addicted lifestyle

Debate on Alcohol's Minimum Pricing at Holyrood

2010-06-17T10:53:00.004+01:00

The debate on the minimum paricing for alcohol has continued in Holyrood and different points of view have been aired. In the views of Nicola Sturgeon The Deputy First minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, "We all agree, too, that education, partnership working with the alcohol industry and investment in alcohol treatment services are all components of an effective alcohol strategy, which is why they are among the 41 actions in our alcohol framework. However, we believe—this view is strongly backed by doctors, nurses, the police, the churches, public health experts, all four UK chief medical officers and a host of children's charities—that no package of measures will be truly effective without real and effective action on price. We believe that it would be a dereliction of our duty to ignore the clear evidence and expert opinion from the World Health Organization, advisers to the European Commission, the British Medical Association and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, which tell us very clearly that price intervention is one of the most effective tools in tackling alcohol misuse."

It seems that the views against minimum pricing are coming from organisations that have a vested interest in the financila implications of this, whilest institutions with a more impartial view on the issue like churches, health organisations and professional medical bodies are all supporting the minimum pricing. This view was clearly expressed by Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP) .

The debate continues, but it is clear that pricing must be a part of a concerted solution for the alcohol abuse problems within Scottish society.

Designer clothes for children

2010-06-01T12:01:00.008+01:00

The Daily Mail is running a story today on Suri Cruise who apparently owns a £1 million wardrobe at the tender age of four. Her parents applaud her fashion sense and are happy in getting for her whatever she wants. The article goes on to report that this example is now influencing consumer habits of ordinary people, where parents overspend on designer clothes for their children. Examples cited are Dior T-shirts etc.

Everyone knows that children and teenagers are subject to peer pressure and that their fashion sense is heavily influenced by the people they ahng out with, however, I wonder about what motivates a parent to indulge their children in such a way. Could it be that as parents we want to compensate our children for soemthing lacking in thier lives? Don't get me wrong, I applaud the efforts of committed parents who work hard to bring home the bacon, and I do understand the pressures of parenthood and full time employment particularly now, when jobs are scarce... but it might be that what our children actually want is time spent as a family doing fun things together without constant pressure to spend spend spend.

Could it be that we as parents seek retail therapy whenever something is not quite great in our lives? Are we actually training our children into believing that buying stuff feels good? We might be sending a very confused message to our children when we buy things for them (or for ourselves for that matter) as a substitute or compensation for attention and affection.

Who feels good after consumption binges ? The parents or the children?

minimum pricing on Alcohol debated @ Holyrood

2010-05-28T17:05:00.002+01:00

There seems to be split views around the effect that the proposed minimum pricing of alcohol will have on consumption patters in Scotland. It has been reported that the committee in Holyrood that is overseeing the proposal has differing views on its effects.

One argument seems to conclude that the introduction of the minimum pricing will prompt consumers into purchasing online, or travelling abroad for purchasing alcohol. At the same time , minimum pricing would have a disproportionate effect on consumers from lower income brackets. The counter argument is that the minimum price will not achieve its intended effect of reducing consumption.

What is clear however, is that given the high levels of alcohol consumption in Scotland, the proposal for a minimum price per unit will have to be addressed.

Minimum princing of alcohol might not affect low-income families

2010-05-12T12:18:00.006+01:00

Professor Anne Ludbrock from the Health Economics Research Unit of the university of Aberdeen has recently completed a study on the effects that minimum pricing on alcohol would have on purchasing habits of UK households. Her results state that contrary to earlier claims, low income households would be the least affected by the minimum pricing on alcohol, possibly because these households are not the main purchasers of the cheapest alcohol. Middle income families would be the ones most seriously affected. The study analysed data collected through the Expenditure and Food Survey (EFS) (now called the Living Cost and Food Survey) for 2007 which sampled representative households throughout the UK.

Prof. Ludbrock points out that " data from the EFS suggest that the purchasing of low priced alcohol occurs across the income distribution. If anything, middle income groups appear to purchase more of the lower price alcohol. One potential explanation may be that these households have sufficient discretionary income to allow them to take advantage of discounted special offers".

The report was commissioned by the Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) and can be read in full through this link.

Major Pub Groups urge for level playing field

2010-05-04T14:04:00.003+01:00

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), the Glasgow-based G1 Group run by Stefan King, and Punch Taverns are urging the Scottish Government to set up a level playing field amid the debate on minimum pricing. Supermarket offers might fuel binge drinking and the pub groups argue that supermarkets might not be fulfilling their social responsibility when it comes to promotions on alcoholic drinks. For the full story follow this link. A study has been comissioned by the Scottish Government on the impact of minimu pricing of alcoholic drinks. The minimum pricing policy has received the support of numerous faith-based organisations, including the Church of Scotland.

