There is little doubt that Britain's Las Vegas, Blackpool, is under pressure to maintain its long and hard earned reputation for fun and frolics. It might soon become the ghost town of closed saloons! The lights might go on shining but there will be little fun to be had.
The council there are now seeking to ban all alcohol advertising outside of pubs. Additionally, they're also looking to ban many licensed outlets from remaining open after 3.00am, known as an EMRO (an Early Morning Restriction Order).
So signs of "Fine Ales", "Cask Condition Ales sold here", "Enjoy a Pint of Fine Ale" et al could become a thing of yesteryear in the bastillion town of good Northern beer!
At a council scrutiny committee meeting recently the members concluded that advertising alcohol "helps encourage an acceptance of drinking and re-enforces positive images of alcohol". Well what do you know, that is the very purpose! They have a concern that young people in particular are enticed by such advertising and are seduced into excess consumption.
I am all for the responsible retailing and consumption of alcohol, and the industry really is doing lots to educate the younger drinker of the perils, but introducing more and more laws and restrictions will only serve to make alcohol itself appear like stolen fruit and stolen fruit as we all know is much more attractive!
Education, Education, Education is the answer, not legislation
Friday 29 November 2013
Tuesday 26 November 2013
Latest Research Reveals Alcohol is Good For Health and Sex
I always knew that my dear old Dad was right when he told me "Son, a little of what you fancy does you good … but all things in moderation". Now I learn that my favourite pastime, a visit to the pub for a few jars is good for me!
Tony Edwards, a science journalist and writer, has brought together leading research on the effects of alcohol and found that, far from being harmful, drinking could prevent illness. Red wine is best, and beer works too - but must still be drunk in moderation.
More good news, drinking can improve your sex life! Tony writes: In a 2009 study, the University of Florence asked 800 women aged between 18 and 50 to answer a standard questionnaire on 'female sexual function'. What did they discover? Teetotallers scored 68 per cent on sexual satisfaction, those who regularly drank a single glass of red wine 72 per cent, and those who often drank two glasses 76 per cent. Ah, but is this a causal relationship or just a correlation? In other words, does red wine marginally improve a woman’s sex life, or do the kind of women who choose to drink it also have a good sex life? We don’t know.
Male wine-drinkers haven’t yet had their sex lives investigated. The only data I can find is that a constituent of red wine increases the effectiveness of the erectile dysfunction drug, Levitra — but only if you’re a rat, perhaps some of my male buddies should be aware of this.
Tony also tells us in his new book, 'The Good News About Booze', that drinking is also good for many (many) ailments and writes: A businessman goes to his GP and complains "My hands hurt, I get a bit of a pain in my chest sometimes, and I’m beginning to forget things". The doctor examines him and says "You’ve got a touch of arthritis, possibly mild heart disease, and you may be in the first stages of dementia. How much are you drinking?". "Never touch a drop, doctor" says the patient proudly. "Ah, that explains it" says the GP, wagging an admonishing finger. "Here’s a prescription for red wine and a few pints of bitter".
So, buy his book and read it in the pub! You will get educated and improve your life chances at the same time (you will also be with like minded people) I think the research should also focus on the fact that a visit to the pub is good for you!
Oh, and before I get castigated; of course "Drink Responsibly".
Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses
Tony Edwards, a science journalist and writer, has brought together leading research on the effects of alcohol and found that, far from being harmful, drinking could prevent illness. Red wine is best, and beer works too - but must still be drunk in moderation.
More good news, drinking can improve your sex life! Tony writes: In a 2009 study, the University of Florence asked 800 women aged between 18 and 50 to answer a standard questionnaire on 'female sexual function'. What did they discover? Teetotallers scored 68 per cent on sexual satisfaction, those who regularly drank a single glass of red wine 72 per cent, and those who often drank two glasses 76 per cent. Ah, but is this a causal relationship or just a correlation? In other words, does red wine marginally improve a woman’s sex life, or do the kind of women who choose to drink it also have a good sex life? We don’t know.
Male wine-drinkers haven’t yet had their sex lives investigated. The only data I can find is that a constituent of red wine increases the effectiveness of the erectile dysfunction drug, Levitra — but only if you’re a rat, perhaps some of my male buddies should be aware of this.
