Is Cheap Drinks Dangerous?

Its not because of the quality. Cheap alcohol means people can get drunk for a tenner in some parts of the UK. I decided to write an article after reading a report about young people in Newcastle about young people getting so drunk that some of them ended up being taken to hospital.

One of the reasons they were drinking so much is because drinks were so cheap. Here is a couple of examples: A bar was offering two cocktail jugs for just £10, and one club was offering a triple shot of vodka and vimto for just £2.50.

I’m not saying the price of alcohol is completely to blame but it certainly doesn’t help the problem when for £20 you could get completely wrecked.

I asked people if the prices of alcohol would help the problem and this is what they said:

“ Sensible drinkers shouldn't be penalized by having to pay more for alcohol just because some idiots choose to drink far more than is necessary or safe. Leave alcohol prices as they are.”

“ They raised the price of cigarettes to a very high price but people still smoke. If the price of alcohol is raised people will still do it. Maybe the better way would be to raise the price of certain alcoholic drinks that people use to binge drink, like all those nasty cheap white ciders that you see for sale in corner shops that are 5 litres for £3.00 etc. that is just ridiculous.”

“ The grand experiment in the USA in the 1930's showed what happens when alcohol becomes scarce. Organized crime made millions and gang warfare broke out over supplying cheap alcohol to the consumer.

Raise the price and you make it unavailable to people of a certain income. Some entrapenuer will step in and start selling it on the black market at prices affordable to all. Soon gangs form and fight over distribution of the alcohol.

The second problem is people start making their own alcohol, and if not done right, can cause blindness and central nervous system problems.

It is better to have a clean product available without the gang warfare.”