NHS Fact Sheet on Minimum Pricing of Alcohol

2010-04-09T13:14:00.001+01:00

The NHS has recently published a very comprehensive fact sheet about the proposals for the minimu pricing on alcohol. If you are interested, please follow this link.

Binge drinking affects unborn children

2010-03-15T12:55:00.011Z

Dr Jonathan Sher, director of research, policy and programmes at Children in Scotland, compiled a report on the effects of alcohol abuse during the first three months of pregnancy. The child can experience visible birth defects such as face malformations, as well as brain damage. In its less severe cases, children can experience severe learning difficulties. Dr. Sher who has submitted the report both to the UK and the Scottish Parliament mentioned that foetal alcohol syndrome, (FAS) damages might not necessarily be apparent at birth, but might become evident later in life. He stated that one of the effects of alcohol abuse during the early lives of the foetus include damage to " a person’s ability to plan, learn from experience and control impulses -- to be significantly diminished by foetal alcohol exposure. This happens because alcohol is a teratogenic agent (meaning a chemical that interferes with the normal development of a foetus). Some of this teratogenic harm can occur during the first weeks following conception – i.e., even before the
pregnancy has been realised and confirmed by the mother."

It is particulalry tragic that as many as 900 children in Scotland are affected by FAS. The Church of Scotland, through Rev. Ian Galloway, Convener of the Church and Society Council, has had a very clear policy against alcohol abuse and has spoken on repeated ocassions in support of the minimum pricing of alcohol.

Credits
Photograph taken by Emery Co Photo

Minimum Price on Alcohol is backed up by Children's Charities

2010-03-08T13:40:00.011Z

A number of Children's charities has backed up the proposal for a minimum pricing on alcohol in an attempt to curve down the drinking problem in Scotland. Research commissioned by Childline Scotland and Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems has found out that children suffer emotional and psychological damage as a direct result of parental alcohol abuse. Children who phone Childline often speak of physical violence, abuse and neglect. Children should be protected from harm, and the signatory charities are urging the government to implement an alcohol policy that puts children's needs above all other interests.
Ian Galloway, Convener of the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland has spoken in favour of the campaign on minimum pricing of alcohol.

Minimum Pricing on Alcohol backed by Commons Health Committee

2010-02-22T09:52:00.006Z

The SCPO has sent this this update on the minim pircing for alcohol campaign.

The Commons Health Committee published a report following their inquiry into Alcohol in England and came out strongly in favour of minimum pricing, arguing that evidence shows that a rise in the price of alcohol was the most effective way of reducing consumption. It also attacked the strategies anmd responses of successive Governments in tackkling the proble as ranging "from non-existent to ineffectual".

Towards a History of Needs

2010-02-09T17:03:00.004Z

I was reading the blog of a friend and she pointed out that Ivan Illich was one of the first to point out the marketisation of our needs. Have you ever wandered why we are made to feel that there is always a porduct to solve any of our problems? Illich ponted out the fallacy of this consumer apporach to solve our problems. the following link is a snippet of his work on "needs".

Credits
Photograph by JoseMota

Let's shop. We are helping the economy!

2010-02-03T13:41:00.006Z

We keep hearing that it is important for us as consumers to shop so that our economy will come out of depresson and will start growing again. However, is endless growh possible? Have a look at the impossible hamster film. It gives a good laugh but there are truths embedded here.

Credits
Phtgaph by Carolyn Coate

Do you really need to go shopping?

2010-02-01T16:39:00.004Z

Do you buy something because you need it or because shopping makes you feel good?

According to Dr. Marc Kern people that are addicted to shopping do so not becuase they need the object, but because the whole experience of shopping makes them feel good. "I am feeling something that I do not want to feel and this object is going to make me feel temporarily, something quite different, maybe powerful" he states. He has produced a series of videos explaining the reasons behind shopping addiction and relating them to other forms of addiction. You can consult the vidoes by following this link.

Better future for children & young people affected by alcohol

2010-01-14T13:34:00.004Z

This conference is aimed at anyone who works with children, young people and families who is interested in the effects of both direct and indirect alcohol misuse. The conference will be chaired by Dr. Mac Armstrong and speakers will include Philip Raines, Head of Child Protection at the Scottish Government, Lorna Templeton from the University of Bath and Carol Craig from the Centre for confidence and Wellbeing. For more information follow this link.
Date: March nd 2010
Place: Marriott Hotel, Glasgow
Cost: £50.00

How to Drug Proof your kids

2010-01-14T12:11:00.001Z

This is a course for parents and other carers to help prevent children becoming involved with drugs and excessive alcohol use. It is available to local congregations, who can also have someone trained to deliver the course to people within their own parish and community. Follow this link for information.

What shall I wear?

2009-12-09T11:26:00.009Z

Janet Whyte, Council member of the Church and Society Council and a member of the Council's reference group on the Fashion Industry has penned this article helping us reflect on the ethics of our wardrobes.

