Hi
I had this idea need some intelligent independent thought put into it
though.
Tell me what you think.
When someone is convicted of a crime and it is found that the reason
they committed the crime was because of a drug problem. They get
referred to drug counselling. (Sometimes). Similarly there are
systems in place for alcohol related crime. Unfortunately the weekend
idiots are not subjected to this as they do not come under notice
enough and alcohol often gets over looked in the majority of crimes,
further to this there is no enforceable system that prevents repeat
offenders from drinking or even stopping them from drinking when they
can't handle themselves.
They only time I have ever seen the court take it seriously was when
they provided the person with bail on the condition that they were not
allowed to be under the effects of intoxicating liquor. It worked
really well for the individual involved and they got their life back
on track, but it was only once in five years that I have ever seen
this.
Given that Alcohol related crime is such a huge issue and is a
contributing factor in many crimes involving assaults, including
domestic violence, street crime, malicious damage, liquor licensing,
traffic collisions, etc.
The major people held accountable for the state of someone's behaviour
once intoxicated has always been firstly the licensed premises
(Responsible service of alcohol) and then, occasionally, the
individual (although rarely does the punishment metered out have
anything to do with correcting the problem).
What if people had to have an individual liquor licence, say that it
works just like a car licence you have 12 points.
Each time you are convicted, that is convicted not just charged but
actually found guilty of an offence where alcohol was a contributing
factor
(that is you were over 0.05 when the crime was committed. The point at
which it is medically decided people begin to lose their ability to
control themselves) Then you lose points off the licence. Say four
points for each occasion. That would give most die hards 3 bites at
the cherry. Die hard being a person who is regularly spoken to by
Police.
Consider Johnny who regularly goes out with his mates and carries on a
bit when he's had a few. He's been charged with common assault about 4
times in the last 2 years and once with indecent assault whilst
intoxicated. (This type of person is not uncommon) Under an individual
licensing system he would have already lost points from his licence,
so he either starts to behave himself when he's had a few or it starts
to effect his life. That is, he can't get into the pub with his mates
for a start.
If he decides to drink at home, well good luck to him, no one can
enforce that, provided someone will bring him eth alcohol, but if he
gets so bad that the Police have to be called to his home, well guess
it serves him right. At least that way Johnny isn't getting lost in
the system to reoffend.
What is typical is that whilst Johnny is out drinking with his mates
every weekend. He is the only one at his table who is in regular
trouble with the Police.
Consider too, that without the system Johnny gets tanked at the
Cricket one day and gets into a fight with someone outside the ground,
in a fit of rage he jumps on the guys head, the guy is an idiot out on
the drink too, but he's also a father of two kids which he sup****ts.
Johnny gives the guy brain damage. Johnny doesn't have a penny to his
name and the community is left to pick up the tab for his behaviour.
So just think anyone without a licence cannot enter a licensed
premises, they cannot be sold alcohol and anyone found in possession
of alcohol in a public place without a valid licence gets charged.
Anyone found providing alcohol to a person without a license is
similarly going to lose points of their license. If a licensed
premises does it then they would face similar fines to what they get
now for serving alcohol to children.
Anyone who is convicted of an alcohol related crime and is unlicensed
would be bailed to undergo alcohol counselling and complete it
successfully.
If they fail to attend (breach bail) then a short custodial sentence
should be handed out, possibility of early parole only by successful
completion of alcohol counselling. If you end up in the strife again
after release then you go back into the system again.
I know it sounds pretty harsh doesn't it.
"Yes it's harsh why should it effect someone's livelihood just because
they enjoy a drink like the rest of us?"
"Why should the rest of our livelihoods be effected because unlike the
rest of us they are not able to control themselves when they a enjoy
drink?"
Think about it. Only 5% of the population create 95% of the
problems. How many times have you or someone you know gone out got
smashed and then came under the notice of police such that they got
charged and then convicted of a crime? Has it ever happened
If you know someone is it such that it is a regular occurrence?
For the majority it doesn't happen, typically 150 to 250 people in a
pub on Australia day/Anzac day/Friday/Saturday.
Persons who come under the notice of police.... maybe 5 to 10. And
then only if the pub's RSA is not being met.
Imagine if people who have trouble controlling their violent outbursts
when intoxicated where actually held accountable in such a way that
they have to take responsibility for the correction of the problem or
it affects their life.
This system would not affect 95% of the people out there only to give
them another form of ID, which would replace the proof of age card
which suits people who don't drive. For most people there lives would
not change at all.
You'd still get 150 to 250 people smashed in a pub on a Friday. But
the 5 to 10 who couldn't handle their drink would have to be careful
or they wouldn't be there.
If you are regularly being taken home by Police or taken into custody
by Police not because you committed a crime but because of your level
of intoxication, that is, too affected to care for yourself. Then
similarly you would lose points. If it happens once you could say
"oops" will be more careful next time.
If it happened twice in 18 months you might want to start thinking
about cutting back a bit when you go out, or get better mates who will
look after you. If you lost your licence for the third time, you might
want to think about someone else (a counsellor) helping you to control
how much you have when you go out.
When you work a lot of Friday and Saturday nights it doesn't take you
long to work out, that people's behaviour whilst intoxicated is
responsible for domestic violence, homelessness, child abuse, ***ual
assault, assault, malicious damage, traffic accidents. It gets hard
calling or turning up on the door step of the parents of some 18 year
old whoever and explaining that, their son is bail refused and is in
the cells till he attends court, their daughter was attacked by a
bunch of drunk yobbos, their son/daughter did not survive the motor
vehicle accident or their son daughter were killed as a result of
someone's drinking problem.
If this system was introduced the plenty of people would have their
say about it being "un-patriotic", etc and there would be plenty of
people up in arms about it. People would be raving that it will only
increase the drug problem as people would be taking drugs when they
lost their license. Having a good look at that argument. If they lost
licence they clearly have a problem of addiction and or violence. If
they then turn to drugs in lieu of alcohol wouldn't they be already in
the system that treats that. And serious how many people would turn
to drugs for buzz if they weren't already.
But when you think about it, if you've never been convicted of an
alcohol related crime, why would you care?
And even if you were with 12 points in the unlikely event that you
slip up then you still have two more chances before serious action
gets taken against you for alcohol abuse. And if it meant that there
would be less idiots down the pub/club out on the streets on Friday /
Saturday / at the cricket / football / etc. Wouldn't that be worth
it. Think about it how much of a problem would you have to have if
every time you drink the Police end up talking to you about your
behaviour.
Lastly just imagine that the system was already in place how many
points would you have?
Let me know what you think. either here or email.
Thanks
D
betterworld71@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
|
