Holy anymore? (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081122/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_drinking_deaths;_ylt=Ag_HT3r1khlj9CshzHCZokSs0NUE)

British may ban 'happy hour' as drink deaths rise
By GREGORY KATZ, Associated Press Writer Gregory Katz, Associated Press Writer 1 hr 5 mins ago

LONDON – Britain is considering a ban on "happy hour" discounts at bars and restaurants to curb drinking, a spokesman said Saturday, as health advocates warned that a rise in liver-related deaths among young people may signal a future epidemic.

Health officials will decide on whether to ban the happy hours — designated times for discount drinks — once an independent policy review is published in coming weeks, a health department spokesman said on customary condition of anonymity.

The proposal was one of several aimed at stemming a trend in binge drinking in recent years, particularly among teenagers and young adults. The government also plans to spend 10 million pounds ($15 million) on a new public awareness campaign, and wants to improve enforcement of laws against underage drinking.

A health advocacy group said some of those young people were now showing signs of liver-related damage usually seen in older people.

Given that it can take 15 to 20 years for liver disease to develop, the British Liver Trust warned that the figures suggested the problem would only get worse.

"We're seeing a steep increase of deaths in people in their 20s and 30s," Trust spokeswoman Imogen Shillito said. "This indicates a big problem for many years to come."

National statistics show a steady rise in the number of alcohol-related deaths that typically fell heavy drinkers in their 40s and 50s who have abused alcohol for decades. From 1991 to 2006, the number of such deaths more than doubled to 8,758.

Alcohol-related deaths among people aged 25 to 29 were 40 percent higher in 2006 than the year before, Shillito said, citing national statistics.

Shillito said low prices for alcohol had helped encourage drinking among British youths, noting "they can buy alcohol with their pocket money."

The government plans to base its new alcohol policies, including possible new programs to help people reduce consumption, on the upcoming review by the School of Health and Related Research at the University of Sheffield.

Officials say the report should clarify whether retail practices lead to excessive drinking. They are considering a ban on a number of practices, including drinking games and speed-drinking events popular at some British pubs.

Its because theres no longer anything to be happy about. Gordon Brown's campaign is nearing completion. Soon the UK will be ruled from Hollyrood.

"They are considering a ban on a number of practices, including drinking games" - aye try implementing THAT one. They going to lock all students up for the duration of Fresher's Week or something?

It's already banned in Glasgow. It never made a difference, either way.

Let's see if we can compile a list of things that must be banned because they are 'bad' for you:

Tobacco
Alcohol
Gambling
Non-procreative sex
Fast cars
Motorcycles
Fried food

And there are things we must regulate because they may be 'bad' for you in excess:

Firearms
Red meat
Fatty foods
Potentially hazardous sports
Loud music
Coffee
Sugar
Thinking too much


Anything else for the list? I'm sure Big Brother would take much better care of us if you are all forthcoming and volunteer anything else that needs to be banned or regulated.

Long overdue. Al Murray just isn't funny anymore

*Realises no one outside the UK will understand that reference*:p

Long overdue. Al Murray just isn't funny anymore

*Realises no one outside the UK will understand that reference*:p

I'm from the US, and I get it. Rotten TV program - did anyone actually think it was funny?

there are bars that still have happy hours :confused:

SNIP

yeah what do those health professionals know!

Long overdue. Al Murray just isn't funny anymore

*Realises no one outside the UK will understand that reference*:p

Al would not be impressed. This is one rule too many. And where are who would we be if we had too many rules?

Audience: GERMANY!

That's right. Germany. And where would we be if we had no rules?

Audience: FRANCE!

if the government can just enact the right set of laws we'll all live forever!

Right, because people can't make decisions themselves. They have to be made FOR them.

if the government can just enact the right set of laws we'll all live forever!

In misery.

Right, because people can't make decisions themselves. They have to be made FOR them.

*looks around*

...erm

In misery.

I'd just like to point out how incredibly healthy safe sex is ;)

In misery.
hey, we're only promised the pursuit of happiness, not happiness itself.

:rolleyes:

The Government should just have a few drinks and take it fucking easy.