Christmas is coming! The shops are filled with glitter and gifts, people are hurrying to and fro, wondering what to buy. Everywhere is good cheer – or is it? Are we hassled and exhausted, going round and round looking for the ideal gift. But hold on a moment – ideal for whom?

The Church and Society Council are at the moment working on a report for the General Assembly of 2010 looking at the issue of how the need to clothe ourselves has led to a whole industry built around the concept of “Fashion” and “Self image” that can affect many aspects of our lives and the lives of others.

Our report hopes to show that the choices we make about the clothes we wear are an important part of people’s self image, but also are symbolic of many other things, like our values, our status, (perceived or otherwise), our ethics or our work. We recognise that in God’s eyes we are all equal. God considers us more precious than the birds, which do not worry about how they are fed or what they wear.

Fashions come and go, even in the Church. Not too long ago, every woman would wear a hat. It is much more common now to wear casual dress. And how about the clergy? They now have various colours and styles of robes, and some have abandoned robes for a suit because of either perceived or real understanding of what these clothes symbolise for others or for them about their role and values as clergy.

These issues affect both genders. However, it can be children and young people who suffer most. There is a considerable trend to push children into the latest adult fashions, which can lead to inappropriate messages being given. Children are being encouraged to be adults before their time.

Like everything else in life, what we wear affects more than just what we look like to the outside world. We need to be aware of the possible exploitation of workers. And what about the environmental impact of the modern fashion industry - the problem of sustainability for the fashion industry and the pollution and waste involved?

During the production of our report a questionnaire was conducted via the Church of Scotland website, Church and Society Facebook Group and the National Youth Assembly. It gives us some perceptions from Church members and others. 70% of those who responded sometimes wore second hand clothes, 84% took their old clothes to charity shops and 54% recycled them.

The Church does not hold a solely negative view of things which may seem trivial in the light of other problems. Fashion is an art and in this can be found meaning and beauty and cause for celebration! And the Clothing, Fashion and Advertising industries employ a vast number of people. However, we as Christians should have an awareness of clothing. Ronald Sider writes in “Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger”: “It is not because food, clothes, wealth and property are inherently evil that Christians today must lower their standards of living. It is because others are starving”. Therefore we should look to the footprint of what we wear – environmentally, in fair trade or illicit, how we dispose of the clothes we no longer need, in what it says about who we are and the image it promotes of all of us – men, women and children. There are no right answers here but there are some wrong ones.

So we urge you to have a wonderful Christmas Season, with all of the blessings that Christmas brings, but have a second thought when you shop.

Minimum pricing of alcohol: Is it a good idea?

2009-12-08T14:40:00.009Z

The Scottish Parliament is currently considering new legislation that contains far reaching proposals about the sale of alcohol. Some of the proposals contained in the Bill, especially the proposal to introduce a minimum price for a unit of alcohol, are in line with principles supported by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland consistently since 1983 and most recently in 2009. This proposal has attracted opposition from the Scotch Whisky Association as well as the main opposition parties.

The Church and Society Council have produced campaign materials to support the minimum pricing proposals, the materials contain:

• background information on the Alcohol Bill,
• evidence to justify the proposals and
• sample letters you can send to alcohol producers and your MSPs.

The run-up to Christmas

2009-11-02T16:01:00.004Z

It is only early November and the shops are alreay full of Christmas products attracting shoppers every weekend. It seems that if you shop early, you might end up having a more relaxed Christmas becuase everything will be done in an or5ganised manner. however, from personal experience, whenever I have tried to shop early, I end up spending more money and buying more things than those that were really necessary. Shopping can be a form of addiction and as Christmas gets closer, it is almost all too easy to indulge in retail therapy. However, this "therapy" is not really therapuetic at lll, becuase it puts people into debt and provides only momentary feelings of satisfaction. The following websites provide some more information on oniomania...i.e. shop addiction.

Oniomania
Debt from Shopping Addiction
Bonfire of the Brands

Against the Odds

2009-10-26T13:40:00.008Z

The Methodist Church and The Salvation Army have written "Against the Odds" which is an overview and critique of the 2005 Gambling Act in the UK. "Against the Odds" is designed to inform people about some of the issues to do with gambling, and what action people can take if they want to do something to help problem gamblers. The document can be downloaded from their website but also from the Church of Scotland's website.

Drugs. What is the reality?

2009-10-09T15:15:00.005+01:00

The Scottish Government Strategy The Road to Recovery has a good compendium of headline figures on the problems that drug use causes in Scotland. That report notes: "Scotland has a long-standing and serious drug problem...the scale of the problem is unacceptably high. It is a significant driver of economic underperformance, crime, risk to children and health inequalitites." The impact of the misuse of drugs is not merely on the user. It has a huge impact on family life, particularly on children and on the wider community of the drug user through both anti-social behaviour and criminality.

