06 September 2005

Binge thinking

It is my contention, given the problem with binge drinking is shared with nordic nations and Russia, that it is a cultural trajectory going back to Viking culture (I may be wrong). This article points out that it goes back to at least Tudor times and gives an appraisal of the impact of temperance. I thought that the final comments bear repeating, even if they get us little further forward in terms of culture change. "If journalists would stop writing hysterical leaders about '24-hour drinking' and turn their hands instead to thoughtful drinks page features about the merits of our national drink, that would be useful in improving debate and reconnecting us with our forgotten history. Drunkenness is an attribute of those who do not appreciate what they are consuming, not of those who do"
Perhaps, once again, the solution is education; this time of the palate?
Guardian Unlimited | Guardian daily comment | Binge thinking:

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"Spend and tax" not "tax and spend"

 I got a response from my MP which got me kind of mad. You'll see why as I reproduce it here. Apologies for the strange changes in types...