Nanny Gets The DT's

Nanny has a real bee in her bonnet at the moment about binge drinking, yet she has taken rather a schizophrenic stance on the subject.

On the one hand she harangues us about the dangers of excessive imbibing, yet on the other she happily relaxes the licensing laws.

Note, it is perfectly clear that the length of time that a pub/club is open is not the issue in respect of people drinking themselves into a coma.

The real issue is the fact that the modern "pubs/clubs" cater exclusively to those under the age of 25; they pack them in, bombard them with loud music and sell booze cheap.

Well of course this age group is going to drink themselves sick; in that awful environment, wouldn't you?

The solution, if you are listening Nanny, is to encourage people of all ages to drink together; eg bring back traditional pubs. The social restraints brought about by mixing the ages will ensure that people take a more sensible approach in respect of drinking.

However, as long as the big drinks companies adopt their current tactic of targeting only the under 25's and ignoring the rest of the population that won't happen.

Anyhoo, enough of that, my real story here is about the rather bizarre attempt being made by Nanny's friends in the University of Strathclyde to reduce the levels of binge drinking in the student class.

They have decided that all that students need, is to be told that drinking too much is bad for them.

That will work, won't it?

They have decided to get this message across by sticking labels onto glasses and mirrors, and hiding messages in library books.

A real winner here guys!

The best part of this scheme, clearly thought up after a few pints, is that the messages will be sponsored.

Guess who will be sponsoring them?

Yes, that's right, Diageo!

Those of you not familiar with Diageo, they are one of the UK's largest drinks firms; you know, the people who sell alco pops etc to the under 25's and get them to drink themselves into a coma.

Well I don't know about anyone else, but this scheme sounds like utter bollocks!

For reference a standard student stunt, in my day at Edinburgh, was for people to drink a yard of Guinness mixed with baked beans.

Now please tell me how a scheme of stickers and notes will dissuade students, with that sort of mindset, from excess drinking?