The media will latch on to anything untowards which is why they report on the bad behavior of the few. The NHS are struggling under the strain of lack of funding and poor management which is why the government is happy to use whatever it can as a scapegoat for their mis-management. I am not saying there is no alcohol abuse problem. There is, always has been, always will be. But the problem is no worse today than it has been and people running round like headless chickens, telling us how bad things are, are playing right into the hands of the cynical political spin doctors and their lapdogs, the press.

Out of interest, and linking to another thread close to the heart of the opening poster... One of ths reasons that Cadbury formed their company was to provide an alternative to alcohol. John Cadbury was so horrified by the gin drinking depravity of the Victorian era he decided to do something about it. Full story here. It seems, in some ways, the binge drinking of today is a return to those old fasioned values so vaunted by some:-)

Cheers

DeG