We've already paid for it, thanks. Do you imagine all people who drink are not taxpayers? Or pay no National Insurance?

But more than this, people who drink pay more tax than people who don't. As well as the usual income tax and NI, they pay a significant amount of tax on every unit of alcohol that they buy.

Same with smokers – far more revenue is collected in tax on tobacco than is spent treating smoking related illness. I strongly suspect the same is true of alcohol. Millions of pounds of tax are raised every day on alcohol sales. The more people drink, the more tax they pay.

Those of us who smoke and drink have already paid more than enough tax to cover an A and E visit, should they need one. Indeed, we probably help subsidise the healthcare of the abstinent.
In addition, we'll die younger, saving the 'taxpayer' a bundle on all the multiple treatments that the elderly often receive.

And I'm perfectly happy with this arrangement. Everyone should be treated free at the point of delivery, without fear or favour.

I'd be happy to stump up the £200 if I landed in A&E - so long as I never had to pay another penny in tax on cigs and booze. I reckon I'd be ahead on the deal.