Great Britain Moves To Ban "Happy Hour"

Health Officials Concerned About Sharp Rise In Liver Disease

(AP)  Britain is considering a ban on "happy hour" discounts at bars and restaurants to curb drinking, a spokesman said, as health advocates warned that a rise in liver-related deaths among young people may signal a future epidemic.

Health officials will decide on whether to ban the happy hours - designated times for discount drinks - once an independent policy review is published in coming weeks, a health department spokesman said Saturday on customary condition of anonymity.

The proposal was one of several aimed at stemming a trend in binge drinking in recent years, particularly among teenagers and young adults. The government also plans to spend 10 million pounds ($15 million) on a new public awareness campaign, and wants to improve enforcement of laws against underage drinking.

A health advocacy group said some of those young people were now showing signs of liver-related damage usually seen in older people.

Given that it can take 15 to 20 years for liver disease to develop, the British Liver Trust warned that the figures suggested the problem would only get worse.

"We're seeing a steep increase of deaths in people in their 20s and 30s," Trust spokeswoman Imogen Shillito said. "This indicates a big problem for many years to come."

National statistics show a steady rise in the number of alcohol-related deaths that typically fell heavy drinkers in their 40s and 50s who have abused alcohol for decades. From 1991 to 2006, the number of such deaths more than doubled to 8,758.

Alcohol-related deaths among people aged 25 to 29 were 40 percent higher in 2006 than the year before, Shillito said, citing national statistics.

Shillito said low prices for alcohol had helped encourage drinking among British youths, noting "they can buy alcohol with their pocket money."

The government plans to base its new alcohol policies, including possible new programs to help people reduce consumption, on the upcoming review by the School of Health and Related Research at the University of Sheffield.

Officials say the report should clarify whether retail practices lead to excessive drinking. They are considering a ban on a number of practices, including drinking games and speed-drinking events popular at some British pubs.

[babooph]

With the British climate & "separate" lives for the upper class,booze is needed.

[voxpopulus]

Living in Britain I have a lot less chance of dying by any form of murder, including and especially gunshot, than I would in the US. People here are happy not to have trigger-happy morons waving AK47s

[voxpopulus]

Living in Britain I have a lot less chance of dying by any form of murder, including and especially gunshot, than I would in the US. People here are happy not to have trigger-happy morons waving AK47s

[dnvrdem]

MrNrgmizer .. you dont know much about the rest of the world do you? Did you go to the same school of international relationships as Palin?
Get over yourself you jingoistic bigit, Americans have the right to bear arms, no argument, but MANY other countries dont share the same testosterone-soaked, chest-beating attitudes and are very happy knowing that you NRA types arent breathing down their necks.

[heidimt]

Johnstorm......you are correct that individual states set the drinking age. HOWEVER, any state that did not adhere to the age of 21 as mandated by the federal government, was/is threatened with loss of federal funds for programs such as transportation. They are extorted into raising the age.

[mikezembill]

What the hell they can not do this they need to get drunk before they go to there FLAT it helps. They know they will never be more than they are now.

[corkscr3w]

The legal age to purchase alcohol is 18. People aged 16 and 17, with the licensee''''s permission, may consume wine, beer or cider with a table meal in specific areas of the premises, providing they''''re with an adult and the adult orders it (England & Wales only, Scotland no adult required to be present). The legal age for the purchase of liqueur chocolates is 16. The legal age for drinking in one''''s home is 5 provided parental consent is given. Children under 5 must not be given alcohol unless under medical supervision in an emergency. You may not buy alcohol for a drunk person on licensed premises. All off-sales are advised to ask for photographic ID if the person looks under 21. Purchasing alcohol on behalf of a minor will result in an #80 on-the-spot fine.

Posted by AJMarine111

Man, when I was in Scotland in ''05, I''m pretty sure the only requirement they had was, "Well lad, you can see over the bar, so here''s a pint!" AHAHA!

Man I miss that place...

[thickredhair]

pooo on great britian

and

pooo on irresponsible drinkers

[jonstorm-2009]

All you Obama-fanatics, are you paying attention????

You voted to have more government in your lives. So it''''s only a matter of time before we see the same nonsense over here.

This is only the beginning......


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by opedanderson at 09:33 AM : Nov 23, 2008

How Obama''s name got mentioned in this is beyond me. State''s set our drinking laws not the federal government. At lease as far as this type of regulation goes. As far as the proposed British Laws, they should apply only to the large urban areas where a pack albeit enjoyable mentality can take place. I found myself drinking more during my time in London than at any other time in my life. They can use a little nanny help to impose restraint. Most people will be happy they did. At least on Monday Morning. "You alright Mate" Cheers

[gatofeo]

First, no smoking in bars.
Now, no Happy Hour.
What''s next, Politically Correct bar songs?

"Oh, I''ll sing you tale of Mary McGlass
Renowned far and wide for the shape of her character.
She gave freely, of her charms and her wits
And the menfolk loved the sight of her proud demeanor as she struggled to overcome mysogynist feelings in a world ruled by men who could only appreciate her for her beauty and not for her self-esteem and social conscience for those less fortunate and against those who subjugated the common person with their free market slaveryyyyyyyyyyy ..."

[stick1772]

Hello Parenting 101! Enough said.

[pirmin3]

Banning happy hour is nonsense. How about teaching these yobs some responsibility and self control.

[ajmarine111]

Is the legal drinking age 15 in GB?

Posted by cutetinia at 10:01 AM : Nov 23, 2008






The legal age to purchase alcohol is 18. People aged 16 and 17, with the licensee''s permission, may consume wine, beer or cider with a table meal in specific areas of the premises, providing they''re with an adult and the adult orders it (England & Wales only, Scotland no adult required to be present). The legal age for the purchase of liqueur chocolates is 16. The legal age for drinking in one''s home is 5 provided parental consent is given. Children under 5 must not be given alcohol unless under medical supervision in an emergency. You may not buy alcohol for a drunk person on licensed premises. All off-sales are advised to ask for photographic ID if the person looks under 21. Purchasing alcohol on behalf of a minor will result in an #80 on-the-spot fine.

[omega40]

Don''''t you think they could keep 15 year olds out of bars or at least from drinking at bars by carding them before they sell them a drink?

And I agree! I am sick of the idiots that want to punish the whole population just because the few can''''t control themselves.

It rather smacks of communism.

Posted by Rowdydfw

You see communism EVERYWHERE! You are quickly becoming a real life parody of Colonel Flagg off the old television show MASH. His response to someone reading a Readers Digest;"Not if you eliminate the third, fifth, and sixth letters, then it''s Red''s Digest, comrade."

[cutetinia]

Is the legal drinking age 15 in GB?

[Wookiee-1138]

They tried to stamp out Irish culture and replace it with their own. But the door swings both ways and those Limeys punks can''t handle it.

[opedanderson]

All you Obama-fanatics, are you paying attention????

You voted to have more government in your lives. So it''s only a matter of time before we see the same nonsense over here.

This is only the beginning......

[barbaraf4]

Posted by tootall1014
~~~~
Huh? English please.

[oldsoftee]

What will those clever politicians ban next?

[miriambk]

Interesting idea, but I doubt that much will change. And I agree with Barbaraf4....just because some people can''t seem to control themselves doesn''t mean everyone else should be penalized.