Benefits cuts for Alcoholics

[craft1948]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7998334.stm

Do you agree or should you be able to spend your money on what you want?

[madmaggot]

I broadly agree.
I do think that I should be able to spend MY money on what I want; and I don't want to spend my money on buying drink for alcoholics!
Benefits should go to those who are genuinely in need. OK if an alcoholic wanted to be helped and was willing to help their self.

[youngmafbog]

About time too, and less money for the smojers and lard arses.

Subsiistemce should be just that, not a lifestyle choice

[zzxxee]

well we cant have a say on what our taxes get spent on, so yes i whole heartedlly agree alcoholics money should be cut if they dont get treatment why should we fund their habit..

[New Judge]

Wonderful idea.

However, as alcoholism and drug addiction are both officially recognised as disabilities, this scheme has much idea of getting off the ground as income tax being reduced to nil.

It will fail at the first legal challenge. The argument will be something along the lines �would you force a person with no legs to undergo compulsory walking lessons under threat of loss of benefits?�

Another load of spin designed to keep the attention of the hapless electorate diverted from the real issues.

[cazzz1975]

maybe they should give them food vouchers instead of money, the food vouchers can only be exchanged for food and not sold or swapped. they could be ID protected

[madmaggot]

"Stopping someone's benefits could have a real impact on any children they may have. It's essential that families are taken into account when such decisions are being made."

Surely the addict is the one who should be taking this into account when deciding whether to accept treatment. Everyone seems to think that they have 'a right' to a good lifestyle these days. I was brought up in the knowledge that if I wanted something I had to work and save for it. And I did.

[craft1948]

I have never claimed benefits in my life (unless you call state pension a benefit) and whilst I agree drinking should not be sponsored from taxes where do you draw the line? Do you stop a mother's benefits because she feeds her children turkey twizzlers and chips? Is this a case of the nanny state dictating your lifestyle.....

[zzxxee]

i like cazz idea of food vouchers well done you

[olddutch]

FIRST - MPs and in particular Ministers must put their own house in order - ie treat and rid themselves of their own addictions of (1) immorally and grossly overclaiming expenses and stealing from us, the taxpayer and (2) spinning everything including this story re alcholics to deflect from all their current embarrassments !

[paraffin]

This is dead in the water before it even starts because it also said in the report on the Beeb that you first of all would have to actually admit being an alkie or druggie and agree to the treatment, or whatever.

How many will do that? A big fat ZERO!!!!!!

[VHG]

The situation is that under labour far more people are claiming incapacity benefit because of their drink or drug problems.

So these people are saying that because they have a drink or drug problem they are unable to work.

Of course the easier you make it for people to say they HAVE a problem, the more people are likely to admit to a problem so they dont have to get out of bed like the rest of us.

Well I for one dont think the state (you and I) should pay people to sit at home and indulge in their "habit" while making no attempt to try to sort out their problem.

This country is competing with the rest of the world for business, and if we have millions of people claiming benefits who are not entitled to it then it all adds to the cost of running the country, and putting up the price of our goods.

We have enough scroungers on the state payroll (including Jacqui Smith) so anything we can do to reduce the number the better.

[VHG]

>first of all would have to actually admit being an alkie or >druggie and agree to the treatment, or whatever.
>How many will do that? A big fat ZERO!!!!!!

How wrong you are.

See here that hundreds already admit they have a problem so cant work.

http://www.expressandstar.com/2009/03/24/alcoh olics-claiming-incapacity-benefits/

[rov1200]

Maybe they should find work for them in a brewery. They would be able to buy all the cheap booze there and save the taxpayer money.

[carsonking]

In a big brother world where everything is controlled and i mean worse than it is now, yeh fine, they should not have drink and such bought for them. But in the REAL world, they will carry on doing as they do now at the expense of someone else, maybe there wont be food on the table for the kids or even worse they could break in to YOUR home and steal your stuff to purchase thier chosen drug. It's not rocket science.

[VHG]

>or even worse they could break in to YOUR home and >steal your stuff to purchase thier chosen drug. It's not >rocket science.

Oh so we keep giving them benefits so they dont break into people's houses.

Using that same principle maybe we should give burglers �1,000 a week as well so they will stop breaking into peoples houses.

What a stupid reson to give people benefits.

[carsonking]

I didn't say it was a perfect world, i am just being realistic. I don't think we should give any more mony to anyone else either.

[craft1948]

thanks to all contributors on this thread - reading all your replies their is no easy answer is there...