Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the craze for gin in Britain in the mid 18th Century and the attempts to control it. With the arrival of William of Orange, it became an act of loyalty to drink Protestant, Dutch gin rather than Catholic brandy, and changes in tariffs made everyday beer less affordable. Within a short time, production increased and large sections of the population that had rarely or never drunk spirits before were consuming two pints of gin a week. As Hogarth indicated in his print ‘Beer Street and Gin Lane’ (1751) in support of the Gin Act, the damage was severe, and addiction to gin was blamed for much of the crime in cities such as London.
[radio] Men and violence: Stag Parties, Thinking Allowed | BBC Radio 4
Daniel Briggs, Professor in Criminology at the Universidad Europea de Madrid, unpicks the commercial and emotional motivations of men taking part in stag ‘dos’. Is such stereotypical excessive and deviant behaviour ultimately rooted in commercial ideology?
Sindh alcohol sellers challenge ban | The Express Tribune
A petition filed on behalf of eight alcohol dealers from Sindh challenged on Monday the Sindh High Court’s ruling to revoke all liquor shop licences and suspend their operations until the Supreme Court weighed in on the matter.
Source: tribune.com.pk/story/1231348/sindh-alcohol-sellers-challenge-shc-ban/
Charity urges support ahead of Alcohol Awareness Week
“We’re hoping that friends and supporters will consider hosting a low key supper, tea, book club, film night or lunch for their friends during alcohol awareness week in aid of the work we do at The Alcohol Education Trust across the County,” said Helena Conibear, director of the UK’s Alcohol Education Trust, ahead of Alcohol Awareness Week, November 14-20th
Source: www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2016/11/charity-urges-support-ahead-of-alcohol-awareness-week/
[In brief] England’s men cut hazardous drinking since 2000 | NHS
The rate of potentially harmful “hazardous drinking” among men in England has fallen by almost a quarter in the last 15 years. The percentage drinking at this level fell from 37% in 2000 to 28% in 2014 (see chart). The rate among women remained stable at just under 15%. Overall, levels of harmful and dependent drinking—the latter involving a range of physical and psychological symptoms—also remained stable, though becoming less common among 16 to 24 year olds and more common among 55 to 64 year olds. ■
Source: http://content.digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB21748/apms-2014-alcohol.pdf
Pubs ‘should reveal alcohol calories’ | BBC News
“Just like we have on cigarette packets exactly what happens to you if you choose to smoke, it should say what happens to you if you choose to drink,” Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall.