Could it be that a Completely Sober Population could be a Real Problem for a UK Government?

So another election is upon us. Mephedrone is the big discussion at the moment, but again the talk is focused on what the drug does and the possible consequences of using it, rather than the reasons people are choosing to use it in the first place.

It is estimated that more than 20,000 people die in the UK from alcohol related illness. That figure does not include road and other accidents resulting from the use of alcohol.

Let us imagine for a moment that everything is perfect in our life. We live with our ideal partner, in the perfect house and we get our income from doing work that we enjoy, we do not have any financial worries and we are in good health. Why then would we want to introduce any mind altering substance to dilute the experience?

The uncomfortable truth is that so many people are using alcohol just to 'cope' with life. Many of them are unseen and don't appear in the government figures, they are 'average' families under extreme pressure, often financial, just trying to get to the end of the week without having a breakdown!

Imagine a completely sober population living in the reality that is modern life in the UK 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It would be the first time that so many people would experience the UK as it really is. What would happen if the illusion of getting 'relief' from life by using alcohol was no longer an option? Just maybe there would be a massive realisation that they way we are all living is driving so many to drink alcohol in an attempt to 'escape' life.

Is it possible that we may collectively decide that some real changes were made? for the benefit of the majority, not just those who know how to make the system work for them?

Then of course there is the employment and tax revenue positions to consider. Thousands maybe millions are employed making alcohol, creating advertising, packaging, transport, exports and tax. As a government how is it possible to balance a situation where a drug is legal, thousands die as a result of using it, 1.7 Billion a year is spent managing the health consequences and yet it still contributes massive amounts to the economy?

I really don't know. But unless we start to be honest about it we may never know. It really is a very big cause for concern when a government adviser's speak the truth about alcohol but are sacked because it doesn't comply with government policy. The truth may be uncomfortable but it cannot be adapted to fit the way the government would like it to be.

I do not endorse under any circumstances the banning of alcohol or making it illegal. I believe that choice and free-will are birthrights. I will say though, especially having experienced both sides of the alcohol divide, that drinking alcohol is just not 'normal', but for some the illusion is that life is just too hard to live without alcohol.
We all have all the resources within us to deal with whatever presents in our lives but we are rarely taught how to use them, we drink alcohol instead, or use other mind altering drugs.

Why?, because we were taught to do it by our parents and peers and encouraged by the government through the promotion of 'responsible drinking' whatever that is!