Moderation and restraint a must when the booze binge beckons

Going out for a drink? No problems, there are plenty of reputable pubs, clubs and eating places in Gisborne where you and your family can have a good time in pleasant surroundings.

And going out for a drink is the most popular social activity in New Zealand. Sadly, it can often go wrong. And this is true, not just in New Zealand but in most countries.

Having a meal and a few drinks gives great pleasure to millions of people. But too much drink can lead to disaster.

Many countries try different ways of coping with this problem. From parliamentariasm to publicans, there have been efforts to step in and say "enough" in a nice sort of way.

For instance, the UK Government introduced its controversial legislation permitting 24-hour drinking in the belief that it would significantly alter the nation's drinking habits.

Wine taken with food and moderate drinking for pleasure would apparently replace hard binge-drinking aimed at getting drunk as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the transformation didn't happen.

Reports on the effects of 24-hour drinking are mixed. The Government claims that overall crime is down by three percent since the law was changed. But figures show a 46 percent increase in alcohol-related anti-social incidents in just 12 police force areas.

The remedy? Hard-hitting price hikes have been suggested but that would be unfair. It would penalise sensible, moderate drinkers as well as the stupid binge-boozers.

There have been suggestions that the age limit for buying alcohol should be raised to 21.

At a recent conference, doctors and researchers likened the effects of alcohol to the drug Fantasy. More than 1000 people die in New Zealand each year from alcohol-related illness. And that does not include those killed and seriously injured in incidents such as drink-driving, family violence and fatal attacks in public places.

We must teach our kids restraint, consequences and moderation but it all boils down to individual "attitude". Just ask Jesse Ryder!

Gisborne Herald