tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post395492530828493147..comments2024-03-28T17:11:52.333+00:00Comments on The Pub Curmudgeon: Driving the problem undergroundCurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-28350958255876041582010-06-19T20:51:27.678+01:002010-06-19T20:51:27.678+01:00I see we both went for a heading on the "driv...I see we both went for a heading on the "driving" theme: I wrote <a href="http://rednev-rearm.blogspot.com/2010/06/driving-limit-down.html" rel="nofollow">Driving The Limit Down</a>. They say great minds think alike ~ and fools seldom differ!RedNevhttp://rednev-rearm.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-52060447611691068642010-06-17T23:32:43.466+01:002010-06-17T23:32:43.466+01:00I do not want to sound all "inside track"...I do not want to sound all "inside track" and a name dropper, but you may or not be aware I am involved in politics on a part time basis.<br /><br />I am strongly led to believe that David Cameron is fully briefed on the impact of the smoking ban for example. Cameron's and his cabinet colleague's advisors tend to be highly educated, libertarian, free marketeers and know full well that reducing the drink driving limit will be yet another nail in the coffin for pubs. <br /><br />I was presenting the economic effects of the smoking ban to some noted economists and even they were shocked at the scale of closures. They too agreed that probably 66% of pub closures are down to the ban. <br /><br />ConservativeHome the Tory Party's shop window to the acivists, the ones who bang on your door, stand for the council and stuff the envelopes, by and large have had enough of the nanny state. I find it remarkable that the middle classes are the ones who bans annoy the most, especially the smoking when only about 15% smoke. <br /><br />I think Andrew Lansley the Minister for Health will be very reluctant to introduce any further social restrictions as ConHome would be in open revolt as recent debates on minimum pricing of alcohol and the smoking ban demonstratd. Lansley has now said he will not be introducing minimum pricing for alcohol.<br /><br />We can but hope that nanny is taking a well deserved holiday.<br /><br />Disclaimer: Member and Conservative Party activist.DaveAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07249090980650806030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-77452363020339261162010-06-17T22:57:05.868+01:002010-06-17T22:57:05.868+01:00The Sun may be populist tripe, but it is very well...The Sun may be populist tripe, but it is very well done populist tripe. A work colleague buys it to read with his lunch, and then sometimes passes it on to me.<br /><br />In the past they have allowed some of their columnists to let rip about a proposed reduction in the drink-drive limit (I recall one by Fergus Shanahan) but on this occasion they haven't yet - maybe this confirms their inside information is sound.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-85246451590779463322010-06-17T21:52:59.964+01:002010-06-17T21:52:59.964+01:00“Social and peer pressure have convinced people th...“Social and peer pressure have convinced people that it is absolutely not acceptable to drink and drive."<br /><br />I agree. When the drinking and driving laws first came in you were considered "unlucky" to of got caught. Now, quite rightly it is a social shame and the only, defence is that "we have all done it." I live in London and have plenty of public transport, so I have no excuses.<br /><br />What this law may do is tip the balance the other way, where the social shame disappears and we all end up being "unlucky" again. Also you might as well be hung for the sheep rather than a lamb and the 50-80 group might end up in the 100-150 group.<br /><br />The Sun journalists I have met have been highly educated and working for it, genuinely is prestigious. Being Britain's largest selling newspaper and most widely read newspaper, up to 10 million, it is highly influential. The showbiz and celeb "news" is a tribute to someone's fevered imagination (its the main reason it sells so well) the politics is well connected and accurate.DaveAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07249090980650806030noreply@blogger.com