Tony also tells us in his new book, 'The Good News About Booze', that drinking is also good for many (many) ailments and writes: A businessman goes to his GP and complains "My hands hurt, I get a bit of a pain in my chest sometimes, and I’m beginning to forget things". The doctor examines him and says "You’ve got a touch of arthritis, possibly mild heart disease, and you may be in the first stages of dementia. How much are you drinking?". "Never touch a drop, doctor" says the patient proudly. "Ah, that explains it" says the GP, wagging an admonishing finger. "Here’s a prescription for red wine and a few pints of bitter".
So, buy his book and read it in the pub! You will get educated and improve your life chances at the same time (you will also be with like minded people) I think the research should also focus on the fact that a visit to the pub is good for you!
Oh, and before I get castigated; of course "Drink Responsibly".
Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses
Monday 18 November 2013
Former Government Drug Adviser Advocates Drug-use in Pubs
Real progress is being made in the academic world! We will soon be able to go down the pub and not only; not have a cigarette, but now not have a drink either. Professor David Nutt, he who was a government advisor but resigned from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in 2009 after a clash over policy has a new bold and cunning plan!
He is seeking funding (unsuccessfully) to develop a pill that mimics the effect of alcohol without the hangover (one of the joys of drinking in my experience). He claimed the drug would do for alcohol what the e-cigarette had done for smoking. The drug targets the brain to give the taker feelings of pleasure similar to the effects of drinking. However, an antidote can block the sensations immediately, leaving the user free to drive or return to work.
Prof Nutt said the drug could be taken in a range of cocktails. "I’ve done the prototype experiments myself" he said. "I’ve been inebriated and then it’s been reversed by the antagonist".
Is there something in his name do you think?
Not surprisingly the drinks industry has not yet been persuaded to contribute to his research funding.
What next, maybe a pill to replace food? Then we could go to the pub and not smoke, not drink and not eat, this would leave us plenty of time to chat and laugh with our mates. Ah, that’s the future for the pub?!
Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses
He is seeking funding (unsuccessfully) to develop a pill that mimics the effect of alcohol without the hangover (one of the joys of drinking in my experience). He claimed the drug would do for alcohol what the e-cigarette had done for smoking. The drug targets the brain to give the taker feelings of pleasure similar to the effects of drinking. However, an antidote can block the sensations immediately, leaving the user free to drive or return to work.
Prof Nutt said the drug could be taken in a range of cocktails. "I’ve done the prototype experiments myself" he said. "I’ve been inebriated and then it’s been reversed by the antagonist".
Is there something in his name do you think?
Not surprisingly the drinks industry has not yet been persuaded to contribute to his research funding.
What next, maybe a pill to replace food? Then we could go to the pub and not smoke, not drink and not eat, this would leave us plenty of time to chat and laugh with our mates. Ah, that’s the future for the pub?!
Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses
Wednesday 6 November 2013
Successful Pubs Cater For Their Entire Local Community
There comes a time when contributing to the good of the community has to be balanced by commercial reality.
Can the greatest pub in the area really afford to continue letting the Dog Owners Society (nothing against dog owners!) of the village have a section of the restaurant area dedicated to them on the first Monday in every month, when two bottles of sparkling water is about the most they order? It’s a dilemma facing so many 'community pubs'.
'The pub' offers a terrific venue for so many obscure groups but they seldom want to pay for the privilege, and often only visit the local for this once a month meeting. But upsetting them by saying "sorry I am afraid you will have to find somewhere else" then gives the pub a (wholly undeserved) reputation locally of being skinflints (at best). There is an old adage from the rugby world which says "Kick one and fifteen limp" how true of local communities.
