First, They Came For the Smokers...

In Scotland, politicians are dismayed by people buying a round of drinks for their friends in the pub. Nobody's even attempting to pretend that this is about stamping out drunk driving. It's simply killjoyism at its purest.

[Round-buying] is under threat from Scottish lawmakers who believe the custom feeds into Scotland's notorious alcohol problems by creating enormous social pressure on pub-goers to take their turn buying drinks. Emboldened by the successful introduction of a smoking ban in public places this March, Scotland's national government last week launched the five-week advertising campaign aimed at ending the practice that is being shown on TV, movie theaters and billboards. ... "It's crazy, a case of the nanny state gone mad," said businesswoman Sheena McCade, who was taking advantage of a lunchtime two-for-one offer to buy a round of four drinks for friends. 

Yup. But it's hardly the first time that Scotland's ruling classes are guilty of excessive nannying and legislative overreach. See here. And here. And here.

Comments

[Martin Owens]

What's really ironic, not to say hypocritical, is that the big push for Scottish independence is supposed to be about "freedom"......