Bishop hits at ‘major sin’ of binge drinking

The Rt Rev Geoff Annas, the Bishop of Stafford, called for a “seismic shift” in attitudes towards drinking and hit out at the Government’s “derisory” minimum pricing plans for alcohol.

In a pastoral letter published in parish magazines across the Diocese of Lichfield, the Bishop said: “One definition of ‘sin’ is anything that comes between us and God and makes us less than the person God created us to be.

“Alcohol abuse is one of the major ‘sins’ of our time – and it is one that governments do very little to prevent.

“Instead, it is left to amazing organisations like Alcoholics Anonymous or in the inspirational O’Connor Gateway Charitable Trust, of which I am proud to be a trustee, to tackle the effects of this drug abuse.

“Clearly, the binge-drinking that goes on in every town and city in this country most nights of the week is not the fault of the pub and nightclub owners.

“The extension of the licensing laws means that they can stay open later but in reality many now do not even arrive until 11pm. Prior to this they drink in their own homes, consuming alcohol which they have purchased very cheaply in their local supermarket or corner shop.

“Alcoholic drinks often cost less than non-alcoholic drinks when bought in this way.

“The Government has introduced minimum pricing but the level it has been set is derisory.”

He said: “When a Bishop speaks out some will welcome the comments and others will say the Bishop does not have experience or else lacks understanding – and therefore should stay quiet.

“Well, I have plenty of experience of seeing the effects of the excessive consumption of alcohol (and several times in my youth felt such effects myself) but I certainly do not understand the attitude of successive governments to a problem that blights our society and colours the view that the rest of the world has of our nation.”