Voxpop: Tackling binge drinking

Prof. Simon Moore argues for a holistic approach to fighting the problem

Much is needed to tackle Cardiff’s binge drinking reputation, according to a leading academic.

Professor Simon Moore of the Violence and Society Research Group at Cardiff University believes change is needed at all levels in order to tackle bingeing and free the city from its unfortunate reputation for heavy drinking:

“We need to challenge excessive drinking in licensed premises, when intoxicated patients turn up at hospital, in police custody suites and possibly in the workplace as well.” He then added: “We also need to educate youngsters about alcohol from an early age.”

Various other solutions have been proposed, such as a late night levy on drinking establishments serving alcohol between midnight and 6am, as well as the filming of drunken Cardiffians to remind them of their condition when they sober up.

What do you think could be done to tackle binge drinking in Cardiff?

Brig Jones, 55, councillor, Cardiff

“Well if people’s lives had more meaning then they wouldn’t want to binge. I think if your life is shit then you are more likely to over drink!”

Richard Turner, 20, CAD technician, Ogmore Vale

“I think the only thing really is raising prices. Mainly at supermarkets because everyone pre-drinks and gets their alcohol there.”

Gareth Brand, 31, Welsh government statistician, Cardiff

“I’d probably say it’s down to places not serving people when they are drunk. Stricter drinks policies, like a limit on how many drinks you can buy at once so you can’t buy lots of drinks and give them to your drunk friends. Just better monitoring of levels of drunkenness.”

Mike O’Connor, 58, web editor, Cardiff

“Raise the unit price – that kind of legislation is probably one of the more effective measures. A change in the licensing hours, probably better policing of underage drinking, because that is a big problem. Probably better policing in the city centre too.”

Steph Jezewski, 21, student, Cambridgeshire

“I am a student and I don’t drink but when you look at freshers bingeing everywhere you just think ‘grow up!’ I think it’s more to do with how you are brought up than where you are from. When I was younger I was allowed a glass of wine with food whereas people who are told “no, not allowed” tend to binge.”

Taliesin Maynard, 37, management consultant, Pontypool

“I think there should be much tighter regulation of the offers that certain establishments do on two-for-one offers, that sort of thing. Not a blanket ban, but certainly stricter regulations.”

Mo Solomon, 50, cleaner, Gabalfa

“Stop the cheap drinks offers; you can even get cheap cans now. They need to stop all the offers like two-for-one. I do it too, go out and have a few drinks. But they need to put prices up.”

alcohol, binge drinking, drinking, health, society