Shorter Drinking Hours, More Expensive Drinks
Ed G, Paignton

One of the worst things the Blair government ever did (other than lead us into war) was extend pub and club openings hours. It was supposed to stop people from drinking too much too quickly, getting drunk and spilling out onto the streets at the same time to fight with each other. Well it failed big time.
It has led to some of the most appalling street violence I have ever seen right here in Paignton, and throughout Torbay. It is the same in just about every town in the country. Only it isn’t just the late nights we have to worry about now, there are drunks everywhere in the day time too causing problems for ordinary, decent folk. It is even more menacing now that these yobs stand outside in the street blocking the pavements to smoke, lots of them complete with drinks, even though there are signs saying no drinking on the streets is allowed. Who feels safe trying to pass groups of abusive drunken youths even if it is broad daylight? What is it like for the shopkeepers having all of this going on outside their premises, scaring customers away? What point is there in having any laws at all if there are no police in sight to enforce them?
Groups of drunken youths rampaging through our streets are so common these days as not to be remarked upon. Gangs circling their victims and kicking them half way to death is becoming routine “sport”- they even take pictures of their violence with their phones, they are that depraved. Drunken girls kicking, screaming and swearing at each other, carrying knives, intent on causing harm. I can’t believe that these individuals would have the courage to act like this were they not completely sozzled. It isn’t the holidaymaking visitors causing fights, it is our own stupid, badly brought up local youngsters, maybe even your children or grandchildren or nieces or nephews. They don’t know when enough is enough and now they are able to drink around the clock it is making many areas completely unsafe. Life for anyone living near poorly managed pubs and clubs is unbearable and who in their right minds would want to be running a late night taxi service or takeaway with drunken yobs like these to deal with?
Our towns and our tourist trade are being destroyed. I read that the cost of alcohol has fallen steadily when measured against average wages. Surely as alcohol is known to cause such devastating social problems the price should go way up to put it completely out of reach other than for special social occasions. It is also time to completely pull apart licensing laws and put alcohol completely off limits to anyone under twenty or accompanied by children, regardless of who buys it or where they drink it, and stop all retailers, pubs and clubs, from bulk selling and discounting it or selling it to any one already under the influence. While we’re at it let’s also have a proactive police force patrolling all outlets where alcohol is sold rather than the tardy, ineffectual police force we have now. Enough is enough.
It takes a lot to get me this angry but when you hear that a kid has been set upon by a drunken gang and had his head stamped on just around the corner from where you live it sickens you to the core. If one parent gets to read this and goes on to question where her son was until 3.00am on Sunday morning and why he has blood stains all over his shoes and trousers then it’ll have been worth writing…