Having recognised the size of the problem and the relative inneffectiveness of the various approaches to the problem, the Scottish Government outlined what it saw as a new approach."Central to the strategy is a new approach to tackling drug use based on the concept of recovery. Recovery is a process through which an individual is enabled to move on from their problem drug use towards a drug-free life and become an active and contributing member of society". The separation between the two conflicting approaches of abstinence and harm reduction is dismissed as a false dichotomy with the true goal being recovery. That requires the whole of people's lives to be addressed and not merely their drug use in isolation.

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What shall we do as Christians?

2009-10-05T13:45:00.001+01:00

What should we do and say now?
As members of the Church, there are actions we can and should take to respond to the rapid industrialisation of gambling in our country. As individuals, congregations, Presbyteries and as a Church we should:
 Contribute to a wider and more open debate, challenging the growth of the gambling culture in our country and exposing the false hope of gambling as a route out of poverty;
 Continue to argue for regulation to provide maximum protection to vulnerable groups and in particular better enforcement of regulation to the lower end of gaming;
 Seek Government funding for ongoing research into the impact of the new regulatory framework in general and casinos in particular; gambling prevalence; public attitudes and the extent and nature of addictions and problem gambling;
 Urge Government funding and support for education programmes in schools and elsewhere which teach about probability, risk and more specific lessons about gambling;
 Urge funding for those organisations supporting problem gamblers; and
 Support those who suffer from gambling addiction, both directly and indirectly.

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A Christian Response to Gambling

2009-09-14T14:42:00.004+01:00

At its extremes, the gambling culture nourishes a radically distorted hope, suggesting that all one’s problems will be resolved if only you hit the literal jackpot. A measure of the distortion lies in one study reported to us where a class of school children, when asked what they wanted to be when they grew up replied, “Lottery winners”. Gambling encourages a kind of idolatry of wealth, and indeed one might well argue that gambling, rather than religion, is today the “opium of the people”, to adapt Marx’s phrase. Gambling subtly reinforces and justifies the distorted values of a radically and increasingly unequal society such as Britain in 2007. We do well to remember that, “the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6.10), and serious gambling is an obsessive form of the love of money. So, how do we respond?

Some in the churches choose to witness in response to issues related to great social problems by taking a stance that completely eschews and condemns any form of gambling, however small. While this approach will feel appropriate for some, the Council recognises that individuals ultimately decide for themselves how they wish to spend their time and their money in the light of their personal beliefs and circumstances.

Our primary concern here is less with commenting on the personal choices of individuals, and more with the huge problems which occur when gambling becomes a major element in our economy, in effect a form of redistribution of resources from the poor towards the rich and a major social pathology. In our Reformed tradition, government and regulation are often seen as a “dyke against sin”, combating, reducing and regulating harmful practices, especially those that damage the poor and the weak in society. The Church can surely both care lovingly for the victims of our gambling culture, and challenge government and society to regulate gambling in such a way that the young and vulnerable are protected, and the exploitation of the weak is discouraged.

The Church, in this matter as in everything else, should seek to prefigure the Kingdom of God in its own life. In its pronouncements it should seek to build a neighbourly society where people care for one another, and see themselves as custodians or stewards under God of their material and other resources. In announcing the good news of the gospel, Christians must denounce exploitation, especially of the weak and the vulnerable.

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Addiction, Problem Gambling and Risky Behaviours

2009-09-09T14:34:00.008+01:00

"The prevalence of problem gambling was higher than anticipated and gambling in general is incontrovertibly commonplace among Scotland’s youths.” (Prevalence and Correlates of Youth Gambling in Scotland, 2006)

It is the view of the Royal College of Psychiatrists that the most important factors determining the incidence of excessive gambling leading to addiction are the availability of gambling facilities and the social pressures encouraging participation. It is self-evidently the case that both of these factors have increased in impact in recent years.

The Foresight project on Brain Science, Addiction and Drugs examined so-called “behavioral addiction” and identified gambling as being at the forefront of these. In common with chemical addictions, it seems to involve learning and rewards and individual susceptibility may vary. The Foresight project noted that in gambling, an important stimulus is the illusion of control that the player receives and the belief that he or she is exercising skill. Many forms of gambling are designed to give the impression that the player nearly won a major prize. Technological innovation means that it is now much simpler to provide such rewards, (a particular risk with online gambling).

The British Prevalence Study of 2000 suggested that there were between 275,000 and 370,000 problem gamblers in the UK, (0.6–0.8% of the population, depending on the diagnostic method used). Again, it must be remembered that this study is seven years out of date, seven years which have witnessed an unprecedented increase in the promotion and advertising of gambling. Problem Gamblers are people who find that their gambling causes them to run into debt, have difficulties holding down jobs, puts their homes or relationships at risk, causes health breakdown and can even push some towards suicide. Gambling is distinctive in that it allows people to get into financial difficulties very quickly. Attempts to remedy the situation by gambling to win back one’s losses (“chasing losses”) make the situation worse.

