I know the situation is particularly dire in the UK and indeed Scotland, but from what I see people either relentlessly binge drink, or practically don't drink at all. Probably the situation here is similar to that described by ShadesPanther, drinkers consume a ridiculous amount but those who don't binge avoid it completely.

Anyway, why do I have to have been drunk to see the problems binge drinking causes?

Unfortunately, so long as we live in a society then individuals personal irresponsibility will often affect others. If a shop owner has his windows tanned in, is he personally responsible? Or the guy who gets battered by a gang of neds on buckie? Or the guy who died of a heart attack while the ambulances were busy in the town centre?

How appropriate, I can hear some drunken neds passing by my house as I type this. Admittedly it is a Friday night, but even still these idiots are making the place dangerous for everyone.

Gah it used to be our labour parties has a strong policy of temperence before Irish immigration meant that policy didn't win so many votes. Why must the socialist parties today go down the route of appeasing modern liberal values? I suppose they are pandering to the idiot students who go on marches for workers rights and anti-nuclear weapon rallies carrying USSR flags. On the one hand its funny, but on the other its a bit disheartening.

OK I went completely off topic there but...