Check your consciences

[oneofsix]

The judge has ask general NZ to check their consciences, I have and sorry but tis not my fault!
My kids know to drink sensibly and that means getting drunk id dangerous. They know not to drive after drinking. I don't agree with NZs current direction on drinking, I think we need more education and less regulation.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crim...-in-two-deaths

[Paul in NZ]

What else is there to say that hasnt been said? Booze is a terrible drug and once its got its hooks into you there is a hell of a job getting rid of it. Reducing the drinking age didnt work and neither did allowing supermarkets to sell it. I see middle aged, well to do women taking home crates of wine and from experience I know its not for a wedding.... They are knocking back more than a bottle a night each, sorry, thats quite a bit!

Its only will power that holds me back as its definately in my nature to like a tipple or seven and I tell ya what, it does not make me a nicer person... and I aint that bloody nice to start with either...

Buggered if I know what to do about it either.

[oneofsix]

I would like to see a more mature culture in NZ, where you don't have to be specialized in selling booze and making $ from booze, but rather where a family can go together have one drink, coffee, wine, beer, softdrink or what ever, relax and then wander on.
Our law seems to want to ring fence booze, make it special and require it to be consumed in quantity cause you are restricted to when and where you can get it.
Other places where it is more a normal part of normal life don't seem to have the UK, Aus, USA, NZ issues with it.
It a big change and too much money invested in the current culture to make it an easy change but unless we want to continue with our current problems we, as a country, need to change.

[scissorhands]

If you don't want an elephant in your house, don't make friends with an elephant trainer.

[rainman]

Fix the other social problems we have, and booze will be less of a problem.

[yungatart]

Our law seems to want to ring fence booze, make it special and require it to be consumed in quantity cause you are restricted to when and where you can get it.
Other places where it is more a normal part of normal life don't seem to have the UK, Aus, USA, NZ issues with it.

WASP societies seem to have the most trouble with alcohol.

In Europe young children are given alcohol by their parents (a glass of watered down wine with dinner at a special occasion) It is seen as the norm.

When our youngest (aged 17 at the time) was in Belgium his host father would pour him a single malt whisky and they would sit and chat together after dinner. This was after wine with dinner. Irresponsible? Definitely not!

Beer was available to purchase in single bottles at corner dairies and servos. 16 y/o can purchase wine and beer, spirits and RTD's are off limits until you are 21.

It seems a much more commonsense approach than the one we have here.

[Deano]

Other places where it is more a normal part of normal life don't seem to have the UK, Aus, USA, NZ issues with it.

Where are these places ? I thought most countries have liquor problems.

[oldrider]

The drinking culture in NZ was sealed by the seed of six o'clock closing and that was imposed by the countries wowsers (anti drink lobby) of the time!

Prohibition and it's alter ego, 6 o'clock closing was a disgraceful exhibition of booze guzzling at it's worst!

Today's youth didn't actually see it but the culture was embedded at that time and monkey see, monkey do has prevailed ever since.

JMHO having lived through all those phases.

[MSTRS:Me]

...cause you are restricted to when and where you can get it.
....

You what? Restricted? Because there's about 4 hours in every 24 when you can't buy alcohol? Some restriction...

...Other places where it is more a normal part of normal life ...

But it is normal here. If normal means common...

[oneofsix]

The drinking culture in NZ was sealed by the seed of six o'clock closing and that was imposed by the countries wowsers (anti drink lobby) of the time!

Prohibition and it's alter ego, 6 o'clock closing was a disgraceful exhibition of booze guzzling at it's worst!

Today's youth didn't actually see it but the culture was embedded at that time and monkey see, monkey do has prevailed ever since.

JMHO having lived through all those phases.

Why it has to be education, legislation has already f$%^ it up and we need to reset the preceptions

[James Deuce]

Not by any stretch of the imagination can you say that the UK doesn't have alcohol related issues. I think they're worse than here, not better.

[oneofsix]

Not by any stretch of the imagination can you say that the UK doesn't have alcohol related issues. I think they're worse than here, not better.

sorry James I was meaning the UK has our problem as does Aussie and the others quoted. I tend to think of the likes of France as have a more sane, but not perfect, drink culture.

[DEVVIL]

I think we need more education and less regulation.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crim...-in-two-deaths

I will always remember the alive at 25 program (1980s) that came to my high school. They said 1 in 5 will be dead or in serious a crash in their life time. As we walked in a line the reaper touched one of us in five. Will never forget that.

[James Deuce]

sorry James I was meaning the UK has our problem as does Aussie and the others quoted. I tend to think of the likes of France as have a more sane, but not perfect, drink culture.

Ahhh! I'm with you now. I don't think you can do anything about Aussie drinkers.

[scumdog]

Fix the other social problems we have, and booze will be less of a problem.

Dealing with people in my job you could almost say the opposite.

Alcohol seems to exacerbate whatever social problems and inadequacies people have.

Dropping the 'drinking age' was a MAJOR error in me experience and should be reveresed. (and no, I don't want to hear stories of "Well I got booze easy-as when I was 18" or whatever), the fact is offending and convictions of thoe under 20 went up after the drop in the 'drinking age' and 14 -17 year olds got into strife that a generation ago few would have got into.