A few quite ones 

On a weekend, many of us enjoy a sociable drink at the pub or at home and by now we are used to having it at a reasonable price without standing at the bar to wait for it if that is our choice and to avoid such a annoyance, we go to the off licence or liquor store.

Even though most of us drink responsibly some of us sure as hell don't  and as a result ruins the night of others behaving like fools or the scum of the earth and just outright kill the mood of a magical, evening by punching a bystander or jumping on their car when stationary or in motion.

There is no denying binge drinking and drunken behavior are a problem, but they have always been in this article I shall be talking about why it is the problem it is using my native Ireland as, a case study and looking at the very recent decision of the Tory government in England to deal with compulsive drinking in England.

I shall assess whether there are reasons from my own native country's history for binge drinking and whether the UK governments' response is the correct way to address the issue or just a recipe, for punishing those of us who just like the odd pint.

In Ireland, the pint of Guinness is much a part of Irish DNA as anything but we Irish have always been portrayed as the drunken Irish man who slaps the wife into a corner after too many drinks, perhaps unfairly.

If you look at Irish history perhaps we have reason more than most to drink for 800 years, we were under British rule, and this perhaps does not explain our aversion towards a pint of plain but on a psychological, level if you consider the many losses the Irish suffered land, self-respect and banishment to peripheral land in what was once their own country it may not be entirely, unfair to say as people we may have turned to drink to escape the hardship of life.

As if we look at life on a personal basis, we ourselves have turned to drink to escape harsh realities or to make ourselves  feel somewhat better so my previous claim while may not be, the true cause of Ireland's drinking as drinking to excess continued in more prosperous times recently.

This, however, is proof perhaps as a country. we Irish are just predisposed to drinking more than others and perhaps drink problems should be addressed on a cultural basis rather than with sweeping evasive legislation.

The Tory government's idea of minimum alcohol pricing in which a price of 40p per unit will be brought in along with other legislation banning multiple bottles of wine for 10 pounds and a levy, on bars and clubs to pay for policing.

On a foundation of principle, I have no problem with the state trying to combat binge drinking but looking at the proposed legislation straight away as a Libertarian, I can see the unfairness of punishing, more moderate drinkers because of those who abuse alcohol, why should people who just want a beer or bottle of wine for a dinner party be punished because some people, get pissed and break windows?

Rather than go into a whole ethical debate, I will just say the reason it is strike  one against the UK government's plans in my opinion on an economic basis a levy on pubs and clubs to pay for policing, is a job killer in the industry as it will more than likely put people off going out to them if they are faced with higher costs.

Some clubs will be bigger drawers of a crowd than others because of important reasons such as price or entertainment, and this legislation will become critical as it forces many who cannot, compete to close causing job losses.

More important is the moral principle of if we let the state interfere in private business matters and personal lives are. Where will it stop? Once a precedent of trying to make the citizens behave, in a certain way through the jack boot of parliament trying to rule what we do and at what price we must pay to do something.

The question I think is are we were really free to do as we please without the state acting like our Daddy? Overall, I think the law will be a failure and is a bandage to cover gaping, social and cultural, cancers like mental illness and personal trauma as most people want drink because of price but rather abuse drink to escape brutal truths in their own personal realms while others just want to get pissed and will do so buying bootleg alcohol  on the black market.

Hot or not open relationships?

Most of us like to try things in the bedroom now and again and while times have changed and as a society, we have all become more open as people  the open relationship remains a taboo, something that the lecherous hubby wants just to get a bit on the side while the wife makes the tea.

I hope you will be pardon my crudeness in the opening paragraphs, but it seems to me the slightest hint of wanting to spice up a relationship is just a cop out for the male of the relationship, to get the leg over with the hot secretary at work.

For the purposes of this article, I shall explore if open relationships are a viable lifestyle choice for couples who are in a rut or who just like to have fun and whether or not they are indeed a viable, moral decision for those of you who have their consciouses keeping them awake at night.

For many couples, the spark in the relationship usually goes out of it after a while, and things become more like a chore rather than an alive feeling within of being part of something wonderful and good to enjoy this is especially true for people who have been married a long time.

An open relationship is defined as a 'sexual relationship or liaisons with the prior knowledge of your partner ' a simple but straightforward definition, however, in reality, the truth and dynamics, of such a relationship are never straight forward or simple usually when one agrees to such a relationship, there is an agreed set of rules and protocols followed to maintain the viability of, the couple who decides to pursue this lifestyle  choice relationship.

These rules can vary from couple to couple and are a lot like a contract stating who the partners can see and who is off-limits for, example, example the sister of the wife or girlfriend this way the couple ensures the survival of their relationship through an agreed set of terms and rules.

However, as in all things in life nothing is ever easy and when ego's clash or one partner feels they are getting little out of such a arrangement the foundations of the couples' relationship may, come apart and the beginning of recrimination and hurt may surface reaching its climax when the couple split in divorce or break up.

As in all break ups the end is always the hardest and perhaps if one wishes to keep their family together they should refrain from such a relationship with their children have at least, grown up or potentially suffer seeing their child being broken inside watching as their parents battle for custody.

On the other hand, an open relationship may work out well if both partners stick to the rules potentially breathing new life into a stale relationship with the couple now trusting each other, more than previously due to knowing even indulging in temptation there partner still wishes, to share what is most precious beyond lust with them love.

To other couples, such a idea may be repulsive and outright immoral personally I find it hard to say what is moral and what is not and base such a test on a hurt basis if such a relationship, is going to benefit one partner over the other it is therefore greedy on the other partner who wants it over the other to pursue the idea.

However, if the relationship style has potential to be of benefit to a relationship and will work out and not hurt anyone, then go for it however be warned the outcome rests with those involved and no one else.

To recap an open relationship can be of benefit if pursued with the right intentions involved and a couple are right to benefit from it, but as it is hard to see how a relationship between a couple works this claim cannot be verified, at all and as emotions take over from logic in pursuing such a relationship, catastrophic endings may arise.

Therefore, it is essential a couple decides to investigate if such a relationship works for them and perhaps give it a test run and before deciding to pursue an open relationship on a more permanent basis.    

Tips for pursuing an open relationship

Draw up a contract of rules before starting an open relationship

Talk to your partner openly and consider their feelings.

Draw up a list of best and worse outcomes and see if the benefits outweigh the negatives.

Stick to the rules