by Rennie on Wed Sep 08, 2004 1:29 pm
I'm not objecting to the price rise as such (although I don't personally agree with it), but to use the theory that high(er) prices will stop binge drinking in St Andrews union is frankly bullshit.
Firstly, we don't have a problem with binge drinking anyway - so to hide behind that and use it as a reason to raise prices is cowardly.
Secondly, the price rise would not make a difference to the majority of St Andrews students, 99.99% of whom drink responsibly whilst in the Union. I can think of around 4 incidents last year that were caused solely by excessive drinking within the Union, and 2 of those were in Freshers Week where it is practically encouraged to drink a lot.
Thirdly, the licensing boards are clamping down on offers such as one by a club called Afterdark in Dundee last year, where you could drink as much as you like for £10. This offer was going quite well until there was a mini-riot outside the club one night after closing time (which didn't have too much to do with the club itself, it seemed to me as though it was more to do with football rivalries - Scotland had just been whupped by the Dutch) The offer was quickly ended, and the club closed down soon afterwards. In St Andrews, there has never been such a problem outside the Students Union, but there has been problems outside other pubs who charge extortionate prices for drinks (Ginhouse, Ma Bells...)
There is no relation between increasing drinks prices minimally from a reasonably low level to a slightly less reasonable level - and that then stopping, or cutting down on binge drinking. None whatsoever. So stop trying to use it as an excuse please and use the real reason, which is that you want to make more profit.
Is Dundee union close to losing its drinks licence becuse of binge drinking? No. Are we? No, never.