Being 'all things to all people' is the challenge facing our great unsung heroes; the husband and wife team who run the 'community local'. So many differing customer types and tastes to cope with and cater for: the local vicar, the local stone-waller, the local millionaire, the local bankrupt, the local drunk, the local flirt, the local do-gooder, the local author, the local celebrity, the local idiot, the local genius who knows how to run the pub better than you (well that applies to most of the list), the local recently bereaved widow, the local just out from the Nick, the local about to go into the Nick, the local who wants exclusive service, the local loudmouth, the local fighter, the local lover, the local singer, the local one-pint-a-night-man who wants the log fire lit just for him, the local who gets upset if someone sits in his seat, the local who always wants credit, the local who wants the music turned down, the local who wants the music turned up, the local who doesn’t want any music, the local who wants a different menu, the local who (constantly) tells you the beer is cheaper in Tescos (and Wetherspoon’s), the local who wants you to stock some obscure brand of gin and then doesn’t order any leaving you with dead stock, the local who complains that the quiz questions are too hard, the local who complains that the quiz questions are too easy, the local who says the lights are too bright, the local who says the lights are too dim, the local who says its too hot, the local who says its too cold, the local who wants you to provide the Daily Mail, the local who wants the Telegraph/Times/Mirror/Sun/Observer, the local who wants to sit and use your free Wi-fi whilst taking two hours to drink a half of shandy et all … and dear reader if you really want to have more, I can quote another twenty or so types!!
No wonder licencees are exhausted at the end of each day! And yet the good ones (and my word you need to be good these days) rise above all of these foibles of their cherished and valued customers and provide a terrific community service, and what’s more: I’ll bet the Dog Owners Club are not confronted and remain using the pub! Just perhaps they could spend a bit more?
Support your Local!!! They deserve every bit of your custom and you only get what you deserve. Use it or lose it! Support your local Landlord and Landlady, cherish the good ones, they can be few and far between!!
Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses
Can the greatest pub in the area really afford to continue letting the Dog Owners Society (nothing against dog owners!) of the village have a section of the restaurant area dedicated to them on the first Monday in every month, when two bottles of sparkling water is about the most they order? It’s a dilemma facing so many 'community pubs'.
'The pub' offers a terrific venue for so many obscure groups but they seldom want to pay for the privilege, and often only visit the local for this once a month meeting. But upsetting them by saying "sorry I am afraid you will have to find somewhere else" then gives the pub a (wholly undeserved) reputation locally of being skinflints (at best). There is an old adage from the rugby world which says "Kick one and fifteen limp" how true of local communities.
Being 'all things to all people' is the challenge facing our great unsung heroes; the husband and wife team who run the 'community local'. So many differing customer types and tastes to cope with and cater for: the local vicar, the local stone-waller, the local millionaire, the local bankrupt, the local drunk, the local flirt, the local do-gooder, the local author, the local celebrity, the local idiot, the local genius who knows how to run the pub better than you (well that applies to most of the list), the local recently bereaved widow, the local just out from the Nick, the local about to go into the Nick, the local who wants exclusive service, the local loudmouth, the local fighter, the local lover, the local singer, the local one-pint-a-night-man who wants the log fire lit just for him, the local who gets upset if someone sits in his seat, the local who always wants credit, the local who wants the music turned down, the local who wants the music turned up, the local who doesn’t want any music, the local who wants a different menu, the local who (constantly) tells you the beer is cheaper in Tescos (and Wetherspoon’s), the local who wants you to stock some obscure brand of gin and then doesn’t order any leaving you with dead stock, the local who complains that the quiz questions are too hard, the local who complains that the quiz questions are too easy, the local who says the lights are too bright, the local who says the lights are too dim, the local who says its too hot, the local who says its too cold, the local who wants you to provide the Daily Mail, the local who wants the Telegraph/Times/Mirror/Sun/Observer, the local who wants to sit and use your free Wi-fi whilst taking two hours to drink a half of shandy et all … and dear reader if you really want to have more, I can quote another twenty or so types!!
No wonder licencees are exhausted at the end of each day! And yet the good ones (and my word you need to be good these days) rise above all of these foibles of their cherished and valued customers and provide a terrific community service, and what’s more: I’ll bet the Dog Owners Club are not confronted and remain using the pub! Just perhaps they could spend a bit more?
Support your Local!!! They deserve every bit of your custom and you only get what you deserve. Use it or lose it! Support your local Landlord and Landlady, cherish the good ones, they can be few and far between!!
Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses
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