Open letter to Professor John Ashton CBE
(who is the North West Regional Director Of Public Health and Regional Medical Officer for the Department of Health. A specialist in psychiatry. . . )
"In the light of :
the recent coverage of the guy who killed himself in Rothbury (I've been avoiding watching it and don't know his name),
the media's part in emphasising the differences between Labour and the Coalition regarding how to deal with the economic crisis
the public's concept that there is such as thing as fairness in society
the increase in violence in society - illustrated by your call for polycarbonate glasses in pubs
the preoccupation of the public in exploring remote relationships as in Facebook and Forums where communicants avoid revealing their identity
the intense interest in Celebrities and programs like Big Brother and TV programmes where a few individuals are followed with great interest rather than spending the time getting to know people next door and down the street.
Are you not concerned that we have a mentally sick society with the increased potential of mob and individual violence that are becoming increasingly angry and acting in an irresponsible way - often fuelled by alcohol?
Added to this we have the added pressures of global warming, unemployment , deaths of soldiers in Afghanistan and the belief in the fantasy of romantic love and the perfect partner.
Are we not heading for horrendous mental problems in human relationships on a multitude of levels?
Geoff Dellow
Address The Coach House, Union Lane, Ulverston Cumbria LA12 7BU"
Sadly the email address I used has bounced - I'll try and find another - any suggestions.
I found his personal web site with a new email address also sent snail mail!
Wed 19th July, Prof Ashton has sent a message to say that he will reply to the above when he returns from his annual leave which he is about to take now.
What I look forward to are some insights as to what the way forward could be!
Showing posts with label alcohol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alcohol. Show all posts
Monday, 12 July 2010
Wednesday, 13 May 2009
Drugs
The discussion on the lower pages has made me go back to basics regarding my beliefs.
I'd appreciate your help in sorting these out with your reactions to the following because my actions will be dependent on these beliefs.
We all take drugs - well possibly one in a million doesn't.
Tea and coffee are drugs; herbal teas are drugs. We take others quite readily for illnesses.
The drug that causes the most concern in Britain is alcohol.
All drugs affect the behaviour of our body.
Alcohol has the property to help us relax. Some people cannot relax without it.
It leads to people's loss of inhibitions; they behave in a way that would not normally be their natural behaviour when they are "under the influence".
Encouraging people to drink excessively is irresponsible because as soon as they start losing their inhibitions, they can't see why they shouldn't drink more and more . . The result can be damage to themselves, to property and to other people.
If the result of activities in an establishment leads to people coming onto the streets out of control and this arises from them drinking too much (something they might well deny), we have a problem. More seriously people who are "not under the influence "- bar staff may allow them to drink.
If there are very rare occurrences where the Police have to be involved outside then this is understandable. If however Police are regularly required to bring order to irresponsible people then the establishment is not working as we would wish.
When people come out on the streets at times that non drinking people are around in quantity (during daylight) then these have a great influence on the behaviour of the less responsible. However when irresponsible come onto the streets in the middle of the night when the majority are in bed and the only other people that are around may be other irresponsible people. Then we a looking at "trouble". The only solution that we have then is the sober authoratitive Police.
The latter can do an excellent job but cost the taxpayer a lot of money especially if the have to operate regularly in the middle of the night. With limitted resources of cash there can be other work that we may want the police to do - in the day time.
Thus I conclude that if certain activities in the town regularly lead to irresponsible behaviour in the night then those activities should be stopped.
The onus is on the establishments - no one else.
I'd appreciate your help in sorting these out with your reactions to the following because my actions will be dependent on these beliefs.
We all take drugs - well possibly one in a million doesn't.
Tea and coffee are drugs; herbal teas are drugs. We take others quite readily for illnesses.
The drug that causes the most concern in Britain is alcohol.
All drugs affect the behaviour of our body.
Alcohol has the property to help us relax. Some people cannot relax without it.
It leads to people's loss of inhibitions; they behave in a way that would not normally be their natural behaviour when they are "under the influence".
