cdnt give a XXXX 4 lst ordrs? Vote labour on thrsdy 4 xtra time

In 2001 at the beginning of its election campaign New Labour under Tony Blair sent the following text to students:

cdnt give a XXXX 4 lst ordrs? Vote labour on thrsdy 4 xtra time

The text was intended to promote New Labours plan to liberalise alcohol laws.  These have included as well as 24 hour drinking, support for drink promotions and a taxation policy which has seen the affordability of alcohol enhanced.

Labour's policy has been driven by the Alcohol Industry who have been keen to maximise their profits.  Health and scientific advice has been ignored.

Interesting to see that this cynical policy is coming back to haunt them as this article in the Daily Mail and this one in the Daily Telegraph show.  The graph below shows the human cost of alcohol policy.

Minimum pricing will work as advocated by the Chief Medical Officer

After the War on Drugs

So what do we do about currently illegal drugs? Whenever I critique the failed war on drugs this is the question I am asked. Good question and it normally takes me 10 to 15 minutes to set out what a regulated market might look like. Fortunately the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union have produced this wonderful short film answering the question.



The report featured in the film 'After the War on Drugs: Blueprint for Regulation' can be dowloaded for free from Transform Drug Policy Foundation by clicking here

Declaration of Interest - I worked for Transform during 2007 and 2008.