The alcoholic time bomb

[LDunlop76]

Trading Standards have published a survey this week. They quizzed 1200 14 - 17 year olds in the North West and found that 44% of them are drinking alcohol every week - that's almost half! And of those who drink regularly, a third binge-drink at least once a week, with 50% of them becoming violent as a result. [:0] This doesn't bode well for the future of their livers, does it? And they're not even old enough to buy alcohol yet! [!]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6242206.stm

[LDunlop76]

"A crackdown on supermarkets that sell cheap drink to young people is being considered by Gordon Brown as he decides how to tackle Britain's burgeoning binge-drinking culture. Experts have told Downing Street that the easy availability of super-strength lager and cider lies behind the rise in alcohol-fuelled violence and the epidemic of related health problems, such as liver disease.

There is growing evidence that many young drinkers are consuming cheap alcohol at home before going out at night into bars and clubs, where prices can be three times as high. Around half of all Britain's drink sales are made at the six major supermarkets, where drink is often heavily discounted in order to encourage shoppers into the stores.

"
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,2132053,00.html

Sorry, but isn't it a bit rich for the government which changed the licensing laws to allow 24 hour opening to crack down on the prices supermarkets charge for booze?