According to the media, David Cameron would triple the tax on alcohol. I’ve got one thing to say to that:

Don’t do it, Dave!

Raising the cost of alcohol will not prevent drink-related crimes or violence. It will not stop people binge-drinking. It will not prevent any of the “social problems” that are related to alcohol. It will not prevent people drinking themselves into an early grave. It will not “save” the NHS any money.

An increase in the minimum cost of alcohol will simply mean that those who want to get drunk, drink responsibly or even at all will have to pay more. And if people want to drink, they will regardless of the price. Even if alcohol were to be made much much more expensive, there would still be the same drunken brawls, and the same policing requirements. Nothing would change – except it would cost us more to drink.

This is a stupid thing to suggest, and comes from a complete lack of understanding of the issues. The only way to reduce the amount of drunken brawls is to properly liberalise the rules governing the sale of alcohol. Make any establishment licensed to sell alcohol able to sell it at any time they choose. Only when 24-hour drinking becomes a reality can we start to move on towards the much-desired “cafe culture”. As long the time that pubs, clubs and off-licences are permitted to sell alcohol is restricted, this will remain a pipe dream.

I hope that this is a mistake and the Cameron will soon make it clear that he isn’t really a bansturbator – or at the very least, he doesn’t bansturbate after he has been elected.