Hopefully it will keep the alcopop swilling fourteen-year olds out of the pubs leaving me and my Jack Russell in peace with a pint of porter and a packet of pork scratchings

Let's see if we can compile a list of things that must be banned because they are 'bad' for you:

*list*

And there are things we must regulate because they may be 'bad' for you in excess:

*list*

Anything else for the list? I'm sure Big Brother would take much better care of us if you are all forthcoming and volunteer anything else that needs to be banned or regulated.
Heh, the funny thing is none of those things were banned by Big Brother. Or, at least, there's no indication they were banned. There's even that whole section about how pornography is manufactured by the government, then distributed to secret vendors so the proles think they are buying something illicit.

Slightly more on-topic, this seems like a fairly sensible policy, but I guess it makes sense to commission a study first and see whether implementing it will really work. If it should prove so, full steam ahead.

Long overdue. Al Murray just isn't funny anymore

I hate that fucker. I really, really hate that fucker. *clenches fists*

OP, don't have happy hour at home so I'm used to its absence.

Since life is the leading cause of death, perhaps we should just ban it.

It's already banned in Glasgow. It never made a difference, either way.

This is true, I remember the intelectual debate:

Happy Hour cons: two hands, one mouth = hugh problem

Happy hour pros: five beers have as many calories as a burger, screw dinner.

They won't ban it. They shall soon be encouraging it as it is a clever method to get us to put money in the government.

already banned around here. Doesn't do much to cut back on drinking, but doesn't help my wallet.

Leave it alone. People like happy hour. And the more stupid people that die because of their own stupidity. The better it is for the gene pool.

Leave it alone. People like happy hour. And the more stupid people that die because of their own stupidity. The better it is for the gene pool.

But we must protect the idiots! If we do not, then how will we feel superior?!

My dream is that humanity will eventually reach equality through mutual superiority. For that we have to let the stupid people kill themselves.

Since life is the leading cause of death, perhaps we should just ban it.

/\ This /\

Won't anyone think of the children?

Meh. If the government bans happy hour, everybody will rant and rave that they're stalinists. If they don't be seen as clamping down on anti-social behaviour, they're roasted in the press as being soft on crime. Go figure.

My dream is that humanity will eventually reach equality through mutual superiority. For that we have to let the stupid people kill themselves.

pfft nothing has brought more people together than alcohol :)

Won't anyone think of the children?

like kids (well male ones) go get drunk in bars *has fond flashbacks of a youth spent drinking in a graveyard*

pfft nothing has brought more people together than alcohol :)


All the more reason to leave happy hour alone.

Why stop at happy hour? Why not just ban alcohol in its entirety? All it ever does is make people stupid and kill people. And why do people drink it anyway? Alcohol tastes terrible.

All it ever does is make people stupid and kill people.

then being stupid is fun :p

And why do people drink it anyway? Alcohol tastes terrible.

you have to get used to it first like coffee or smoking

Why stop at happy hour? Why not just ban alcohol in its entirety? All it ever does is make people stupid and kill people. And why do people drink it anyway? Alcohol tastes terrible.

When alcohol was prohibited in the US, the resulting black market gave birth to the mob. At the same time it played havoc with the economy of the day. You want to do that to the UK?

then being stupid is fun :p

Yes, it's fun to get drunk, drive around recklessly, crash into some innocent person's car, and have their death on your conscience. Sounds great.


you have to get used to it first like coffee or smoking

Because I want to "get used to" things that will kill me.

When alcohol was prohibited in the US, the resulting black market gave birth to the mob. At the same time it played havoc with the economy of the day. You want to do that to the UK?

For the mobs, kill the mobsters; for the economy, get rid of capitalism and embrace communism.

There, problem solved.

For the mobs, kill the mobsters; for the economy, get rid of capitalism and embrace communism.

There, problem solved.

They tried killing/prosecuting the mobsters. They are still around regardless. Communism destroys economies even more than prohibition does. What fantasy world are you living in?

They tried killing/prosecuting the mobsters. They are still around regardless.

They didn't try, all the cops were payed off. Get some cops that aren't corrupt and you'll have no problems.

Communism destroys economies even more than prohibition does. What fantasy world are you living in?

