to think the problem lies with people drinking too much

[Northernlurker]

To explain: recently a young man disappeared in our city after a night out. It has been reported that he'd drunk in a number of pubs and likely was somewhat intoxicated. A few days later his body was found in the river.

This is a terrible tragedy for his family and I can understand they feel a need to do something - however what they've chosen to do is speak out calling for large sections of the river to be fenced off. We are talking here about a shallow river with next to no current (waterlilies grow in the summer!) that any adult falling in to should be able to extricate themself from assuming usual health. It doesn't need to be fenced off for public safety because the vast majority of the public are at no risk whatsoever.

AIBU to feel really sad that an opportunity to point out to people exactly how much danger being drunk can put you in is being missed here?

[expatinscotland]

'In the US wine is sold in supermarkets but other booze in special off liceneces only.'

In some states. In others, it's all sold in a liquor store, usually located next to the supermarket .

In others, it is sold, but only 3.2% beer and wine. For the regular stuff, you have to go to a liquor store.

California and Nevada are noteable exceptions.

But of course, the liquor store isn't open as often as the supermarket, and because they only sell booze, mixers, snacks and Lotto tickets, it's easier for them to catch out underage buyers or those buying for minors.

The other issue is that, in most states, a person who buys to supply a minor can get into very, very serious trouble and even be charged the same as a perpetrator if in fact a perpetrator is a minor who was supplied by the person (in the case, say, of a minor who then drives a car drunk and kills someone).

Of course, this approach may not work for the UK, but this is how it is handled.

[expatinscotland]

'The whole drunk town centre thing is something I never saw but I'm sure some aspects of it go on.'

Not really. Because if one person got hold of a camera and taped it, then the police did nothing, it would be all over the place. Lawsuits, too.

Again, not saying that's right or the right approach for here.

But it is what it is. And part of it is that if you call the police about people acting ghetto whilst drunk it's usually taken seriously.

That's not to say it doesn't go on, just that if people complain you have to stop behaving like that most of the time.

Or you really do face some unpleasant consequences.

[southeastastra]

stop saying acting ghetto expat

[expatinscotland]

Make me, south . Because to be quite honest I don't know how else to put such behaviour without a lot of people getting het up and offended .

[southeastastra]

i do understand

[southeastastra]

what you mean!

sorry posted too soon

[JackBauer]

OP YANBU. I live in a city with a marina and river, a few years ago there was a well published campaign to get railings put up around the marina after a young man fell in and drowned. The campaign was high profile and veyr aggressive, the people who worked at the marina (who I know) were intimidated and made to feel as if it was all their fault that it was unsafe.
Unfortunately, what they all seemed to miss was the fact that he fell int eh river. And all the stats they pulled out of deaths in the water were from people who had fallen in up the river near the docks, where they are never going to put railings in, or who had climbed the railings and then fallen in, or in one case fell off his boat. Railings would not have saved any of them apart from teh idiot who decided to piss over the egde of a 12 foot drop into open water while pissed and fell(and luckily was pulled out anyway)

Yes it's sad, and I feel for the families, but ffs, have a bit of sense. Open water is not safe. I have more sympathy to the people close to me that have to remove the bodies and have nightmares/flashbacks about it than the people who fell in in the first place.

[expatinscotland]

Oh, there was a guy a few years back who tried to climb up Castle Rock in Edinburgh for the side going up King Stables Road whilst utterly bladdered.

Sadly, he fell to his death.

You know, there's a really good reason the top of that rock has been a fortress since before the time of the Picts.

[Rebeccaruby]

The only problem with charging people if they end up in A and E drunk, imagine the following:

Your teen gets out of their face on alcohol. They lose consciousness. Their friends discuss whether to call an ambulance or just let them "sleep it off". Now, people do (rarely) die from alcohol poisoning. Teens are currently encouraged to call an ambulance. Now, suppose they know that your little darling will get stung for £60 or whatever. They might feel a bit reluctant to get help.

Or, your child is a student. They get a glancing blow from a car when they misjudge crossing the road after a few sherbets. They hit their head, but manage to stand up. Their friends suggest they go to hospital, as they are bleeding and groggy, but they decide to go in the morning, as they are obviously drunk and £60 is a lot of money for a student. The head injury is more serious than they thought, they lapse into a coma overnight. Well, it happens all the time on Casualty!

And what about homeless people who are alcoholics? These people are often assaulted, or have severe health problems. They will never feel they can go to hospital, as they will always be drunk. Yes, I know they don't have any money to take away, but it will be taken out of their benefit every week.