binge drinking is largely done in the home,before the young people actually go out on the town. They buy cheap plonk from supermarkets and off licences, and get pissed before they even leave the house in a lot of cases. The Government should be hitting off-licences and supermarkets with price increases first and foremost. Pubs are the most expensive outlet to purchase alcohol, so it doesn't make sense to binge drink there, does it?
Even when binge drinking is done in pubs, it's the town centre pubs and clubs where the problems with violence and anti-social behaviour arise.
Pubs in residential areas, villages etc and working men's clubs shouldn't bear the backlash from something like this. It needs to be selective - the pubs where repeated violent offences are occurring should be targetted, not punish every pub/club business with blanket price hikes.
We have one year left on our lease here, any substantial price increase would see us out of business before that year is out. We run a very hospitable and friendly pub - any signs of trouble and the offenders will be barred for life. There hasn't been even a hint of trouble in here for 18 months, so we would feel it is unfair to punish somebody like ourselves with any increased taxation.
There has to be a method to this, not just some half arsed thought-out tax rise which hurts honest businesses - but like I said places like Asda and Tesco need to be forced to raise their prices first and foremost.