Prevention vs cure

Two days preceding the first day of the new year, the newspapers were abuzz predicting a sharp rise in medical emergencies arising due to heavy drinking.  The NHS rolled out the 'drunk tanks' to cater those engaging in the new year revelry rather than burden the A & E services.  There were some suggesting that such party goers who booze too much, to then be a burden to themselves and others, should be made to pay at such drunk tanks.  The whole focus was on cleaning up, but nowhere did I read anything about prevention.  No one really questioned the very act of getting drunk beyond one's capacity!  It's new year! So what??  So is it for those who are then forced to take care of the dazed.  So is it for the families and friends of such 'zombies' who have to then spend the days to come helping the person recover, besides doing their own tasks... leave alone celebrate the new year themselves!  While rolling out 'drunk tanks' is a measure of 'taking the hospital to the sick', preventing people from falling sick is also necessary.  When one is very well capable of addressing the cause of an illness, and thereby preventing it altogether, one should not take pride merely in doling out the balm which can be applied after falling ill.

This morning was greatly amused by the following group of Kiwis who 'built' an island off the shore to defy the ban on drinking in public places - claiming that they were drinking in international waters.  I'm sure none of them went beyond the limit or else they'd have been carried off by the waves to Australia!  But a very creative idea indeed!

On high! Read the news here