Encouraging people to drink excessively is irresponsible because as soon as they start losing their inhibitions, they can't see why they shouldn't drink more and more . . The result can be damage to themselves, to property and to other people.
If the result of activities in an establishment leads to people coming onto the streets out of control and this arises from them drinking too much (something they might well deny), we have a problem. More seriously people who are "not under the influence "- bar staff may allow them to drink.
If there are very rare occurrences where the Police have to be involved outside then this is understandable. If however Police are regularly required to bring order to irresponsible people then the establishment is not working as we would wish.
When people come out on the streets at times that non drinking people are around in quantity (during daylight) then these have a great influence on the behaviour of the less responsible. However when irresponsible come onto the streets in the middle of the night when the majority are in bed and the only other people that are around may be other irresponsible people. Then we a looking at "trouble". The only solution that we have then is the sober authoratitive Police.
The latter can do an excellent job but cost the taxpayer a lot of money especially if the have to operate regularly in the middle of the night. With limitted resources of cash there can be other work that we may want the police to do - in the day time.
Thus I conclude that if certain activities in the town regularly lead to irresponsible behaviour in the night then those activities should be stopped.
The onus is on the establishments - no one else.
Monday, 11 May 2009
Do I detect an element of hypocracy around?
Barwatch scheme this last Christmas
So what's this about not admitting the Roxy to the scheme?
See comments on the Roxy below.
Again I ask what has Cllr Jamie Samson got to say? Phone call coming up - he ignores my emails and letters!
Sunday, 10 May 2009
Gary Robinson on the new Roxy venue.
The follow recounts a phone conversation with Gary Robinson of the Canteen in Barrow and now the Roxy Music/Arts venue.
This call was made to Gary "out of the blue" yesterday (Saturday 9th afternoon)
His initial reaction was resentment that someone was apparently phoning to tell him his job and what he should do in what was "family time".
My urgency was to catch him before the Saturday night gig so that he could start that night, aware of the views of several people that I have been in touch with in the last few days. (Having stated that it was family time, it was difficult to get Gary off the phone once he had started - he is good at arguing his point of view as those that heard him at the public meeting will know.)
On Feb 5th I posted an article very much in favour of this project. Now I have severe doubts.
On some points during our conversation, I found him unconvincing.
He argues - and he is welcome to correct me here - the following:
He is following the rules and doing all he can and if there is bad behaviour then this is because of the type of people he is dealing with.
He believes it is early days and it will take a while for the irresponsible behaviour to be weeded out by excluding these people from entering the venue.
He is paying high wages to ensure that expert staff are employed to deal with any behaviour problems. He also feels he has a good working relationship with the police.
For my part I ,and many others, look at the situation very differently.
What impressed me about the description of what was to happen with Gary at the Roxy was that something of benefit was going to happen in the town and that there was a need for responsible people to have a venue open till 3.00 am where they could enjoy live music along with an occasional drink. Furthermore the Roxy could become a venue were the artistic interests in the town could be focused and developed.
What has happened so far does not encourage this optimism.
It is essential to me and many others that access to alcohol until late does not lead to drunken behaviour by people that have lost their inhibitions and control of what they do.
At present what is happening sends out messages to me and others that people with too much alcohol inside them are being turned out on our streets in the early hours. People who show little concern for others.
Gary cannot in my opinion duck this issue. It can be argued that the behaviour is linked to drink. This is happening inside the Roxy and is thus the responsibility of those behind the bar. The Roxy must quickly establish itself as a place that will attract the responsible people who go to enjoy good , live music and not the irresponsible who go to drink.
Gary Robinson has total responsibility for the way in which his venue is run and it must quickly become a place for the former.
If the latter take hold; I and many others will join together to force the venue to be closed.
I suggest that a change of direction needs to be implemented quickly. The whole appearance of the venue both outside and in, needs urgent attention in my view. The quality is nowhere up to the standard of the former Buffers at the station and that had its problems.
