I probably have led a sheltered life, but at what point did Vodka become a basic good?Alcohol abuse is an ever growing danger to individual and societal health. Alcohol related hospital admissions have doubled over the since 1995. Alcoholic liver disease is soaring, especially in men. Societal problems are obvious...
So what does Sainsbury's do, it produces a cheap bottle of Vodka and labels it as a basic. Vodka is not a basic commodity. Potatoes, baked beans, milk, cheese, meat, onions, saucepans, are basic goods.
At 94p per 100mls (the same as Asda's version I think), this is clearly targeting people who want to just get drunk. Screw any moral responsibility, lets just make a profit.
How I loathe selfish capitalism.
8 comments:
How I loathe priggish, hectoring, holier-than-thou green nannies, especially when they're supporters of totalitarian regimes.
Dear DB,
I see I have got under your skin, shame you have to result to name calling rather than constructive argument.
Having watched many people die of alcoholic liver disease, plus seen the damage it does to relationships, society as well as the individual, I'd rather that business and government exercised a degree of morality. Organisations that prey on addictions should be condemned.
I think it reasonable to hector them.
Stuart
Look on the bright side - when you achieve your goal of a Cuban-style eco-paradise here in Britain you can lock up people like me for disagreeing with you.
Of course, the Cuban eco-paradise in Britain wouldn't have the cheap rum, obviously.
So Britain is not totalitarian already?
Highest proportion of CCTV camaras in the world, 1 for every 13 people. People filmed 300 times each day? Media domination of politics (with Murdoch dubbed as the invisible cabinet member). 42 day detention without charge. ID Cards. I could go on and on...
Of course the US have the Patriot Act, Guantanamo Bay and the ability to instate presidents who get less votes that their opponent - so we still have a long way to go.
I am a big fan of Sainsbury's Vodka. I get drunk responsibly and have 0 side effects onto the community (externalties in econ talk). So it ain't all bad.
I'd rather pay £6.32 for 70cl of vodka, where it costs about £1.50 to get tipsy than £20 in a pub.
People are going to get pissed and fuck up their lives whether a bottle of vodka costs 6 quid or 12 quid. To a serious alcoholic, the only difference this difference in price makes is how poor/desperate for money they are.
you have to concede the slogan is great - 'no fancy packaging, just vodka'
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