There follows a transcript of my interview with Nick Jolliwell, the government's 'booze czar', responsible for changing the nation's drinking culture...
What is the ultimate aim?
Education. Pure and simple.
So you think that by education, a whole culture can be altered?
It's going to take time, but yes.
Where does education start?
We mustn't make alcohol a naughty thing. Children need to see alcohol as an enjoyable part of life if taken in moderation. They need to start getting used to alcohol at a young age.
How young?
When parents sit down to a meal with their bottle of wine, give the child a little diluted wine. It's what they do in France.
What about babies?
Maybe dip in your little finger, let them suck it. Very diluted, of course. Just gets them used to it. Makes it part of normal life at a young age.
Do they do that in France?
Maybe.
And if they don't, they should?
Look, I just think having the family together, sharing a bottle of wine at the dinner table, good civilised conversation.
With children?
Certainly.
In French?
Maybe some French could be used. It's not a bad idea, you know. It's all good practice.
What about a family that say, doesn't eat together. Maybe they have their meals on trays in front of the tv, at different times?
I'm not talking about every day of the week. Sunday lunch is good. Once a week.
How are you going to get all families in Britain together for Sunday lunch?
These are just suggestions, Geoff. We're not going into people's houses.
How is relaxing the licensing laws going to stop young people binge drinking?
It won't.
Then why have longer opening?
Basically to stop flashpoints. When all the pubs empty out at the same time there's going to be trouble.
What, pub versus pub? The King's Arms versus the Queen's Head?
Just having hundreds of extremely drunk young people on our high streets at 11.30, you're going to get violence.
Because they're drunk?
Yes.
Because they drink a great amount in a short time?
Yes.
Which you can't stop?
No.
But if you stagger the staggerers...Say have one pub closing at eleven o'clock, one at twelve, one at one. That's going to stop flashpoints?
We're not telling establishments when to close.
So they could all close at midnight and we could have even more drunk people on our streets. The pubs and the drinks companies will make even more money.
But they'll have a responsibility. We want to make pubs more responsible.
What do I tell my seventeen year old daughter? How do I educate her when I know she goes out at weekends and gets smashed on alcopops and vodka shorts?
She shouldn't be getting served.
Ok, she's just turned eighteen. And she goes out at weekends and gets smashed on alcopops and vodka shorts?
She'll learn.
How?
The way we all did. By drinking too much and feeling so ill she'll never do it again.
How do I know she's not got the constitution of an alcoholic? Maybe she doesn't get ill and just drinks more and more?
The chances are she won't become an alcoholic.
What if it runs in the family? I binge drink.
I'm sure most of us do from time to time.
No. Every week. According to government figures I am a binge drinker three times a week. Am I to be educated?
It's your body. If you're not harming anyone...
Isn't it in the government's interest for us to drink as much as we can? Everytime we have a drink we swell the government's coffers.
Look, Geoff. Drinking is part of life. Most people know when to stop. Some people are predisposed to going too far. Some people get violent. But most of us are sensible, social drinkers. And here endeth the sermon...I think it's my round.
You got the last one.
Did I?
What is the ultimate aim?
Education. Pure and simple.
So you think that by education, a whole culture can be altered?
It's going to take time, but yes.
Where does education start?
We mustn't make alcohol a naughty thing. Children need to see alcohol as an enjoyable part of life if taken in moderation. They need to start getting used to alcohol at a young age.
How young?
When parents sit down to a meal with their bottle of wine, give the child a little diluted wine. It's what they do in France.
What about babies?
Maybe dip in your little finger, let them suck it. Very diluted, of course. Just gets them used to it. Makes it part of normal life at a young age.
Do they do that in France?
Maybe.
And if they don't, they should?
Look, I just think having the family together, sharing a bottle of wine at the dinner table, good civilised conversation.
With children?
Certainly.
In French?
Maybe some French could be used. It's not a bad idea, you know. It's all good practice.
What about a family that say, doesn't eat together. Maybe they have their meals on trays in front of the tv, at different times?
I'm not talking about every day of the week. Sunday lunch is good. Once a week.
How are you going to get all families in Britain together for Sunday lunch?
These are just suggestions, Geoff. We're not going into people's houses.
How is relaxing the licensing laws going to stop young people binge drinking?
It won't.
Then why have longer opening?
Basically to stop flashpoints. When all the pubs empty out at the same time there's going to be trouble.
What, pub versus pub? The King's Arms versus the Queen's Head?
Just having hundreds of extremely drunk young people on our high streets at 11.30, you're going to get violence.
Because they're drunk?
Yes.
Because they drink a great amount in a short time?
Yes.
Which you can't stop?
No.
But if you stagger the staggerers...Say have one pub closing at eleven o'clock, one at twelve, one at one. That's going to stop flashpoints?
We're not telling establishments when to close.
So they could all close at midnight and we could have even more drunk people on our streets. The pubs and the drinks companies will make even more money.
But they'll have a responsibility. We want to make pubs more responsible.
What do I tell my seventeen year old daughter? How do I educate her when I know she goes out at weekends and gets smashed on alcopops and vodka shorts?
She shouldn't be getting served.
Ok, she's just turned eighteen. And she goes out at weekends and gets smashed on alcopops and vodka shorts?
She'll learn.
How?
The way we all did. By drinking too much and feeling so ill she'll never do it again.
How do I know she's not got the constitution of an alcoholic? Maybe she doesn't get ill and just drinks more and more?
The chances are she won't become an alcoholic.
What if it runs in the family? I binge drink.
I'm sure most of us do from time to time.
No. Every week. According to government figures I am a binge drinker three times a week. Am I to be educated?
It's your body. If you're not harming anyone...
Isn't it in the government's interest for us to drink as much as we can? Everytime we have a drink we swell the government's coffers.
Look, Geoff. Drinking is part of life. Most people know when to stop. Some people are predisposed to going too far. Some people get violent. But most of us are sensible, social drinkers. And here endeth the sermon...I think it's my round.
You got the last one.
Did I?
posted by Geoff at 10:08 AM
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