Are drunk tanks the answer to the UKs drinking problem?

Amongst the raft of measures being considered by the Government to tackle the ‘scandal’ of drunkenness in the UK, is a concept borrowed from America. ‘Drunk tanks’ are special cells where the inebriated can be held, usually overnight, until they sober up. This avoids the need to formally arrest and charge them and, except for the most serious cases, keeps them from clogging up A&E departments.

Other measures that may end up in the Government’s new alcohol strategy include more police in A&E departments, ‘booze buses’ staffed by paramedics trained to deal with alcohol poisoning and, of course, minimum pricing.

Can this be an effective response to a problem that is costing the NHS £2.7 billion and the country as a whole £17 to £22 billion per year?

It certainly won’t save money since all of these measures, apart from minimum pricing, will cost something. It also won’t lead to a change of attitude towards drunkenness because drinkers will still be protected from the consequences of their actions. It simply moves the problem elsewhere.

What is needed is a radical culture shift. The last time alcohol was a huge social problem, in the 19th century, this culture shift was achieved by the temperance movement begun by Christians who were deeply concerned about the toll cheap alcohol was taking on lives already blighted by poverty, especially children and young people.

Initially reviled and despised, the temperance movement nevertheless made a huge impact on alcohol consumption. This was not achieved by moralising and condemnation of those who chose to drink, but by the power of personal example.

One of the largest national groups, the Band of Hope, had a membership of 3.5 million at the turn of the century when the total population was considerably smaller than it is today.

When enough people are prepared to make a small sacrifice and take a stand against what has undoubtedly become a social evil, then attitudes may begin to change. Maybe it can start, as it did 150 years ago, with the Christian community.