麻豆约拍

Can you price people out of binge drinking?

The government is proposing a minimum price of 40p per unit of alcohol in England and Wales, in an effort to stamp out binge drinking. Ministers say the proposal would not affect responsible pubs or drinkers, but they say it could significantly change the behaviour of those who cause the most problems for hospitals and the police, by making it more expensive to get drunk.

The drinks industry said the plans were misguided and would hit consumers hard.

This is all about hitting the cheaper end of the booze market, which the government says it needs to tackle because of the pre-loading that is going on amongst young people.

So here is the financial breakdown. You can currently walk into a supermarket in kent and pick up up an own brand 2 litre bottle of cider for 拢1.53 and that will now be a minimum of 拢5.50. A bottle of white wine currently priced at 拢2.99 would rise to at least 拢5 and lager, own brand supermarket lager for a pack of 4 cans which would cost you 拢2.80 now that would rise to 拢4.80 under these proposals.

So is this proposal going to the heart of the problem or is it another unfair tax on the rest of us who currently enjoy the cheaper prices and drink responsibly? Is that you? And do you feel that you will now be paying for the drinking excesses of the irresponsible few, have they spoilt it for the rest of us ?

But how do you get to those people specifically ?

What is it like in your local high street of a friday and saturday night? Dartford, Maidstone, Ashford, Canterbury, Chatham, Whitstable, Canterbury, Sevenoaks. Has it become a no-go area for you because of the binge drinking and rowdy behaviour ?

But also, do we have to admit that we are a country that has a problematic relationship with alcohol that we need to address?

We speak to Steve Graham from Whitstable. He has put his whole life up for sale, complete with seaside home, his ice cream shop and his original 1950s beach hut - sold as one package for the price of 拢675,000.

For someone, it is the dream package, the chance to swap the hustle and bustle of city living for a quieter, more laid-back life.

For Steve, who has had a tough couple of years, it is an opportunity to walk away and start again. Could you do it? Sell your entire life?

We hear your views and stories.

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