Prohibition Returns

I could not resist taking this Billboard promoting the new series of Boardwalk Empire against the backdrop of the derelict buildings. Nucky Thompson looks menacing in this image. I'm looking forward to the new series.

This is a bit ironic with the Scottish Government planning to introduce a minimum 50p per alcohol unit to help tackle drink-related illness. I'm delighted the Scottish government want to do something about the problematic alcohol culture in Scotland, but this is an ill conceived plan. Yes it makes it more expensive to get drunk, but not prohibitively so - who is going to stay sober because they don't have an extra £5 ? If drunk people are a problem, penalise the drunk people, don't penalise the population with a penalty that doesn't make any difference to binge drinking.

Pricing of alcohol has no relation to the problem that is being faced today. Let's get real, this problem is not going away anytime soon. The UK thrives on a culture of anti-intellectualism and hooliganism. Look at the reality TV and soap operas where cultural stereotypes are reinforced. Drink actually is a very small part of the problem. It is a symptom of a larger mailaise affecting society.