"Alcohol is the number one 'date rape' drug ". No great surprises there then is there? Alcohol has been used for centuries to 'loosen women up' toward consent but it's value in getting a woman so blotto she is not aware at the time what happens must truly be a great help to the rapist. With judgemental juries, where alcohol is concerned, on the lenient side of the rapist. no wonder under-reporting is so common.

But then this only tales care of the alcohol related rapes. What of all the others? We really must stop this judging of the victim's behaviour prior to the rape. You cannot consent to a rape (as you cannot consent to an assault) so it would still be rape where any refusal, retraction or outright behavioural signs of not wanting sex is concerned. THAT is what the courts should deal with and stay on track with it.

Where the victim was acting in a way prior to the rape that we would not, or doing something we would not, or waering something we may consider sexy and inviting... there is no invitation to rape. Judge the rapist! They have a clear choice and, to be honest, where he knows the woman was not in control he should have the charge added to of taking advantage of a vulnerable person!

Give that some thought, because that is what it must be if they are out of the picture with alcohol.

The rapist should be allowed no place to hide within the law. If they have raped then that, and that alone, should be what is dealt with.

mp