"Alcohol allowance" for the social underclass
Discussion
Background:
I will try and keep this brief. I got married almost 10 years ago and have a great wife and kids. However, My wifes twin sister is an alcoholic. Her husband divorced her due to the drinking, she later became a single mum, and is now married to the drinking lifestyle instead. We have taken in her daughter as she was going to be placed in care, and now this little girl is as much a part of our family as our own kids. Alcoholic Mum has plenty of contact, financed by Social Services, and maintains a good relationship with her daughter considering the circumstances.
So, to cut to the chase. This weekend she tells us that she is completely without money as she is changing benefits. The circumstances are that she had been advised by her peers that she should be claiming incapacity benefit as it keep the jobcentre off your back, and that there's a new allowance paid on top to pay towards booze. So she's off the dole now, and waiting for the first payments to come through. In complete disbelief, I asked her how much she would be getting, she didn't have the exact figs as yet but her perception was that it would be quite a bit more than her current "payments". I joked that it pays to drink now, and she laughed and agreed. When I find out the figs, I will add to this thread for anyone who is interested.
My question to the combined PH massive, albeit a little biased, is this really the right way to solve the massive drinking problem thats wrecked the social fabric of Blighty?
I`m particularly p***** off to hear this in the very same week that there were several calls to increase the price of alcohol via more taxation to combat the "over-usage" of police time in dealing with drunks. If the real drunks are going to get funding to buy booze, I must say what is the point!
I will try and keep this brief. I got married almost 10 years ago and have a great wife and kids. However, My wifes twin sister is an alcoholic. Her husband divorced her due to the drinking, she later became a single mum, and is now married to the drinking lifestyle instead. We have taken in her daughter as she was going to be placed in care, and now this little girl is as much a part of our family as our own kids. Alcoholic Mum has plenty of contact, financed by Social Services, and maintains a good relationship with her daughter considering the circumstances.
So, to cut to the chase. This weekend she tells us that she is completely without money as she is changing benefits. The circumstances are that she had been advised by her peers that she should be claiming incapacity benefit as it keep the jobcentre off your back, and that there's a new allowance paid on top to pay towards booze. So she's off the dole now, and waiting for the first payments to come through. In complete disbelief, I asked her how much she would be getting, she didn't have the exact figs as yet but her perception was that it would be quite a bit more than her current "payments". I joked that it pays to drink now, and she laughed and agreed. When I find out the figs, I will add to this thread for anyone who is interested.
My question to the combined PH massive, albeit a little biased, is this really the right way to solve the massive drinking problem thats wrecked the social fabric of Blighty?
I`m particularly p***** off to hear this in the very same week that there were several calls to increase the price of alcohol via more taxation to combat the "over-usage" of police time in dealing with drunks. If the real drunks are going to get funding to buy booze, I must say what is the point!
yep, its gut wrenching, working in retail Ive known about "brew money" for a while. I couldnt believe it when I first heard that alcoholics actually got paid to be drains on society. Apparently coming off alcohol can kill them as theyre bodies use it as food or something. I have piss soaked dead beats and seemingly respectable old folk coming into my shop at bang on opening time every day shaking and buying a bottle of fortified wine for their breakfast.
That Im told that my getting drunk at the weekend is ruining society and I should pay more for my booze when these dead beats are getting paid to get lashed at my expense is really really annoying to say the least. Its when they come back in the evening for another bottle, are already pissed and I have to refuse them that its not so fun. Its usually my fault that they are wastes of space and I should risk my licence for their pathetic lifestyle choice. They should get 3 goes at rehab, if that fails use their corpses for fuel.
That Im told that my getting drunk at the weekend is ruining society and I should pay more for my booze when these dead beats are getting paid to get lashed at my expense is really really annoying to say the least. Its when they come back in the evening for another bottle, are already pissed and I have to refuse them that its not so fun. Its usually my fault that they are wastes of space and I should risk my licence for their pathetic lifestyle choice. They should get 3 goes at rehab, if that fails use their corpses for fuel.
No. The way to cure such drinking is to stop all payments so they cannot afford it.
I used to be addicted to Central Heating and food that was not Tesco Value brand, but since the Govt increased my tax code I have found that I have lost this addiction.
I hope for your sake the "addiction" is not hereditary. Good on you and your family for taking in the daughter, hopefully she will not follow in Mum's sponging footsteps.
Slightly off topic, I was speaking to some people from Shropshire/Cheshire borders last week that were telling me of some people they call "the 479ers". These are single mums, who if able to work 16hrs a week at minimum wage are given benefits to take their take home "pay" to £479 a week. I reckon that is equivalent to having a job at about £33k a year. Bearing in mind the average salary in this Great Nation is less than that, you have to wonder what morons dream these numbers up.
I used to be addicted to Central Heating and food that was not Tesco Value brand, but since the Govt increased my tax code I have found that I have lost this addiction.
I hope for your sake the "addiction" is not hereditary. Good on you and your family for taking in the daughter, hopefully she will not follow in Mum's sponging footsteps.
