What Is A 'Single' Or 'Double'?

So people, in their own homes, have no idea what constitutes a unit of spirits when pouring a drink, according to this report in the Daily Telegraph. This brings forth comments from the 'Social Police' - aka the likes of Gillian Merron, Public Health Minister, and other well-known 'government mouthpieces' such as Prof Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians and Chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance and Don Shenker, chief executive of Alcohol Concern. And these 'outpourings' of advice are based on 'experiments'? FFS!

One has to enquire of those above - whose bloody money was it that bought the bloody alcohol in the first place? Having bought the alcohol, which then becomes their property, whose decision is it how much is used to make each drink? When the state decides to provide us with free alcohol, then will be the time that they can start issuing 'guidelines'!

Coupled to the quoted article, another in the print edition (no link) states that excessive drinking on New Year's Eve will cost the NHS £23 million in 24 hours and includes the cost of ambulance services as well as treating patients admitted to hospital after drinking too much. This piece of illuminating news is based on a study by Policy Exchange, a think tank (think??) which called for intoxicated patients admitted for less than 24 hours to pay the £532 their hospital care costs the NHS.

£23 million in 24 hours would appear 'par for the course' where government spending is considered - so what is the problem?

In my home, as in those of my friends, the reason we don't pour single or double measures is because they are banned!

Finally, in the 'spirit' of goodwill, may I wish Gillian Merron and her cohorts a 'sober' and most unhappy New Year!