Ignorance, Sheer Ignorance

One problem with being ruled by Scots is that the puritanical killjoys of the Manse come to the fore. No longer is the job of government to protect the individual's right to find their own path to perdition, we must all enjoy what we are told to enjoy.

But worse than that, the current lot seem to be deeply ignorant.

Tax on alcohol is also expected to be increased in next week's Budget after ministers disclosed they now believe drink prices are at "historically low levels".

The move against cheap alcohol follows the publication of Gordon Brown's review of the 24-hour licensing laws.

Why would something becoming cheaper be a reason to move against it? We don't move against cheap t-shirts, cheap shoes or cheap steel, do we? In fact, it's the very point of the onward march of technology and civilisation, that material goods become cheaper over time, thus allowing us to become wealthier.

It is true that the affordability of alcohol has increased by some 65% in recent decades: the affordability of computers has increased by rather more than that. Are we to insist that everyone go back to paying 1980 prices for computing power?

No, of course not, so why this ignorant action on alcohol?