Attack on binge drinking is only a ploy from Kevin Rudd.
When Tony Blair was being attacked in the British Press over a scandal with his wife Cheryl Blair. Alistair Campbell advised Tony Blair that he can divert attention by announcing an attack on binge drinking on teenagers. So lo and behold it worked the ploy worked what a good idea and people forgot about the Cheryl Blair Scandal.
Our Trusted Press the Sunday Times and the Impartial West Austrlian brought to light the scandal of Therese Rein wife of Kevin Rudd not dumping her job Centres that is a conflict of interest with the Prime Ministers duties. Then lo and behold Kevin Rudd brings in Alistair Campbell's ploy we will attack teenagers binge drinking so lo and behold it worked the pressure was taken off Kevin Rudd and his wife. We are up to your tricks Mr Rudd the voters will soon see through you Mr Rudd. I am curious to know if there is support in raising the Alchoholic drinking age to 21 all those in favour say AYE.

THE BENEFITS OF MARTIAL ARTS.... in dealing with drunken yobbo's :)

No, this isn't about me, but a mate from gym. (Stg, you will love this cobber).. he is one of the top Wushu exponents in the country, has been on TV a few times, and is very skilled.

His build is 'skinny to light' so definitely not the wharfie/truck driver/laborer build, and to look at him you would not think he would be much of a problem to deal with. *MISTAKE*

Last weekend, he was in Melbourne, with a friend and they'd been to some kind of SouthBank fancy dress thing, and they wandered from Southbank up to Chinatown. Feeling the need to 'go'..they went into an alley, and 'went'.. then they were confronted by 4 blokes (drunk) who seemed intent on smashing the life out of them.

The big one, came up and mouthed off at my mate, who, being a bit tipsy himself, gave as good as he got (verbally)..then..it happened.

THE BIG KING HIT.. from about a meter behind his shoulder, this big right hand starts it's arcing move towards my mates jaw/head... He saw it coming (had time for a cuppa between it's beginning and arrival) and blocked it with his VERY conditioned forearm. That's all it took. His forearm is like a baseball bat.. I know..I've felt it, tough as nails. The king of hits was reduced to a jibbering fool as he had nearly broken his arm, and then they (the 4) all looked at each other and scurried off humiliated.

STG.. yes, I agree, drunk in public places is 'not on'.....

1/ It leads to violence against others.
2/ If the 'other' is in better shape than you, and takes you down, your head can (and often does) hit the pavement and you end up brain damaged or dead.

"Attack on binge drinking is only a ploy from Kevin Rudd."

Posted by Julie Vickers, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 12:16:36 AM

What I'm suggesting is really unrelated solely to the 'binge drinking' smoke and mirrors. I'm talking about being unnecessarily drunk in public (fullstop). Whether that's binge drinkers, full blown 'alco's', the occasional drunk, underage, elderly, whoever, anyone, anytime.

BD.

The problem with even self defence is that it can get you in a power of...ummm...trouble, as well. Especially people like me who generally come across these people in an 'official' capacity (security industry), and I do, nearly everyday. If I have to defend myself against one of these individuals I still will get crucified by the media. You see it ALL THE TIME. Fortunately I've got a cool head. I know when to step back, and I know when to step in. I'm confident when I talk to you so I can generally talk you out of what your drunk sub-concious is wanting to do. Isn't always the case tho. That happens frequently also.

Do we have good cause to disallow people from being drunk in public?.

And

Do you have a basic right to be OFF YOUR HEAD in a public place?.

Yes we surely do have good cause to stop people being off their faces in public :)

On the self defense thing. My mate did say "If I'd seriosly hurt the bloke I'd have felt awful".

It's difficult to 'talk' your way out of a deliberate malicious assault.

But consider this. If that punch had landed, and my mates head had hit the pavement... with all the possible consequences...(including the obligatory kicks in the head and guts after he went down) or if he had actually punched or spin kicked the other bloke it would have been a much worse outcome.

I think this was a great example of the benefits of self defense, being used for exactly that, and with nothing more than a sore arm and a red face on the part of the perpetrator.

My policy is. 'Stop them'..but don't stop them then stomp" :)

With that in mind, I've learned one very effective BJJ hold, which should lock anyone up of any size until they have calmed down. (Head under the right armpit, left forearm around the left side of his neck,over his left shoulder, your other (left) arm linking to your right (around his back), and hold on for grim death. If they don't calm down, just apply some pressure to the side of their neck with your right forearm.

PS... had ur cuppa yet ? :)

Yet another example of the New Wowserism infecting our society. If people want to make a fool of themselves, why should they be stopped from doing so? StG made a comment that if they were on drugs it would be illegal per se, but not if they are drunk. I'd turn that around: if it's not illegal to be drunk, why is it illegal to be stoned? If the person is not harming others, of course.

It's funny how the people that propose these things are always happy to have the State tell (other) people what to do. 'tis always "thee", not "me"...

Antiseptic...there are a few intellectual 'germs' in that noggin of yours which may require autoclave treatment.

The point STG is making, I believe is that either drugs or alchohol BOTH tend to contribute to violent behavior. No, they don't make ALL imbibers or injectors or swallowers 'violent' but like anything, if you identify a trend..and can isolate a reason, and the stats are serious enough, you have to make a judgement call on whether to outlaw it or not.

NO DRUNKS... NO POTHEADS.. NO SPEEDFREAKS in public places :) so there.

The Biblical position is "Be not drunk with wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit".. if people realized how much joy and happiness and sense of well being they can acquire throught a right relationship with God in Christ... there would be no drugs or booze being consumed.

LAW..and GRACE.
All we in the Churches can do, is maintain the absense of drunkenness and drug influence in our own sphere of influence by the sanction of 'disfellowshipping' people who engage in this kind of behavior while knowing it is wrong. (In God's eyes)

But in civil society, the rulers can make whatever law they feel is in the public interest. If that includes "No public drunkenness" then so be it.