Games which allow for rapid re-staking, have “near-misses”, a combination of high top prizes and frequent winning of small prizes and where there is a suspension of judgment over the amount of money staked, are all likely to be more addictive than “soft gambling” such as the National Lottery weekly draw.

Credits
The photograph of the hand with cards was taken by Melissa Grey.

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Gambling and Sport

2009-09-04T16:39:00.003+01:00

More than £50m was bet by British punters on the outcome of just one football match, England v Portugal on July 1 2006, and the Football World Cup as a whole was the biggest betting event in history.

Ladbrokes plc posted gross profits of £788m in 2005. The company owns and operates 2135 betting shops in the UK and boasts a ‘consumer awareness level’ higher than other High Street brands such as Next and Marks and Spencer. By far the bulk of the business is based on sports betting (mainly football or horse racing), with the majority of the take either over the counter or by telephone. The enormous commercial power – and consequent influence – of the British betting industry can only increase as the total annual gamble in the UK continues to multiply.

Those interested in watching football, whether by attending a match or watching it on television, are increasingly sucked into a culture where gambling is presented as an intrinsic and powerful part of the experience. Bets are now routinely encouraged not just on the outcome of matches, but also on matters such as transfers and managerial appointments. More than 100,000 people in Scotland attend a game in the Scottish Premier League most weekends where there are several betting facilities available before and during the match. Those watching a live game on Sky TV will be encouraged to bet on the outcome before the game and again at half-time through Sky’s own betting service. Bets can also be placed by telephone or through the TV set or internet. The average stake on a phoned bet with Ladbrokes is £91. During live games at the bigger stadia, viewers are encouraged to place bets during the game and the fluctuating odds are constantly updated on electronic hoarding round the perimeter of the pitch and therefore also clearly visible to TV viewers.

An interest in sport these days clearly runs the risk of generating an interest in gambling, which gives rise to particular concerns about the impact on young people. Particularly in the context of sport, we believe that the promotion and advertising of gambling should be subjected to far more rigorous and effective regulation than it appears to be at present.

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The expanding casino estate

2009-08-31T11:18:00.004+01:00

The only “new” gambling to be permitted under the Gambling Act 2005 consists of 17 new casinos, comprising one regional casino, eight large casinos and eight small casinos. Approximately 3% of the total gamble of the £53bn in 2005 in the UK was in casinos.

Churches, most notably the Methodists and The Salvation Army, have lobbied consistently against the increase in casinos and gaming machines, and particularly against the Regional Casino concept. Their published material expresses concerns that the Category A gaming machines to be placed in these are very interactive and highly addictive, enabling players to stake money rapidly and encouraging them to chase their losses, (there are currently no such machines in Britain). Others, including the Centre for the Study of Gambling at Salford University and GamCare do not share this view, seeing regional casinos as comparatively less dangerous than other more convenient forms of machine and remote gambling, if they are introduced alongside appropriate public awareness and education campaigns. Indeed, research from South Africa suggests that the number of problem gamblers across the board can be reduced, (as opposed to simply not increasing), if effective education on the dangers and how to avoid them is provided at the same time as opening a big casino. This education is most effective when fully integrated into the curriculum and includes information on what gambling is, how it works and the fact that in the long term you will lose.

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The Internet and Interactive Gambling - new, vast and hard to control

2009-08-20T15:56:00.002+01:00

Case Study
In April 2005, a 25 year old from Brechin used the computer at his family home to access internet gambling sites while his parents were away. Using their credit cards he created 13 accounts by typing in the numbers which he had got from his parents' bank statements. He won £90,000 in the first hour, but continued to bet and started losing money. In a desperate attempt to recover, he kept gambling, not only losing his winnings, but ending up £68,000 in debt. When he realised the extent of his gambling he took about 170 painkillers and cut his wrists.

Internet gambling is, essentially, using the internet to place bets, through credit, on casino games, sports games, or whatever the particular “casino” offers. Wins or losses are paid or collected accordingly. Until recently it was thought that about one million people in Britain gambled regularly online, (representing about a third of the 3.3m across the whole of Europe), but more recent estimates have suggested that the UK figure could be as high as 3.8m. In Autumn 2005, GamCare, (a UK organisation which works for the provision of proper care for those who have been harmed by gambling dependency), reported the existence of 1,700 gambling websites in addition to interactive television channels and mobile phones offering gambling services. GamCare says that the average online gambling debt in 2004 was £25,676, an increase of £5,000 from the previous year.

In April 2006, online gaming site Partygaming saw its first quarter revenues rise by 54% to £193.6m following a record number of people signing up to play poker online. The number of the group’s poker players leapt by over 20% to 263,254, of which 39% were from outside the USA. Anyone using the Internet will find themselves being offered enticements to visit internet gaming sites, including starting “kitties”. The UK is seen as a hub for on-line betting. Ladbrokes has 13 foreign-language websites and William Hill has online clients in 197 countries.

