Matt Nolan

Let me get this straight

/3 Comments/in /by

One of the main reasons the government wants to crack down on alcohol is because of the “scenes no civilized society can relish“, which is when people of the age of 18-24 go into town and run amok – causing definite damage to other people, in some way, or something.

So they are introducing a policy that will give people the incentive to go into town, instead of drinking at home?  What policy – well they are splitting the drinking age, so you can drink at a pub at 18 but you have to be 20 to buy liquor to drink at home.

I mean seriously – they are increasing the “price” of drinking at home, so more people will just drink in town (where it is likely more student bars with low margins and high quantities will open), and with them already in town there can be even more people to “run amok”.

This is one place where I agree with Labour rather than the government (removed statement as it made it sound like I normally agree with the government – when I usually disagree with everyone, including myself often) – if there is an issue it comes from our view of alcohol, an inappropriate externality tax on alcohol, or education around alcohol.  So instead of chucking in dumb regulations with mammoth unintended consequences, lets just try to be mature (and adult) about our treatment of alcohol – and in fact all other drugs.

3 replies
  2. Matt Nolan
    Matt Nolan says:

    @agnitio

    Yar, less pre-loading at home (if the policy is at all effective at restricting access …). Instead they will come into town, where newly founded sports bars will sell them many jugs of beer cheaply 😉

    They will “present-load”. And all the old “pre-loaders” who drink too much and stay home will now be in town instead …

    In fact, I’m sorely tempted to recreate the fats in Wellington if this bill gets passed 😛

  3. Kimble
    Kimble says:

    Yeah, the trip into town was usually a chance to sober up.

    For the drivers, at least, if for no one else.

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