Donald MacLeod: Have I got booze for you – drunkenness is the drinker’s fault

AS disturbing as the images of the comatose 17-year-old dumped in a wheelie bin by drunken morons that were published this week are, it’s the media’s reaction that worries me most.

The lad claims his drink had been spiked, an accusation the media immediately accepted as fact and blew out of all proportion. It’s not on! The truth has to be established.

Where, you may ask, was his personal responsibility for his actions? I will stand corrected and apologise if it is proved his drink was indeed spiked, something hospital tests failed to verify.

But in my mind, it was the booze, and too much of it, in an unlicensed, unprotected flat that put him in a state and in hospital.

After 30 years in the Scottish licensed trade I have seen it all.

This issue aside, I don’t remember a time when it was so easy for someone who has had too much drink to pass the buck and make a claim, usually against a licensee.

The punter’s drunkenness is your responsibility, not theirs – and they are correct because, if they fall apart in a licensed establishment, even if they have spent the night boozing at home and not drunk a drop since coming in, the premises are legally responsible.

So, if someone was to pass out in a club or pub, then is dumped in a wheelie bin and alleges their drink was spiked, the full force of the law falls on the licensee.

Fair enough, but what’s not right is that the supermarkets, whole sell more than 70% of the alcohol consumed in this country.

They are not treated in equal measure and are never hauled over the coals for selling alcohol to someone who passes out through over consumption.

They seem to have no moral or legal duty of care, no social responsibility about the harm that their alcohol sales may cause.

Other than a check on the customer’s age they really have nothing to worry about.

That is clearly wrong.

A level playing field for both licensed premises and supermarkets should be set.

There should be an immediate crackdown on media advertising by the supermarkets, which promotes bulk buying.

Keep the penalties in place for the licensed trade, but also hammer any punter who has bought alcohol, drunk themselves into a stupor, then committed crimes.

And the authorities should come down really hard on those who, to make a quick buck, make up false injury or abuse claims.

Those whose bevvied antics result in them needing attention from our under-resourced, and badly stretched NHS should be forced to face up to the consequences of their actions, not mollycuddled.

They should pay for their stupidity and if totally at fault, the costs of their treatment and care.

They are the ones who should have the duty of care to themselves.

They should be judged, and punished if, through deliberately swallowing copious amounts of alcohol, they have committed criminality and who then end up in need of hospital care.

Yes, in that state they are vulnerable and in trouble but when they come round they must be made to accept that they more than those who sold or poured them the booze have responsibilities for their actions and be made to face up to that fact.

Not simply cry wolf and pass the buck.