Internet gambling has a number of features which make it particularly dangerous for those with a tendency to problem, or addictive, gambling. It is essentially a private activity, rather than a social one; it promotes repetitive and continuous play; it is highly available and accessible and there is relatively low public awareness of the dangers. Devoid of the traditional stigma associated with betting shops, it is perhaps not surprising that women represent an increasingly large part of the online gambling market, accounting for 30% of visits to UK sites during the World Cup.

Paradoxically, it is easier to attach safety features to online gambling than any other form of gaming. Self checking can be made easily available; patterns of play can be monitored and codes of practice enforced. However, this can only be enforced on those companies which choose to submit to regulation; and therein lies one of the most serious problems, since the particular challenge posed by the internet lies in its disrespect for territorial boundaries. The Gambling Commission cannot regulate off-shore or overseas companies, and it is very difficult to see how any real protection from these can be afforded to those who are not able or willing to protect themselves.

In the USA, Congress passed legislation which makes it illegal for banks to process online gambling transactions in an attempt to stop the money flow from this form of gambling. However, the legislation has been likened to the alcohol prohibition of the 1920s. It does not prevent Americans from gambling online, so they are still free to search for potential websites. It only prevents the companies from making credit card transactions with US citizens. The likelihood is that it will be the more "legitimate" online companies who "play by the rules" that will exit the market, while other companies will operate and thrive in the underground economy. New companies will enter the market using techniques to get around the legislation.

The UK Government is seeking international agreement on the regulation of e-gambling which would secure agreement to shared regulatory principles. However, given the potential sums to be made, some companies will always be reluctant to operate under tight regulatory structures. It seems reasonable to expect these sites to remain a persistent and pernicious feature of the online landscape.

From 2007 the UK is to be the first major country to offer online gaming licences. The Gambling Commission’s licensing and regulation of UK operators must be effective in fulfilling its three objectives. Given the enhanced protection that this is capable of offering in comparison with unregulated, off-shore sites, it is not unreasonable for the Government to encourage existing online poker and casino operators to relocate to the UK and thereby to come under the Commission’s sway. However, the Government’s motives appear at best muddled; the Council deplores the terms of the aspiration articulated by Richard Caborn, Minister in the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in a memorandum to Mark Davies, Managing Director of Betfair (quoted in the Observer 27 January 2007) that, “Britain should become a world leader in the field of online gambling.” In reality, the UK tax regime is likely to be the determining factor in whether operators decide to relocate their business to this country: current wisdom suggests that the Chancellor would either have to tax the sites like any other gambling company - which would attract very few to the UK - or offer tax breaks.

A significant “carrot” in the Commission’s gift is the regulation of advertising (and the “stick”, a UK media advertising ban on offshore sites). However, the position in relation to the internet is not clear; and in any case the ban cannot be enforced in the European Economic Area, which includes offshore havens Gibraltar and Malta.

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Gambling in the UK

2009-08-19T13:43:00.005+01:00

“The National Lottery really did turn us into a nation of gamblers. It meant that two thirds of the British population were regularly gambling. It brought women into gambling. Gambling became destigmatised.” (Mark Griffiths, Professor of Gambling Studies, Nottingham Trent University)

The picture of gambling in the UK is changing rapidly. Most people would recognise a description of the normalisation and commercialisation of gambling in recent years. Much of this can be traced to the change in regulatory framework, and thereafter attitudes, brought about by the advent of the Lottery in 1994. From this time, gambling became more socially acceptable than ever before, as the law changed to allow betting shops to serve food and light refreshments and to have windows open to the street. The other seismic influence has been the growth of internet and interactive gambling, as one aspect of the overall burgeoning of the internet’s impact on our lives. Given the pace and scale of change, this report is necessarily a snapshot in time which seeks to identify the main drivers of change and areas of future concern.

The regulatory framework
Legislation on gambling is reserved to Westminster and is dealt with at a UK level, although the Scottish Parliament has a role in determining the form of licensing authorities’ policy statements, and local authority licensing committees will determine whether or not to grant licenses in their local communities. Traditionally, the primary purpose of UK gambling legislation had been regulation with a view to social control, rather than economic regeneration. This differed from the approach taken to regulation in other countries. UK law said that gambling should be legal, but not stimulated, and commercial and economic interests took a secondary place in determining the nature of legislation. This changed with the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 and since then, UK legislation has sought to stimulate, rather than to discourage gambling.

The Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland deeply regrets the fact that the effect of this has been to change the way that gambling is generally viewed in this country. We recognise the paradox that the more that an activity is “sanitised” through regulation for essentially good reasons, the more socially acceptable it becomes. However, we believe that the balance has now shifted too far in the direction of “normalisation”.

