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"TheBeerNut":10lsmltc wrote: I'm with Diablo on this: first they came for the alcopops, and all that. I think it's great when retailers refuse to sell them, but forcing it is unlikely to help.

"muirgheasa":10lsmltc wrote: every time I or any of my friends get really badly messy it's always down to spirits.[/quote:10lsmltc]This is the heart of the issue, IMO. Taking away their access to spirits (even if it were workable) isn't going to stop them getting messy. Making them realise that getting messy, on anything, is neither big nor clever is what needs to happen.[/quote:10lsmltc]

Just for the record (and I think this is probably important to stress, seeing as how I've yet to attend a meet up and get to actually know people on the site) I'm not some binge drinking fiend who guzzles bottles of vodka for fun. <!-- s:shock: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_eek.gif" alt=":shock:" title="Shocked" /><!-- s:shock: -->

My point was just that spirits, because they're so alcoholic, are far more easily over consumed. If I'm drinking beer it's more of a gradual thing, that I can feel after whatever number of pints the alcohol is starting to take effect - with spirits it's much easier to drink more in a shorter time.

I'm not suggesting that banning younger people from buying spirits will stop them intentionally getting langered, but just that it's a lot easier to carelessly drink too much (or even intentionally drink too much, I suppose) if you have easy access to spirits.

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:1hkpbcfi wrote: Besides, the alternative to spirits won't be beer or cider: it'll be the much more efficient wine and liqueur.[/quote:1hkpbcfi]
Then the problem will be gone though, since wine is a [i:1hkpbcfi]posh[/i:1hkpbcfi] drink.

&amp;quot;sbillings&amp;quot;:3a9fxao6 wrote: Oh I agree. Bans rarely help matters. There is almost always a way around them and that usually involves losing what control we have over the banned item and criminals taking over.[/quote:3a9fxao6]

I agree , I would not really advocate banning anything to be honest ,but when it comes to 'alcopops'
I think there should be at least some sort of strictly adhered to manufacture's code(or possibly legislation) that states that marketing be it packaging or advertising should be very strict and monitored .That is, that any contrived product that tries to disguise the taste of alcohol with the addition of sugar and packs itself in candy-coloured packaging that is specificly designed to attract a younger cohort of customer, is I think wrong, and should not be allowed.(In my opinion alcohol should taste of and at least look like alcohol,this means that it automatically garners some respect by the consumer)

I think there is a case to bring in some stricter labeling on products , with the addition of maybe a unit standard(similar to the UK) with a reasonably large label on the front label of any product showing the amount of units in the product and a table of daily allowances suitable for both genders.
This though would have to be accepted industry wide with every producer of beverages of any kind using the same system.(otherwise there would be a distinct lack of imported products that would not live up to this standard and your choice of product would decrease sharply)

&amp;quot;kenmc&amp;quot;:kp2p9x1s wrote: wine is a [i:kp2p9x1s]posh[/i:kp2p9x1s] drink.[/quote:kp2p9x1s]
[img:kp2p9x1s]http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1273/3269564919_b361c87a87.jpg[/img:kp2p9x1s]