My sympathies to the good people of the Highlands who face a booze crack down, as Nanny's chums from the Highland Licensing Board have consulted on a number of options that
would restrict the numbers of off-licences.
One of the options being considered by the board is for a
Highland-wide ban against any new licences for off-sales over a certain
capacity (ie rationing), another being considered is the banning of new off-licences.
Two other options being considered are that the ban is only enforced
in certain ward areas or 25 badly affected areas identified by NHS
Highland.
Seemingly out of the 12 organisations, including Police Scotland, NHS Highland and a
number of charities, that took part in the consultation, a total of
eight backed a Highland-wide ban.
The restriction will affect larger supermarket chains not
small independent businesses. Were one to believe the figures, NHS Highland claims that 40.5% of the Highland population exceed weekly and, or, daily drinking limits.
Given how grim the weather can be there at certain times of the year, and the fact that the sun sets rather earlier in the winter there than it does on the Sarf coast, I am surprised the figure is so low!
An NHS Highland spokesman is quoted by
STV:
"
Alcohol is an important part of
Highland life. Whisky production and associated businesses provides work
for thousands of people and brings money into the Highland economy. It
can also make a positive contribution to an individual’s mental, and
social health, and wellbeing.
There are numerous negative impacts resulting from alcohol not being
used sensibly and the Public Health paper sets out a strong argument
for alcohol overprovision throughout Highland. Over the last decade
social trends towards alcohol have changed with the sales of alcohol
increasing through off-sales and decreasing through on-sales.
This has resulted in people purchasing alcohol from large retail
businesses and increased consumption in the home environment.
Essentially alcohol has become normalised and has become a daily
household product. The Public Health paper also provides evidence of
drive and walk times to premises that sell alcohol. It is startling to
note that 90% of the population is within a 10 minute drive time of a
licensed premise.
The overall impact has been negative effects on the population’s
health and wellbeing, on family life and also on the economy. Public
Health supports this because it targets businesses where most sales are
made and would not have a detrimental effect on the myriad of small and
medium sized businesses."
I don't know on which planet the spokesman lives, but alcohol has been "normalised" as part of British society since we covered ourselves in wode!
This sort of Nanny nonsense will undermine both the local economy and society of the Highlands.
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