Anyone else seen the bus shelter adverts for Cancer Research UK? I mean the one where they suggest you give up the demon drink (my words) and have "one less sin" (their words). One or two things occur to me about this. I didn't know drinking was a sin. Is it one of the ten commandments? Did Moses come down from the mountain saying "Thou shalt not have a few beers". No he bloody well didn't. Perhaps Cancer Research are using a more liberal definition of sin, as in the Urban Dictionary's "Good, dirty fun". The serious point is that calling drinking a sin is just another attempt to denormalise drinking. There's other things I dislike about it too, but just have a look at it here and make up your own mind. I had kind of thought that given that the lies that prop up the anti alcohol campaigners have been exposed as such time and again, that they might let up a bit. Not a chance. In fact the Nanny State's latest judgement that a pint and a half a day (except when you have to abstain for two days) is your lot will be promulgated any day now. A pint and a half a day would equate to seven and a half pints a week. Tops. Oh Dear. Forget that leisurely Sunday session with your mates, because you can't save it up and have it at once. If you are fond of the stronger craft beers, well maybe two thirds at the most? That'll be a fun session. If it wasn't for the risk to jobs and revenue putting a bit of a brake on all this, you wonder how much worse this all might become?
One thing is for sure. Cynicism is the correct approach in this area. They are coming for us and they are making inroads. Mudgie was right all along.
For an alternative view, Tryjanuary, see the Morning Advertiser here. I can't find the bus shelter advert on line but Cookie has one here on his twitter feed.
Sorry this isn't as well written as I'd like, but after a few goes at it, this as good as I'm likely to get it.
You are always welcome to rip any photos of mine off and stick 'em on yer blog. It would be an honour, like.
ReplyDeleteYou are bloody lucky to get a credit!
ReplyDeleteMudgie's always right.
ReplyDeleteNever mind the alcohol (and nipple tassles), that's the most obese Burnley fan I've ever seen. Isn't obesity the real sin here ?
I noted the quasi-religious stuff when I wrote about this stuff three years ago. It’s really blatant. Binge – go dry – binge – go dry, sin – penance – sin – penance. It is no surprise to see them actually using the word sin this year. You could even "buy" (in the form of an additional donation) "permission" to drink during the dry month, just as bishops used to sell indulgences.
ReplyDeleteWhich shows that the prohibitionists don’t accept the idea of responsible drinking at all. There's no healthy amount of sin, is there? That’s why the message is never "cut down"; it’s always "cut it out" and "there is no safe level" and "see how much better you feel without alcohol".
Coming for the smokers ruining the air and the experience for a large number of people (whether most or not) in pubs is one thing. Coming for average drinkers is another thing.
ReplyDeleteHow are they making inroads? By resorting to bizarro adverts? What *is* with the tassles? Is that a pub thing on New Year's Eve?
An old German proverb states, “Charity sees the need, not the cause.”
ReplyDeleteCharity is big business, and there are more “causes” being added to the list on an almost daily basis. People get involved in a “My cause is more important than your cause” argument. “How can you care about polar bears when there are children starving in Africa?”
I therefore wonder how much of the funds, raised by well-meaning donors on behalf of Cancer Research UK, were wasted on this puerile piece of advertising? Also, how much of the money raised by charities goes on admin, additional fund-raising and sky-high executive salaries?
By all means raise money for good causes, if that’s what floats your boat, but there’s no need to be so smug about it, and there is certainly no need to castigate people who enjoy the odd drink or two as “sinners”.
Finally, remember that there is no money in the “cure”, however cynical it may sound to say so.
Those nipple tassels are really disturbing!
ReplyDeleteThis year there seems to be a more robust response, with people turning it back on them by promoting dry-hopped ale and dry cider.
It has to be recognised that there's no way this can be appeased or accommodated. As I said in the post, if you concede the health argument to them, there's no way you're ever going to win.
Fortunately, in the age of the internet and social media, there are plenty of opportunities for individuals to challenge them. And I don't think neo-Prohibitionism really enjoys much grass-roots support.
This is a topic I too have visited over the last couple of days.
ReplyDeleteThat Cancer Research advert is described as 'hilarious'. As a qualified English teacher, I can confirm that the Daily Fail clearly does not understand the meaning of the word.
You could even "buy" (in the form of an additional donation) "permission" to drink during the dry month
ReplyDeleteBlimey. Are they still offering that?
In this day an age, using "sin" as a deterrent when addressing the general public looks a bit silly, and even desperate, perhaps.
ReplyDeleteYou're damn right they are coming for us, very quietly but they are! And we won't realise it until they're in our very pubs! I wrote about the ridiculous advert too.. found it to be very offensive!
ReplyDelete