When communist countries inhabit a capitalist world, they have a very low chance of succeeding. Make the entire world one great communist nation with a leader who isn't a capitalist at heart and it'll work.

They didn't try, all the cops were payed off. Get some cops that aren't corrupt and you'll have no problems.

Yes, until the last couple of decades.

When communist countries inhabit a capitalist world, they have a very low chance of succeeding. Make the entire world one great communist nation with a leader who isn't a capitalist at heart and it'll work.

Thanks for telling me just which fantasy world you live in. It clarifies a lot.

It's to early in the morning for me to be saying why this is a shit idea and just another example of the government not knowing what the fuck they are doing and would rather patch any problem rather than actually fix said problem.

I'm glad it's happening there and not here, though I'm still against it and hope it gets knocked down, because usually once one or two governments start doing something other governments will look at it and go yes they do it we can do it to and end up pulling stunts like this.


Perhaps the government should ban supermarkets from putting sales on junk food too, after all they are the reason for the rise in obesity :rolleyes:

Yes, it's fun to get drunk, drive around recklessly, crash into some innocent person's car, and have their death on your conscience. Sounds great.

actually people tend more to dance like a frog in a blender and have a really good time but you could of already guessed that considering so many people have a great time with it

Because I want to "get used to" things that will kill me.

excess kills not fun

Thanks for telling me just which fantasy world you live in. It clarifies a lot.

It's not a fantasy, enough people with enough guns can accomplish anything.

Perhaps the government should ban supermarkets from putting sales on junk food too, after all they are the reason for the rise in obesity

That's actually a pretty good idea, we should do that.

Hopefully it will keep the alcopop swilling fourteen-year olds out of the pubs leaving me and my Jack Russell in peace with a pint of porter and a packet of pork scratchings

Is the legal age to drink 18 in the UK?

If so then really perhaps the government should be cracking down pups selling to minors (which is illegal).

But no that takes to much effort we will just do any old easy notion and think we have made a difference, never mind the fact those minors will still be their at the pub drinking and the bar tenders still breaking the law.

Since life is the leading cause of death, perhaps we should just ban it.

If no one has done it I am sigging this.

That's actually a pretty good idea, we should do that.

No it's a pretty stupid idea, and wouldn't actually address the issue, same as this.

No it's a pretty stupid idea, and wouldn't actually address the issue, same as this.

And why, pray tell, is it stupid? By removing junk food from our diets we will all weigh less, the artificial flavours/colours and preservatives won't be giving us cancer, and the capitalist swine won't get rich from our self-destruction.

And why, pray tell, is it stupid? By removing junk food from our diets we will all weigh less, the artificial flavours/colours and preservatives won't be giving us cancer, and the capitalist swine won't get rich from our self-destruction.

Its not capitalism that is the problem. Its corporatism. Which is unfortunately the end result of unregulated capitalism. Just like poverty for all but the government elite is the end result of communism.

And why, pray tell, is it stupid? By removing junk food from our diets we will all weigh less, the artificial flavours/colours and preservatives won't be giving us cancer, and the capitalist swine won't get rich from our self-destruction.

No they will just get rich from something else. And the reason why it is stupid for stopping supermarkets from allowing sales (by which I meant specials) on junk food is because that is the only reason why people are over weight. For starters people are overweight because they don't get a decent amount of exercise anymore, people are overweight because they aren't eating properly, and that doesn't mean junk food. What it means is they are eating to much of good foods, for example carbohydrates, all well and good for you but eat to much without the required exercise and it actually causes you to put on weight. Now stopping supermarkets from placing specials on junk food is a rash excuse to make it seem like the government is doing something instead of actually attacking the issue at hand, a bit like this ban on happy hour. Of course it would also depend on what we define as junk food too.

Yes, it's fun to get drunk, drive around recklessly, crash into some innocent person's car, and have their death on your conscience. Sounds great.
I don't believe anyone was arguing for drunk-driving...
It is possible to go out and get drunk without driving drunk.
Because I want to "get used to" things that will kill me.
Actually alcohol in moderation is good for you.

Alternate Answer: You're "getting used to" life aren't you?

Why stop at happy hour? Why not just ban alcohol in its entirety? All it ever does is make people stupid and kill people. And why do people drink it anyway? Alcohol tastes terrible.
If you don't like it, don't drink it. Alcohol is actually very good for your heart (particularly red wines, but all drinks have benefits). Two a day is ideal.

And we don't ban alcohol for everyone for several reasons. 1) adults can decide what to do for themselves. B) it creates a black market and increases the danger of drinking thanks to bath tub gin
Yes, it's fun to get drunk, drive around recklessly, crash into some innocent person's car, and have their death on your conscience. Sounds great.Where did anyone say get into a car and drive? I drink regularly on weekends and have not needed to drive drunk. Or even buzzed for that matter.

They didn't try, all the cops were payed off. Get some cops that aren't corrupt and you'll have no problems.



When communist countries inhabit a capitalist world, they have a very low chance of succeeding. Make the entire world one great communist nation with a leader who isn't a capitalist at heart and it'll work.
Oh okay. So all we have to do is ban alcohol, kill all criminals by getting all cops who are incorruptable, and establish the worlds first truly communist society that functions exactly as the theories state. That should only take a few hours.

And why, pray tell, is it stupid? By removing junk food from our diets we will all weigh less, the artificial flavours/colours and preservatives won't be giving us cancer, and the capitalist swine won't get rich from our self-destruction.
No. Some people will weigh less. Not everyone overindulges in junk food.
Most artificial colors and flavors are identical to their natural counterparts...they are simply manufactured rather than extracted.
Preservatives is a huge category of chemicals (salt, for example, is a preservative). Not all give cancer.

Oh, and I'm a big boy. I can make decisions for myself.

Oh, and I'm a big boy. I can make decisions for myself.

*doesn't believe Sarkhaan*

Al would not be impressed. This is one rule too many. And where are who would we be if we had too many rules?

Audience: GERMANY!

That's right. Germany. And where would we be if we had no rules?

Audience: FRANCE!
Hey, at least we still have Happy Hours and even Happy Days*.

*Happy Days means that in some bars certain drinks are cheaper on a certain day of the week (usually MO-TH) than on the other days, e.g. a Weizen will cost you € 2,50 instead of € 3,50.

*doesn't believe Sarkhaan*
*tends to agree at times*

but shhh....they don't need to know that.

can we ban bans?

Yes, it's fun to get drunk, drive around recklessly, crash into some innocent person's car, and have their death on your conscience.

Drinking =/= drinking and driving =/= drinking and driving and killing innocent people.

Fallacious argument... dismissed.

Because I want to "get used to" things that will kill me.

Health risk =/= "will kill me."

Fallacious argument dismissed.

For the mobs, kill the mobsters

Doesn't work. There will be smuggling and organized crime whenever you ban a substance for which there is high demand. Also your solution is as simplistic and nonsensical as "for terrorism, kill the terrorists."

; for the economy, get rid of capitalism and embrace communism.


For a guy who was whining about things that'll kill you, you seem rather attached to an ideology arguably responsible for tens of millions of innocent deaths in the 20th century.

There, problem solved.

Do you have any non-flippant, non-ridiculous, *actual* solutions - or for that matter, arguments?

They didn't try, all the cops were payed off. Get some cops that aren't corrupt and you'll have no problems.

"For corruption, get non-corrupt people." Ah, where were you during all the hard times in life - you have the solutions no one thinks of. Terrorism or organized crime? Just kill people! Corruption? Just get rid of it! Like duh, like omigawd, seriously!

When communist countries inhabit a capitalist world, they have a very low chance of succeeding. Make the entire world one great communist nation with a leader who isn't a capitalist at heart and it'll work.

So we can become a communist world, but before we can do that, first we have to become a communist world! Then we can become communist!

It's not a fantasy, enough people with enough guns can accomplish anything.

Oh, and how do we get enough guns? Let me guess - it's simple, first you have to get enough guns!

And why, pray tell, is it stupid?

I used to think I knew, but I'm constantly surprised at the world for throwing twists and turns and showing me that I can never actually have too low expectations.

By removing junk food from our diets we will all weigh less

I have an idea, what if we removed all food from our diets? Then we'd weigh even less, and thus better!