The Gambling Act of 2005 replaced most of the existing law about gambling in Great Britain. Much of what that Act does is to be welcomed, in terms of introducing a comprehensive structure of gambling regulations and greater protections for children and young people as well as bringing the internet gaming sector within British regulations for the first time. However, at least in part to satisfy commercial and economic interests, the Act allows for an increase in the number of casinos in Great Britain, currently a maximum increase of 17, including one “super” or regional casino. Almost all media attention has concentrated on this aspect of the Act, and on the one regional or “super” casino in particular, (discussed further below).

The new regulatory body for Gambling in the UK is the Gambling Commission, which came into existence on 1 October 2005. It currently regulates bingos, casinos, charitable lotteries and gaming machines. From September 2007 it will also regulate betting and remote gambling, including online, mobile phone and other non-terrestrial forms of gambling. Ultimately, it will regulate all commercial gambling except the National Lottery and spread betting. The statutory duty of the Commission is to pursue three objectives which are set out in the 2005 Act, and to permit gambling insofar as it is judged reasonably compatible with these:
- Preventing gambling from being a source of crime and disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime;
- Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way;
- Protecting children and other vulnerable persons form being harmed or exploited by gambling.

Credits

The picture of gambling men was done by Johnny.ie.

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Pastoral perspective on gambling

2009-08-19T13:23:00.004+01:00

The pastoral perspective
From the nineteenth century onwards, gambling by the poor became more prevalent, addictive, and destructive. Protestant Churches - particularly from the Reformed tradition - and bodies like The Salvation Army became increasingly opposed to gambling as they engaged with its terrible effects on the people in the slums of the newly industrialised cities. Their critique of gambling was that it was addictive; that it held out a false and destructive hope as the new “opium of the people”; that it destroyed family life, and that it plunged many into despair. John Wesley explicitly counted gambling as a means of gain inconsistent with love of neighbour.

This position has also traditionally been shared by some left-wing political groups, as expressed by Martin Bright (New Statesman, 4 September 2006):
“When I was growing up, gambling was something that distinguished my working class grandparents from my middle-class parents. The older generation saw it as a harmless flutter on the horses, while my mum and dad knew that gambling helped keep their parents poor.” The Church of Scotland has fairly consistently adopted a formal position of total opposition to gambling.

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The Christian Concern with Addiction

2009-08-11T15:07:00.011+01:00

Britons gambled £53 billion in 2005. That figure represents a 7-fold increase in 5 years, and equates to more than £800 for every man, woman and child in the country. Thanks to the Football World Cup, the 2006 equivalent figure will certainly be higher. The turnover of Ladbrokes and William Hill rose by, respectively, 110% and 219% between 2002 and 2005. The nature, scale and regulation of gambling in the UK are changing rapidly. The most recent data on gambling prevalence are already 7-8 years old, and widely thought to be significantly out of date. Gambling participation and expenditure in Scotland tend to be higher than the national average.

The Roots of Christian concern.
Over time, Christian concerns about gambling have reflected two perspectives. Firstly, they have arisen from a theology about money and its uses and the proper stewardship of our possessions. Secondly, they have been associated with direct pastoral concerns: the problem of addiction for both addicts and their dependents; the effect on the poor; and the distortion of the values on which our society is based. Each of these perspectives is relevant to our current overview.

The theological perspective
This perspective is principally informed by a theology of money and its uses and an understanding of the nature of possessions and stewardship.

With something approaching unanimity, Scripture teaches that ownership is not absolute. We may not do anything we wish with our property, for we have been given stewardship, rather
than unconditional rights, over our belongings, our wealth, and our resources. We are accountable to God for the way we use the goods that God has entrusted to us, and God wills that they be shared and used for building up community. In a sense, this means that we hold things in common, and should not use possessions selfishly. We share for the sake of fellowship, and as a way of establishing fellowship. There is a strong thrust in the Bible and in the Christian tradition towards greater economic equality, the encouragement of fellowship through generosity and an emphasis in favour of the poor, vulnerable and marginalised.

Money is to enable market transactions, to encourage production and exchange. It is a tool, an instrument, but it does not in itself sustain life or community. Yet it easily becomes a kind of idol. The Bible in both testaments commends lending of money and of goods, as a way of helping those in need, or the relatively disadvantaged. Jesus picks up the theme of lending and radicalizes it. Lend, he says, expecting nothing in return (Luke 6.34-35). In other words, we should do daring things with our resources, but only in order to love and help our neighbours and the strangers among us, rather than for our own amusement or enrichment. This was an extension of the Old Testament ban on usury, or the taking of interest on loans. There was a strong injunction not to take interest from one’s kin or from fellow Israelites; but Jews were allowed to lend at interest to foreigners.

