..."increase taxes, raise the minimum age of drinking, reduce outlet density, reduce trading hours, enforce licensing laws and continue to enforce random breath testing. Just do it!"

We all know that NON of the above has really worked in the past – or has it?

Unless we seriously go to the root of the problem, and find out WHY this stupid and harmful behaviour is glamorised among young people, we will continue to lose our future generation.

As a cause, may I suggest a lack of HOPE and DIRECTION in the new Australian landscape, “live for today, tomorrow can only be worst anyway...” attitude that is leading our kids to binge drinking. They lost the trust in previous generations and in today's leaders. Instead of blaming them for their lack of wisdom and vision, they are hurting themselves.

Maybe it's time we learnt something from our Muslim community and declare a total ban on the stuff. Close all the booze outlets, stop all glamorous advertising, shut vineyards, wineries and breweries, and publicly hang/ decapitate (depending on the State) anyone found drinking or selling alcohol.

Hmmmm... now that may work for a month or two.. perhaps?

If only marijuana was legal. A much safer alternative to binge drinking...

Thanks Rob, but you are wrong on one thing - alcohol is not the number one problem, denial is. Australia is an alcoholic society, always was. Denial allows pollies, parents, teachers, partners, children, employers, doctors, neihgbours - should I go on? to turn a blind eye and by doing so allow the problem to deteriorate. We don't want to upset the alkies do we, after all they are violent. And anyway the profits will suffer, jobs will go, and what about all those grapes we planted? Our national identity would disappear without alcohol and so would matessships (hic!)

Australians don't believe alcoholism is a disease. Doctors, pollies, psychologists, social workers, uni lecturers, journalists all say alcoholism - they call it alcohol misuse or something equally nice - is due to underlying causes. They are of course the practicing alcoholics and the deniers saying this, often the twisted children of alcoholics or the spouse etc.

Putting a warning label on a bottle of wine or on the great amber liquid - come off it. Much better to take that tyechnicolour yawn, prang the car and have a good time. You've got to die sometime may as well be with a good drop inside ya.

The Muslim solution is no solution because prohibition does not work - ask any American. It doesn't work for dope or H or speed and never will. What works is education, warning labels on product, confrontation of denial, appropriate pricing, health campaigns, role models, emotional maturity, having leaders who understand that health is more important than money. Hey I can dream can't I?
Rob you must do something about your anxiety. Write about something cheerful for a change.