tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post1503684550672538372..comments2024-01-01T16:01:35.711+00:00Comments on Dick Puddlecote: Drafting An Alcohol Strategy Consultation ResponseDick Puddlecotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01481866882188932892noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-16376089445430700862013-01-24T19:57:20.458+00:002013-01-24T19:57:20.458+00:00This was very helpful, thank you - I hadn't ev...This was very helpful, thank you - I hadn't even see the consultation mentioned anywhere before. I made sure to mention that minimum pricing will lead to more offshore duty free buying, leading to less tax/profits overall. Denmark had to repeal its 'fat tax' recently because people were going to neighbouring countries to do all their shopping, hitting the government in their wallets where it hurt!tiredofcameronsbsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-27214209135578640642013-01-23T16:14:20.073+00:002013-01-23T16:14:20.073+00:00It's hardly new. I've been re-watching the...It's hardly new. I've been re-watching the first series of <em>Yes, Minister</em> (now more than thirty years old) on DVD lately. This is straight out of the Sir Humphrey Appleby playbook. Douglas Adams had a pop at local authorities doing much the same thing in the first episode of <em>Hitchhiker's</em> around the same time.<br /><br /><br />Beware of the leopard.Sam Duncannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-61635844596622785842013-01-23T11:47:06.915+00:002013-01-23T11:47:06.915+00:00Although the changes allowing for a more free occa...Although the changes allowing for a more free occasional licencing system are welcome, there is a proposal to allow health authorities the same rights as the police in objecting to new licences and licence renewal. This is on the rather dubious grounds that a concentration of licences increases the harm to health (there is at least a modicum of logic to the police powers and anti-social behaviour argument). In understanding this, we should appreciate that you and I don't have the right to support or object - unless we are close neighbours to the licenced premises. Indeed, I cannot object or support as a local councillor unless I do so on behalf of residents close to the licenced premises in question.<br />The result of these changes will undoubtedly be - in some places - a host of licence objections from local health authorities claiming that another pub or off licence will reuslt in most "alcohol-related harm".Simon Cookenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-44987271773287912362013-01-23T10:04:56.166+00:002013-01-23T10:04:56.166+00:00I did mine a while ago, but have just shared this ...I did mine a while ago, but have just shared this post to FB 'pour encourager les autres' :-)Steve Wintersgillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-81099447738847111832013-01-23T02:15:41.061+00:002013-01-23T02:15:41.061+00:00Great to hear you took time to make the effort, St...Great to hear you took time to make the effort, Steve. :)<br /><br />Questions more one-sided than Pavarotti on a see-saw, weren't they?Dick_Puddlecotenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-64484743891105941702013-01-23T02:09:19.251+00:002013-01-23T02:09:19.251+00:00They're asking the general public as well as b...They're asking the general public as well as businesses, public sector organisations and even - as we saw with the plain packs consultation - citizens and governments of other countries.<br /><br />As for why it is not publicised more, we'll that's just how government likes to work. Squirrel it away on an obscure page of some boring civil service website and they can say the public has had their chance to respond without the danger of many actually doing so. Of course, anti-alcohol groups who are paid out of your taxes will be acutely aware of the process because it's their job to know. They'll have received many a reminder from central government too just in case they forgot to add it to their Outlook calendar. <br /><br />You won't receive an e-mail announcing the start of the consultation - nor would private businesses in the drinks or hospitality industry - but Alcohol Concern, for example, would have been sent a personal invite to respond.<br /><br />It's just how the modern, shifty, mendacious politician and his greaseball civil facilitators have chosen to {cough} serve the public these days.Dick_Puddlecotenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-39883148101763741722013-01-22T22:00:11.866+00:002013-01-22T22:00:11.866+00:00Wow!
I had a great deal of fun filling in that loa...Wow!<br />I had a great deal of fun filling in that load of tripe! <br /><br />If an undergraduate had presented that questionnaire as being appropriate for discerning opinions then he/she would have been shot down in flames in seconds! It presumes acceptance of the imposition of minimum pricing, the questions are more loaded than a primed cannon and the restricted responses restrict replies to unintended positives.<br />What a farce! <br /><br />I'm buying my home-brewing kit tomorrow!Steve Brownnoreply@blogger.com