, the artificial flavours/colours and preservatives won't be giving us cancer

Yeah, but we'll be shot dead by the global communist police state if anyone suspects we're corrupt. You know, that doesn't seem to be a great trade-off.

, and the capitalist swine won't get rich from our self-destruction.

No, the communist swine will.

Thanks for being silly though. I needed the amusement.

For the mobs, kill the mobsters; for the economy, get rid of capitalism and embrace communism.

There, problem solved.

Why stop at happy hour? Why not just ban alcohol in its entirety? All it ever does is make people stupid and kill people. And why do people drink it anyway? Alcohol tastes terrible.

And why, pray tell, is it stupid? By removing junk food from our diets we will all weigh less, the artificial flavours/colours and preservatives won't be giving us cancer, and the capitalist swine won't get rich from our self-destruction.

A world withour alcohol where everyone eats salads and suspected criminals are summarily executed. Yeah, that's so much better than my life right now.

When alcohol was prohibited in the US, the resulting black market gave birth to the mob. At the same time it played havoc with the economy of the day. You want to do that to the UK?

Yay! Mobsters!

blam blam! blammity blam blam! KABOOOSH! neeeuuwwwww ratatatatatatata BOOM! krakow krakow AAAAGGHHHHHHH bam bam bam bam! wee oo wee oo wee oo screeech pow pow KABLOOEY! vroom vroom woosh CRASH! blamity pow ratatat BOOM!

Lol...

Yay! Mobsters!

blam blam! blammity blam blam! KABOOOSH! neeeuuwwwww ratatatatatatata BOOM! krakow krakow AAAAGGHHHHHHH bam bam bam bam! wee oo wee oo wee oo screeech pow pow KABLOOEY! vroom vroom woosh CRASH! blamity pow ratatat BOOM!

Lol...
*blinks audibly*

Yay! Mobsters!

blam blam! blammity blam blam! KABOOOSH! neeeuuwwwww ratatatatatatata BOOM! krakow krakow AAAAGGHHHHHHH bam bam bam bam! wee oo wee oo wee oo screeech pow pow KABLOOEY! vroom vroom woosh CRASH! blamity pow ratatat BOOM!

Lol...

You fail, you didn't include any gun smileys in your first post ;)
:sniper:

Hey, at least we still have Happy Hours and even Happy Days*.

*Happy Days means that in some bars certain drinks are cheaper on a certain day of the week (usually MO-TH) than on the other days, e.g. a Weizen will cost you € 2,50 instead of € 3,50.

I gotta get me over to Germany...

since most places in the 'civilized' world seem to have building codes in place already, it might be interesting, it might actually make architecture more interesting instead of less, to require all new buildings to have rounded corners so people won't hurt themselves on them. retrofitting might be something of a challange, but new construction would be interesting.

the topic connection? well obviously it was about protecting ourselves from ourselves, right?

one thing i think WOULD be sensible, would be to require all places dispensing alcohaulic beverages by the glass, to be located withing easy stumbling distances of public transportation, hours of opperation limited to those of said public transport, and for cars to have built in breathalizers interlocked with the ignition system so that then no one would be able to drive drunk and also have no excuse for doing so.

in cameroi, of course we have no problem with this as nearly all transport is public and most cameroi don't care much for emparing their judgement anyway.

with no building codes as such, and very few keep out signs, the real gratifications of creating and exploring are accessable to all, and few have motivation to hide from themselves.

I gotta get me over to Germany...
Dunno, Piper is like a quid a pint on Mondays. Basically the same odds.

Meh, it'll never happen.

Dunno, Piper is like a quid a pint on Mondays. Basically the same odds.

And I do love it very much. I am, in fact, still recovering as I type.

there are bars that still have happy hours :confused:


Yeah, that seems pretty nineties.

Good idea! People ought to be given no encouragement to drink. Alcohol is dangerous, and the best form of fun is SAFE, regulated fun where you are fully in control of your own actions.

Now we know! And knowing is half the battle.

And I do love it very much. I am, in fact, still recovering as I type.
Aye it was such good times last night. Decent music for once and everything! (other than when there was like 5 minutes of cheese including *shudder* the macarena - cig time ahoy!)