Slightly off topic, I was speaking to some people from Shropshire/Cheshire borders last week that were telling me of some people they call "the 479ers". These are single mums, who if able to work 16hrs a week at minimum wage are given benefits to take their take home "pay" to £479 a week. I reckon that is equivalent to having a job at about £33k a year. Bearing in mind the average salary in this Great Nation is less than that, you have to wonder what morons dream these numbers up.
An ex colleague who now works at the Official Receivers office was telling em a few years ago that when people went bankrupt, they have targets to try to get a certain number of "Income Payments orders" basically a voluntary agreement to pay some money back to the creditors. These would be asked for if there was suitable "disposable income" and was usually 25-30% of disposable income, ie after all living costs are paid! Some people would argue about what constituted "reasonable living costs" so in these cases, the office would look at statistics from the National Statistical Office (or some govt body) to see what the average living costs for various social groups was, and only if the bankrupt had income higher than that, could they ask for 25% of it to pay back some of their debts.... Imagine his suprise to find that the limit for a single guy (as he himself was) below whihc they could not ask for any money fromt he abnkrupt was £350 a month MORE than he himself earned....!>!>!
I sugested he run up about 50k on credit cards and catalogues and declare hismself bankrupt!! LOL
I sugested he run up about 50k on credit cards and catalogues and declare hismself bankrupt!! LOL
Edited by s3fella on Sunday 16th November 23:56
AndrewW-G said:
s3fella said:
you have to wonder what morons dream these numbers up.
and whats more people actualy voted for them
im not normally very political but this bunch need to go!
Mst007 said:
My question to the combined PH massive, albeit a little biased, is this really the right way to solve the massive drinking problem thats wrecked the social fabric of Blighty?
I don't think Britain does ahve a massive drinking problem and i don't think it is that that has wrecked our social fabric. I still haven't managed to find a pub that's open after 11pm yet.heebeegeetee said:
Mst007 said:
My question to the combined PH massive, albeit a little biased, is this really the right way to solve the massive drinking problem thats wrecked the social fabric of Blighty?
I don't think Britain does ahve a massive drinking problem and i don't think it is that that has wrecked our social fabric. I still haven't managed to find a pub that's open after 11pm yet.24hr drinking my arse
Edited by collateral on Monday 17th November 19:43
heebeegeetee said:
Mst007 said:
My question to the combined PH massive, albeit a little biased, is this really the right way to solve the massive drinking problem thats wrecked the social fabric of Blighty?
I don't think Britain does ahve a massive drinking problem and i don't think it is that that has wrecked our social fabric. I still haven't managed to find a pub that's open after 11pm yet.heebeegeetee said:
I don't think Britain does ahve a massive drinking problem and i don't think it is that that has wrecked our social fabric. I still haven't managed to find a pub that's open after 11pm yet.
You know, the bar staff wait for certain people to leave before locking the door...Seriously, I cannot think of anywhere I have lived in the last twenty years where you couldn't drink 'til 2am somewhere. And, of course, you can always have a drink at home.
A very sheltered life?
Fittster said:
heebeegeetee said:
Mst007 said:
My question to the combined PH massive, albeit a little biased, is this really the right way to solve the massive drinking problem thats wrecked the social fabric of Blighty?
I don't think Britain does ahve a massive drinking problem and i don't think it is that that has wrecked our social fabric. I still haven't managed to find a pub that's open after 11pm yet.I'm just bemused how the licencing laws have supposedly brought society to an end, but every time i'm in a pub at 11pm it shuts!
I appreciate that *obviously* i'm visiting the wrong pubs, but i had no idea that i'd have to go looking for these outlets. According to the Daily Mail i shouldn't have to be.
Edited by heebeegeetee on Monday 17th November 00:25
heebeegeetee said:
Fittster said:
heebeegeetee said:
Mst007 said:
My question to the combined PH massive, albeit a little biased, is this really the right way to solve the massive drinking problem thats wrecked the social fabric of Blighty?
I don't think Britain does ahve a massive drinking problem and i don't think it is that that has wrecked our social fabric. I still haven't managed to find a pub that's open after 11pm yet.I'm just bemused how the licencing laws have supposedly brought society to an end, but every time i'm in a pub at 11pm it shuts!
t, unless you actually like vomit. 
This country would be a much better place if there were an alcohol limit. However, it would be for everybody and not just the "underclass". Responsible adults should be able to enjoy it but a sizable minority have proved they cannot handle it. I've had many nights out ruined and property damaged by drunks. Just last week one of them walked across the bonnet of my car. Just think of the massive drop in crime and social problems strict control would bring in. People are so anti drugs but I'm willing to bet alcohol destroys many more lives
However there is no way any sort of quota could be enforced. For people on a night out maybe, but there would be no way to people buying or drinking excessive amounts. All it would do would be to create a black market and put criminal gangs in charge of supply (just like prohibition)
However there is no way any sort of quota could be enforced. For people on a night out maybe, but there would be no way to people buying or drinking excessive amounts. All it would do would be to create a black market and put criminal gangs in charge of supply (just like prohibition)
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