So, some Limey study says that you should eat less beef and lamb if you want to save the planet from grobell wermering because of those animals'...er...emissions. That's not the part that piqued my interest, though:

The study also found that alcoholic drinks contribute significantly to emissions, with the growing and processing of hops and malt into beer and whisky producing 1.5 per cent of Britain's greenhouse gases.

"Changing our lifestyles, including our diets, is going to be one of the crucial elements in cutting carbon emissions," said David Kennedy, chief executive of the Committee on Climate Change.

Aaaaaaaand there's a "carbon tax" on alcoholic beverages (not to mention beef and lamb) in...3...2...1...

Posted by: Sean M. at 12:05 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Fucking Nanny Staters.

Drinkers in pubs are to be told to stand in a queue and banned from ordering more than two drinks at a time at the bar.

Rope barriers similar to those used in shops and post offices will be installed to keep customers in line.

The plan has been proposed following concern over disorder and violence in a town centre's bars.

The two-drink limit is intended to curb binge-drinking and stop customers ordering large amounts of alcohol. In addition, customers would not be allowed to drink while queuing.

But critics say the 'nanny state' restrictions will end the convivial British tradition of drinkers buying rounds for their friends.

Mark Hastings, of the British Beer And Pub Association, said: 'We have no problem with tackling problem drinking but this is not the way to go about it.

'These measures are costly, unnecessary and totally disproportionate at a time when around 40 pubs are closing every week.

Posted by: eddiebear at 03:00 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Seriously, what the fuck? Anybody else disturbed by this?

They are given information packs about how to collect evidence, including tips about writing down numberplates, which could later be used in criminal prosecutions.

Luton Borough Council's Street Seen scheme encourages its 650 volunteers to report 'environmental concerns'. It is also recruiting 'Junior Street Champions', aged between seven and 11.

Primary schools could also be involved within two years.

Similarly, Islington Council in north London has recruited 1,200 'Islington Eyes' to report crime hotspots, fly-tipping and excess noise from DIY.

Volunteers are given a list of things to do when confronted with fly-tippers, including taking photos 'without being seen'.

Last year the council undertook a recruitment drive for youngsters aged nine and above, called Junior Eyes.

Children are given special books to write down reports on littering or graffiti in their schools, which they then send to the council.

A spokesman for Islington town hall said: 'It's not possible for the council to see what's going on in the borough at all times, so our Eyes for Islington are a great help, reporting issues such as dangerous footpaths, fly-tipping and graffiti.'

Welwyn Hatfield Council in Hertfordshire has given its 13 volunteers handheld computers to take photographs of problem areas.

The information is then uploaded to a map of trouble spots.

Overall, a total of 8,442 volunteers have signed up at 17 councils in England. Other councils are set to follow their example and set up their own networks of volunteers.

They say the scheme helps them find out about problems which they might not know about otherwise. But critics are worried the schemes could easily be abused and encourage a 'Big Brother society'.

The move comes as local authorities dish out £100 fines to householders who leave out too much rubbish or fail to follow recycling rules.

Now I have even more incentive to stay away from my nieces and nephews.

Posted by: eddiebear at 09:34 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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You decide.

Earlier this week the Home Office announced plans to introduce a mandatory code to crackdown on all on 'all you can drink' style promotions.

The plans followed a recent study by Cardiff University based on data from 49 A&E departments across England and Wales.

The study cited binge-drinking as one of the main reasons for the first rise in hospital admissions for violent attacks in seven years.

Usually venturing into Cardiff city centre on a Saturday night, Maciej has photographed an array of characters from wild stag and hen parties to students letting their hair down.

However, despite the often good-natured antics, Maciej is sometimes taken aback by the levels of drinking involved.

Posted by: eddiebear at 04:06 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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She can even drink YOU under the table.

A 17-year-old girl who drinks a litre of vodka and eight cans of beer every day has admitted spending most of her £47-a-week benefits on alcohol.

Jamie-Lee Day claims that she would rather buy vodka than food and boasts 'she can drink absinthe like water'.

Posted by: Alice H at 10:09 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Some street punk gets busted for possession of a switchblade and brass knuckles.  Part of his sentence involved doing community service wearing a blaze orange road work vest with "Community Payback" written on it, that identifies him as the low rent guttersnipe that he is. 

Well, said guttersnipe complained and told a judge he wasn't going to wear it because it was embarrassing and he didn't like it and it violated his civil blah, blah, blah...long story short, judge agreed, and wants a hearing to be held in a higher court to see if the punk has to wear the stupid vest.  

Posted by: doubleplusundead at 10:27 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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