To think you should be able to buy alcohol at any time in Scotland?

[beenthiswaysince18]

Childfree tonight and was contemplating having some wine. Looked at the time and thought I have an hour to decide whether to bother or not (don't think I will). Anyways it got me thinking, I really don't know the thinking behind alcohol only being sold in shops between 10 am and 10 pm in Scotland.

Surely people just stock up so they don't run out, meaning they have more alcohol in the house that they are more likely to drink. Or it could cause an increase in people drink driving if they've ran out of alcohol, rushing to the shop to make it before 10 pm.

I've never really thought about it until tonight but it is just frustrating that I must make a decision before 10 pm. What if it gets to 10.10 pm and I fancy some wine? I think it's a pointless rule and drinking is not more prevalent in England where this rule doesn't exist.

AIBU?

It’s hardly controversy! Sore point maybe?

@Isadora2007 oh I didn't know Scotland had worse alcohol problems that England. My mistake.

@YouBoughtMeAWall haha absolutely not. I think that if I was an alcoholic I wouldn't have left it till 9.30 at night to go and get some wine, I'd of been blootered already.

Alcoholics can be as disorganised as the rest of us!

@YouBoughtMeAWall I'm sure they can, but I wouldn't know

YANBU at all. We are treated like children in Scotlandehen it comes to alcohol. The nannying Scottish jumped up regional assembly need to wind back on the minimum unit pricing, too. It's not most people's fault some people can't control themselves. It's crazy that a bottle of cheap, strong cider costs the same as the biggest brand.

The government decides lots of things around public health that we may not like/inconvenience us; smoking bans, seatbelt wearing, speed limits, happy hour bans, sugar 'tax' (and errm, lockdowns). They're not doing to annoy you or for no good reason.

A reason not to live in Scotland, then.

...no alcohol when driving, no leaving your car running outside schools... No sweeties at the checkout...

A reason not to live in Scotland, then.

Yes, people left on their droves when this was introduced...

I can understand the smoking ban, that's there to protect non smokers and children's health, but we are not told we can't purchase cigarettes between 10 pm and 10 am. If a person is an alcoholic they will get their hands on alcohol through any means necessary, do you honestly think that this rule is stopping alcoholics in their track? It's not. It's mainly a massive pain in the arse for the rest of the public. Alcoholics will drink mouthwash if they can't get their hands on it or they will steal. Or worse, die. If an alcoholic just suddenly stops drinking this can result in death, I don't see how this rules help this whatsoever.

Lockdown also is to protect the vulnerable people within society and to protect the NHS. The alcohol rule takes away individual responsibility and gives the impression that adults cannot make there own decision about their consumption.

@Daphnise

A reason not to live in Scotland, then.

Now that really is a drinking problem!!

@thedevilinablackdress everything you've mentioned is to protect others...the alcohol ban does not do that

Too many people drink too much here. It's the bane of Scotland.

But... but.... it’s Lockdown - only leave the house for essentials - which is not wine you don’t know if you even want!

do you honestly think that this rule is stopping alcoholics in their track? It's not.

I mean, it literally is! It’s preventing them buying alcohol for a 12 hour period. It’s making it a lot more difficult for them to drink. Of course there are some that will steal it or find a friend or family member who will give them drink but for many alcoholics it literally will stop them in their tracks.

It's mainly a massive pain in the arse for the rest of the public.

Again, if it’s a massive pain in the arse rather than a slight inconvenience- you have a problem.

@Bouncebacker 😂😂😂

@beenthiswaysince18 - you clearly have very little understanding of alcoholism. Very heavy drinkers have a huge tolerance for alcohol and may not always look outwardly drunk. They might make promises to themselves to drink only x amount so not buy in bulk then get on a binge and want more - hence a harm reduction strategy. And Scotland has some of the worst drink related statistics, including premature death, in Europe. That said, I can see why non-problem drinkers feel frustrated by it.

It is bonkers. I remember the days when you couldn’t buy alcohol at all in a shop on Sunday (though there was always a sneaky corner shop that would flog you some if they knew you). Here in Bavaria we currently can’t buy any after 10pm due to lockdown but normally you can purchase alcohol from any store that’s open and sells it. And people are no more stupid about drinking than they’d normally be.

Maybe it’s cancelled out by the fact our pubs can open as late as they like? (Obv not now)

I would imagine it’s more aimed at reducing violence, than long term alcoholics. Groups drinking cheap alcohol on the street etc. (Easier to stop before than after). Same as banning drinking on trains- it’s an inconvenience for most folk, but a massive help to a few workers who get all the abuse. YABU

I remember reading shortly after the start of the pandemic about super-strict measures being adopted in Bavaria – pubs would have to close at 1am!

Yabu

No, I didn’t say people wanting to buy alcohol after ten have a problem. I said if it’s a problem that you can’t buy alcohol after ten, then you have bigger problems. For someone who wanted to buy alcohol at 3am with their shopping, but couldn’t, would just accept they need to come back again the next day. It’s not a problem. If it is a problem, then you have a problem.

This. The alcohol will be there tomorrow for purchase. Can easily go to sleep and get it the next day during the 12 hours the shop is open.

YANBU. It’s the Presbyterian nanny state

I never run out of any type of alcohol. I've always got alcohol in the house.
Maybe we have a drink problem, we are not aware of🤔