No Minister: Hey Thats Not Fair.

And it wont work.

Substantially raising the excise on tobacco has supressed its use by some in the community.
More effective in reducing its use is a growing awareness of proven health risks and a general surge in people avoiding contact with second hand smoke leading to greatly reduced opportunities and acceptance of smoking.

To reduce binge drinking some of the loony left are seeking to raise the minimum price of a standard drink to a suggested $2.00.
Anybody with a minimal understanding of social drinking mores and very simple economics know this is a nuclear response to a alco-popgun.

Apart from sad old alkies clutching their bottle, often in a paper bag, most drunks who manifest in public, reach that state in a bar, at a party or function.
Very few retail bars offer any drink for less than $2 as overheads, equipment washing, maintenance and replacement coupled with site rent and maintenance make even a jug of tap water on a table a loss maker. Sheesh I have been stung $5.00 for a Lime and Soda.

Where the simpletons, eg Anderton, Dalziel, Chauvel et al fail to grasp the problem let alone have a modicom of understanding it, lies in one simple fact. Drunks get to obnoxious because they over indulge and by the time they reach that point money is not a factor,be it credit, mates or pilfered they just keep pouring it down their throats.

The only credible solution will come from bringing consequences for drunkeness to the feet of the drunk and I do not mean vomit on their own shoes.

Meaningful consequences and public opposition for what is very,demeaning, disgusting and dangerous (self harm and public threat) behavior might eventually bring some control to bear.
Raising the retail price of a cask of shit wine to $60.00 will only divert the source of low cost alcohol to another sphere, be it theft, home brewing and distillation or drinking on OPM, even a socialist should know that even if admitting it is impossible.

Source: http://nominister.blogspot.com/2012/07/hey-thats-not-fair.html

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