Mention the world “charity” and people will automatically think of an organisation funded by public donations and existing to help the sick and needy. But in recent years, another form of charity has grown up, which is largely funded by government grants, and is essentially a lobbying group rather than one that actually helps anyone. They may claim to be independent of government, but in reality any opposition they display is merely to egg government on to impose every tighter restrictions in favour of their particular hobbyhorse. Such bodies have justifiably been dubbed Fake Charities.
One of the most egregious of these is Alcohol Concern. Far from devoting their efforts to helping the unfortunate victims of the disease of alcoholism, their primary raison d’être is to campaign in favour of every proposed curb on drinking and drinkers going. For this purpose, they derive well over half their income from the government. In 2007/08, their total income was £903,000. £515,000, or 57%, of this came directly from the government, with a mere £4,991, about half of one percent, coming from public donations.
If they had to resort to rattling collection boxes in the street in favour of banning happy hours, closing pubs and jacking up alcohol taxes, I wonder how much response they would get. Or might they even find that a kick in the teeth often offends?
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Nice one Curmudgeon.
ReplyDeleteVery nice one!
ReplyDeleteA very insidious organisation, indeed. Their roots lie in the religous temperance movement. Seeing which way the wind was blowing, they reinvented themselves as "Alcohol Concern." Sadly given credibilty by the media, despite their obvious agenda.
ReplyDeleteI'm not complaining, as I want the message to get around as much as possible, but some of the phraseology in this article on the Adam Smith Institute blog seems very similar to mine.
ReplyDeleteThey say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.
ReplyDelete