More Spent on Drugs & Prostitution than Beer & WIne, Say Government Statistics

Whilst pubs are closing left right and centre, the drug and prostitution sectors appear to be in good health - and growing dramatically!

The Office of National Statistics have reported that consumers in the UK spend more on illegal drugs and prostitution than on beer and wine. Well, not in our village (to the best of my knowledge).

They say that £12.3 billion was spent on drugs and prostitution - but only £11 billion on Beer and Wine. So HMG gather billions in tax and duty from B & W but naff all from D &P (both D & P being recorded as miscellaneous goods and services, presumably!!)

I wonder if HMG are going to introduce as many laws for D & P as they have for B & W, and then ensure that the tax revenue grows from such activities? I doubt it, myself. Much easier to go on persecuting the poor old publican!

We run courses on Drug Awareness and preventing same, but not got into a course on prostitution yet. However, good to see there are some growth industries in the UK!

Has the world gone mad?


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Training

Drugs Awareness Pub Training - Online Mock Exam

Inn-Dispensable are pleased to announce the launch of our FREE online Drugs Awareness mock exam. This is a great interactive tool to test your knowledge prior to attending our one-day Drugs Awareness Course and exam at one of our many fantastic training sites across the UK.

This online test contains 15 multiple-choice questions which are randomly selected and are typical of the exam subject matter and mirrors closely the type of questions which appear within the real Drugs Awareness exam – so you can test yourself again and again to help build your knowledge.

Available on all devices, from desktops to mobiles.

Best of luck!


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Pub Training Courses

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