None the less, it is clear that lending at interest, commonly called usury, went on in the time of Jesus. Otherwise the Lord’s injunction to lend expecting nothing in return would have been pointless. In the parable of the talents, the unfaithful servant was expected by his master when he returned to have earned interest on the money with which he had been entrusted (Matthew 25.27 and Luke 19.23). Usury clearly went on, but it was generally disapproved of as exploitation of the poor, and a mean-spirited action. Of course this was all in the context of very simple economies. Yet even here, debt was of such importance that Christians all down the ages have prayed “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.The Fathers of the Church and the medieval theologians developed the opposition to usury. Usury, it was argued, is unnatural, for it is letting money “breed”, and be used in ways which are unnatural and improper. During the Reformation period, the ban on usury was quietly relaxed, particularly in Calvinist countries. According to Max Weber, R.H. Tawney and many others, this provided the context in which modern capitalism could emerge. However, there remained a strong emphasis on the virtue of frugality and a horror at luxury. Those who profited from the new markets were expected to be generous in giving to those in need, recognising that riches were given by God for the common good and not for the prodigality and selfishness or for the amusement of the few. Devout Calvinists were commonly at the forefront of efforts to develop a responsible capitalism and an accountable market.

Credits
The Photograph of the dice was taken by Marcandelariviere.

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Responses to addiction

2009-07-31T14:20:00.004+01:00

How should we respond to drug and alcohol addiction? There are three accepted general models: legal, medical and social.

The legal model is based on trying to prevent addiction and the damage it can cause by a combination of legislation, education, control, deterrence and the use of the criminal justice system. Some substances such as alcohol and prescription drugs are controlled; others are illegal. While this model disrupts the production and supply of drugs to addicts it has proved ineffective in preventing access to drugs or their continued misuse. Criminalising the use of these drugs has natural consequences which may, or may not, help in dealing with those who are addicted.

The medical model assumes that the addict has a clinical problem that can be addressed by the application of appropriate treatment and medication. This assumes that addicts first recognise their problem and want to be cured. While this can be effective, in most cases what results is seldom a cure but more often a regime that allows the addict to cope with their addiction through alternative medication or other coping mechanisms such as avoidance (eg avoidance “once an alcoholic always an alcoholic.”).

The social model treats the addiction in the contextual environment of the addict. Here the addiction is treated alongside addressing those wider circumstances eg housing, mental illness, criminality and family relationships rather than simply the addictive behaviour. The various problems in an addict’s life often have multiple causes and effects and can only be properly addressed holistically. Addicts often need considerable support if they are to be helped to change their environment to one where the temptation to turn back to their addiction is minimised.

Stephen Morse, Professor of Psychology and Law in Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania presents a very clear description of the three models in his paper entitled Hooked on Hype: addiction and responsibility.
All three models have their part to play in overcoming addiction. For many the move to seek help comes first from the individual addict recognising their problem; others require the intervention of another agency, most often, the justice system.
All people are individuals and thus require different approaches. Thus whatever strategies, policies, initiatives and interventions are used must be person centred and provide holistic care for the individual. We recognise that poverty makes a considerable contribution to the difficulties in overcoming addiction. In the end, however, we remain in no doubt that positive and supportive relationships are what carry people through and enable the most effective recovery.

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What is an addiction?

2009-07-29T13:19:00.011+01:00

Defining addiction is not a simple task though we all have a sense of what it is. In this posting most of the examples are coming from alcohol addiction. The clinical definition, commonly used, is based on the International Classification of Disease (ICD-10) (World Health Organisation, 1992). This pertains to alcohol, but is also appropriate for other substances that induce physical or psychological dependence. A diagnosis of dependence (ie addiction) requires the presence of three or more of the following:

1. a strong desire or sense of compulsion to take alcohol
2. impaired capacity to control alcohol taking behaviour
3. a physiological withdrawal state (eg tremor, nausea, rapid pulse rate when alcohol intake is abruptly stopped)
4. evidence of tolerance to the effects of alcohol (ie the need to increase the amount consumed to gain the same effects)
5. preoccupation with alcohol use (to the detriment of alternative pleasures or interests)
6. persistent alcohol use despite clear evidence of harmful consequences

Those who are addicted often speak of it being hell, like a prison but paradoxically also like a love affair. Addicts are sufferers but only seek treatment when they realise the nightmare that they have been in. When asked why they took drugs addicts often spoke of the enjoyment frequently describing heroin as “magic”. For some in a life where there appears to be no hope, no future; the offer of something that will bring great pleasure has a predictable, though not inevitable, outcome. The same applies to the question of relapse. For addicts it will only be tolerable to come off if one retains the idea that one can go back. Addicts will always love it, and feel that if they want they can go back to it.

The reasons that addicts get into the positions that they do are complex but it is clear that often the substance that leads to addiction provides a relief from pain or deep seated need of one sort or another. To use a parallel example: research with those who survive serious attempts at suicide has shown that they do not wish to die but they do want the pain to go away. They know that their death will be hurtful to those around but see that pain as less than the pain or distress with which they are faced. Addiction often provides a route out of pain or satisfies a deep seated need.

Credits

The p[icture of the bottles was taken by Chris_J.

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Hello world

2009-07-29T12:52:00.001+01:00

This is the first posting