In addition the early closing time is putting a strain on our National Health Service (NHS). Why does the NHS exist? Is it to put patients on drips who are suffering from alcohol poisoning? Is it to treat wounds inflicted whilst one or both parties were under the influence of alcohol? It is according to the first National Insurance Act, to provide people with free medical healthcare when they need it. Sadly not everyone who needs it gets it. The problem is that too much time and money is spent on treating these over indulging customers when it could be spent more wisely; for example on keeping an elderly woman alive or to give the hospitals the ability to quash waiting lists for essential surgery.
I am sure you and any sensible reader will realise that an extension of the licensing hours is necessary for a halt to public disorder. The European mindset is a perfect example. Their pubs and clubs are open much later than Scotland's and they have significantly less anti social crime. They have time to relax over a glass of wine or two without the pressures of drinking up time. They drink to enjoy the alcohol and don't drink to get drunk. For Scotland to become more civilised in its attitude towards alcohol and behave in a more grown up way a change in these hours is absolutely essential.
Take Spain for example, an extremely family orientated country. People there don't drink to get drunk they drink to socialise in a civilised fashion. I feel that Scotland needs to adopt this same attitude if it is to escape the stigma of being a binge drinking, unhealthy nation. Shorter licensing hours doesn't stop binge drinking it promotes it. Good habits start when you are young and so do attitudes. Invest in education, and teach the children about the dangerous effects of alcoholism just as they do in Spain and other such countries. Show the children what alcoholism can produce. Scare them. Then and only then will this country lose its tarnished reputation.
Many Scots work long or unsocial hours and as a result can't induldge in a pint or two at their local. "Work Hard, Play Hard" as the phrase goes. The people of Scotland do work extremely hard. In this country we have one of the longest working weeks worldwide. Do we have the longest licensing hours? No. The general public are unable to enjoy themselves truly on a Friday and Saturday not to mention weekdays due to the early closure of pubs. If they are not the "clubbing" type then where does that leave them. Tucked up in bed at midnight. Not exactly an enjoyable night out - if that's what you call a night out! Furthermore, the subject of taxi fares. Picture the situation. One Friday night at eleven o'clock, there are twenty three people outside waiting for a taxi. There is only one taxi. The driver decides that he will provide his services to the highest bidder. This is by no means an enjoyable end to a night, being forced to pay over the odds just to get home. No more. These licensing hours have to be extended. Using the same theory of there being less people on the street as a result of longer hours, there will be less people queuing for a taxi at one time. In consequence there will be more taxis available making it harder for the drivers to charge extortianate prices. If this does not materialise then this country and its people will develop into a state of constant depression through too much work and not enough play.
In opposition to the view given throughout this essay there are some who believe that an extension of the licensing hours would promote increased drinking, more crime and thus worsen the nations health. This is simply not the case. If the statistics are studied correctly and all the investigations read then these people in opposition will soon find out that the main cause of binge drinking - leading to anti social behaviour- is infact attitudes installed in youths. This line of thought has been backed up by alcoholics. If the opposition want a reduction in binge drinking, a reduction in alcohol related crime, and a reduction in ill health then an extension of the hours is the only way forward. It has been proved by scientists that an alcoholic drink every day in moderation can cut the risk of heart attacks by a third. Extending the licensing hours, giving more people the option to drink at a time suitable to them, will, according to the evidence presented by the scientists, have a beneficial effect on the nations health. So there we are. Having longer to drink does not and will not contribute to binge drinking. Having a drink will infact help us.
In conclusion replacing Scotland's anachronistic licensing laws to have longer to drink would help reduce alcohol related crime on a Friday or Saturday night dramatically. This is incredibly advantageous. The health of the nation would improve as binge drinking would eventually dwindle away into obscurity and Scotland would adopt the same attitudes towards alcohol as the Europeans have. This is also benificial. Moreover the morale of the public would improve as they wouldn't have to cut a night out short just because the pub has to close. This would certainly be desirable. It is going to be a long, hard but ultimately worthwhile struggle to change Scotland's drinking culture and improve their lives as a whole but an extension of the licensing hours will help and not hinder this cause.
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