The chief constable of Cheshire yesterday attacked the "drink fuelled yobbishness and antisocial behaviour" following a terrible tragedy there. He blames cheap alcohol, available at all hours to underaged youths.
He is demanding higher priced beer, the ability to declare no-drinking zones, more police powers and the intervention of parents, and others, in the prevention of underage drinking.
The storm clouds are gathering.
Yet I seem to remember that it was the police who claimed that extra hours would be a good thing when the licensing laws were being drafted. Phrases like 'café culture' were the rallying call for all those who wanted more liberalised laws. The deregulation of aspects of the old laws and the freedom for businesses to conduct themselves without restriction were classic freetrade arguments. But here, and now, it is evident that this new law is creating more problems than it has seemed to solve.
Licensees respond to the opportunities laid before them and, in a fiercely competitive world, it is perfectly natural for pubs to evolve, like supermarkets, by stacking booze high and selling it cheap.
Grotesque 'happy hours' have mostly disappeared but the legacy of cheap booze lives on. The pressures of keen rents, stiff opposition, demanding shareholders and a relentless squeeze from utilities companies make getting an honest buck more difficult each year. The market is saturated by more outlets trying to sell more products to customers already seemingly unable to be able to handle the quantities they are already being plied with.
So here is a recipe for a cocktail given to me today.
The 'Call an Ambulance' cocktail.
- 25ml Jack Daniels
- 25ml Malibu
- 25 ml Aftershock Red
- 25 ml Vodka
- 250ml milk
- 50ml Baileys
- 50ml Pimms
Serve in a pint glass with ice.
So much for responsible retailing.