Monday, 15 June 2009

We Are All Guilty

More nonsense on the subject of 'binge drinking' - from a Bishop this time, rather than a government-appointed wowser. Still, it's good to see that great comic figure the Bishop of Southwark getting a namecheck in the final paragraphs. This excellent piece by Roger Scruton points out the basic flaw in puritan thinking on drink (and not only on drink), and is the most sensible things I've read on the subject in some time. Not that anyone will take any notice...
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11 comments:

  1. Brit15 June 2009 at 11:44

    The word 'classic' is overused, but if anything is a classic, then "I'm the Bishop of Southwark, it's what I do" is a classic, and it is right that it be quoted often.

    Great article by Scruton. I liked his defence of the round-buying culture (which I used to think was a main cause of bingeing).

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  2. dearieme15 June 2009 at 12:00

    Puritans get their joy from denying others their pleasures. So we need to be a little puritanical ourselves and deny them theirs. Lesser of two evils and all that. As for the drunken louts vomiting in the streets - fire-hoses!

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  3. Mark15 June 2009 at 12:20

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. malty15 June 2009 at 12:26

    Round buying of course is anathema to the Scottish and Yorkshire tribes, "their turn" merely being the time to go home or visit the ablutions.
    Read Scrutons article whilst sitting in the arbor knocking back Bruichladdich with junior. "Wot you reading about now" he said, "us" I replied.
    How about the shortened version of the article, we drink because we enjoy it and the company it attracts, except the chavs who don't enjoy anything except aggression.

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  5. Susan B.15 June 2009 at 13:24

    Your comment on Scotch parsimony is priceless, Malty! I hate those people who head for the restrooms when the check arrives....

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  6. Mark15 June 2009 at 13:26

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. Gareth Williams15 June 2009 at 15:15

    What I like about Scruton's pieces is that they're so emotionally satisfying that you want them to be true, even if they're rather doubtful. For example, buying rounds is a very effective way of ensuring you all get pissed. But his explanation is much more elegant and satisfying. In this I think he's more of a poet than a philosopher.

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  8. Brit15 June 2009 at 15:25

    Round culture means that everyone keeps drinking at the rate of the fastest drinker until everyone has bought a round.

    That's either a great advantage or disadvantage, depending on how you look at it, but it generally ends in everyone being pissed, especially in groups of about 7 or 8, which are maximally large without breaking into splinter rounds.

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  9. gravityisadrag16 June 2009 at 00:55

    Issue: Brits invented round-buying?

    Is there some verifiable record of this brilliant piece of history somewhere?

    ...just sayin'...

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  10. Brit16 June 2009 at 06:54

    We obviously invented it, John, though didn't necessarily originate it.

    Wikipedia reckons we also banned it from 1916 to 1919.

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  11. gravityisadrag17 June 2009 at 02:29

    Yes, we've had dry spells over here before, too...

    It's amazing what the puritans will get up to.

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