corner shop

I was listening to someone the other day lambasting off-licenses as a whole, and as a Trading Standards Officer, very few people can lecture me on how difficult it is to have this process carried out.

The view being articulated to me was that “off-licenses didnt exist years ago” and “if you wanted a drink, you went to a pub - you want to stop the problems, stop booze being sold in off licenses”. It is I suppose true that the pub trade, for a number of reasons, is dieing on its feet and booze at off-licenses and supermarkets is getting cheaper and cheaper.

The pub offers many an advantage - firstly, its a reasonably controlled environment. People are contained, and as is the case when I first snuck in a pub at 17, there are usually people there to keep you in check. Its also a great industry - a traditional English pub which offer's fine ales, food and company is perhaps something to be cherished.

Playing devils advocate, I can see the point and the attraction. Though I like to get a bottle of wine if I am having people round of a weekend and taking Booze off everyone means that the masses get punished for the crimes of a few. Pubs are expensive so there would have to be a revised tax system to make going to pubs cheaper than drinking at home and consideration may also be offered for those drinks that would be unattractive to those wishing to use it as cheap rocket fuel on a street corner - a fine wine or champagne for instance.

Social contract theorists in the political sciences believe we voluntarily sacrifice some freedoms in order to acquire greater protections and structure in our society - is it perhaps then the case that we structure the consumption of alcohol to direct those who wish to consume it to such places that are suitable and surrender that little bit of personal freedom? Not a decision I would like to make but a thought worthy of mulling - perhaps over a pint in the pub
 
Last edited:
The comment you made about making the alcohol in pubs cheaper than staying in.... and then saying about the controlled environment

Don't you think this will make things worse?

As in the sense of those people who can afford little (but can still afford to get hammered everyday) will then more easily be able to afford to go and sit in a pub and get smashed (maybe causing trouble) rather than sitting in the comfort of their own home

Which then would change the atmosphere for those who just want a nice quiet pint

It may well aid in children finding it harder to drink, but not for everyone else
 
I would think it depends on the pub and those in it - I am only going from my own experiences, as can anyone else. When I first started going to the pub, I and a few friends obviously were as boisterous as any group of 17+ year olds, though in the particular pub we went in the environment dictated that you respected others in the pub – you were quickly made to understand by the established regulars and locals that they had been coming there longer and weren’t going to have their pub ruined by any rowdy upstarts. I noticed that very quickly. It was a case of “you behave yourselves and leave us to our quiet pint and in turn you’ll be left alone to enjoy the same and your game of pool”.

The same is true of my current haunt – yes of course there are a few rowdy characters, but there is always someone to keep them in check, even if it’s a “settle down” said in banter.

Like I said, I am being devil’s advocate with this and am merely presenting the arguments as they were relayed to me. I quite like being able to nip to the shop to get a few beers of a weekend, so apparently, do a lot of other people and they seem to be outweighing those who would cause trouble in a pub after too many ‘pops’
 
As you said, depends where and who is in it

As with anything there is always someone to spoil a good thing

I just don't think it fair at all, taking away being able to drink at home from loads that do no harm, just because certain people, whether it be the shop assistants or shop owners, parents of those children, the children themselves or adults that are buying on behalf of the youngsters

These are the ones to be punished, I know punishing costs money but all the same, if they want this kind of behaviour to stop then they should enforce something that would certainly make them think twice

Someone was using Challenge 30 (off licence) they seem to think that works really well, if they introduce something like this, then instead of giving 2 chances?? (is that what it is? can't remember) then licence revoked, they could just revoke licence as there could be no mistake as to selling underage when they have to look 30

For the parents/adults/sales assistants, aswell as a fine (which should be put to something useful, don't know what it is used for now though) they should be made to give back to the community, for not being responsible enough and allowing children alcohol
 
i work in a shop that sells alcohol, we are very strict on the underage ruling, and i agree that the licencee should be fined, but what about the adults the kids pester to go in and buy them booze, they get away with a fine as they never get caught
 
AccyLass27 said:
The comment you made about making the alcohol in pubs cheaper than staying in.... and then saying about the controlled environment

Don't you think this will make things worse?

As in the sense of those people who can afford little (but can still afford to get hammered everyday) will then more easily be able to afford to go and sit in a pub and get smashed (maybe causing trouble) rather than sitting in the comfort of their own home

Which then would change the atmosphere for those who just want a nice quiet pint

It may well aid in children finding it harder to drink, but not for everyone else
Click to expand...

don't think that arguement stands up, if ya got a good landlord the troublemakers are soon going elsewhere. to some fool that will tolerate em, i am saying that from having had me own boozer.
 
cashman said:
don't think that arguement stands up, if ya got a good landlord the troublemakers are soon going elsewhere. to some fool that will tolerate em, i am saying that from having had me own boozer.
Click to expand...

Ooooh I can't see you tolerating any troublemakers. ;):)

Which pub did you have?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top