Your views as always are welcome. I trust that the Councillor for this area - Jamie Samson - with his interests in the licensing committee of South Lakeland is monitoring the situation closely.
This call was made to Gary "out of the blue" yesterday (Saturday 9th afternoon)
His initial reaction was resentment that someone was apparently phoning to tell him his job and what he should do in what was "family time".
My urgency was to catch him before the Saturday night gig so that he could start that night, aware of the views of several people that I have been in touch with in the last few days. (Having stated that it was family time, it was difficult to get Gary off the phone once he had started - he is good at arguing his point of view as those that heard him at the public meeting will know.)
On Feb 5th I posted an article very much in favour of this project. Now I have severe doubts.
On some points during our conversation, I found him unconvincing.
He argues - and he is welcome to correct me here - the following:
He is following the rules and doing all he can and if there is bad behaviour then this is because of the type of people he is dealing with.
He believes it is early days and it will take a while for the irresponsible behaviour to be weeded out by excluding these people from entering the venue.
He is paying high wages to ensure that expert staff are employed to deal with any behaviour problems. He also feels he has a good working relationship with the police.
For my part I ,and many others, look at the situation very differently.
What impressed me about the description of what was to happen with Gary at the Roxy was that something of benefit was going to happen in the town and that there was a need for responsible people to have a venue open till 3.00 am where they could enjoy live music along with an occasional drink. Furthermore the Roxy could become a venue were the artistic interests in the town could be focused and developed.
What has happened so far does not encourage this optimism.
It is essential to me and many others that access to alcohol until late does not lead to drunken behaviour by people that have lost their inhibitions and control of what they do.
At present what is happening sends out messages to me and others that people with too much alcohol inside them are being turned out on our streets in the early hours. People who show little concern for others.
Gary cannot in my opinion duck this issue. It can be argued that the behaviour is linked to drink. This is happening inside the Roxy and is thus the responsibility of those behind the bar. The Roxy must quickly establish itself as a place that will attract the responsible people who go to enjoy good , live music and not the irresponsible who go to drink.
Gary Robinson has total responsibility for the way in which his venue is run and it must quickly become a place for the former.
If the latter take hold; I and many others will join together to force the venue to be closed.
I suggest that a change of direction needs to be implemented quickly. The whole appearance of the venue both outside and in, needs urgent attention in my view. The quality is nowhere up to the standard of the former Buffers at the station and that had its problems.
Your views as always are welcome. I trust that the Councillor for this area - Jamie Samson - with his interests in the licensing committee of South Lakeland is monitoring the situation closely.
Saturday, 9 May 2009
Roxy concerns
What started as a good idea for Ulverston shows signs of turning sour.
This is the view as one approaches the Roxy this Saturday morning.
And this is what is found on the door step.
Not the images that convey responsible behaviour the night before when this new music venture was in action.
Neighbours across the main road are already reporting a deterioration in the noise levels coming from this venue and these images tell their own story.
Suspicions that excessive drinking here would be condoned are being confirmed.
The management will have to take a firm approach and not serve alcohol to people who abuse their nighbourhood. It is the man behind the bar that needs to take action. Profits from beer sales must be secondary to this place being a benefit to Ulverston.
At present the signs are not good and I am seeking an interview with the promoters. Now is the time for a firm approach to be taken or they will have Ulverstonians turning against them.
This is the view as one approaches the Roxy this Saturday morning.
And this is what is found on the door step.
Not the images that convey responsible behaviour the night before when this new music venture was in action.
Neighbours across the main road are already reporting a deterioration in the noise levels coming from this venue and these images tell their own story.
Suspicions that excessive drinking here would be condoned are being confirmed.
The management will have to take a firm approach and not serve alcohol to people who abuse their nighbourhood. It is the man behind the bar that needs to take action. Profits from beer sales must be secondary to this place being a benefit to Ulverston.
At present the signs are not good and I am seeking an interview with the promoters. Now is the time for a firm approach to be taken or they will have Ulverstonians turning against them.
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