Punish the boozers

GOVERNMENT plans to look into docking alcoholics benefits if they do not get treatment is a good idea as far as I m concerned. Granted, it won t jolt every drink dependent individual into kicking their addiction, but it could be the lifeline for many. Fo

GOVERNMENT plans to look into docking alcoholics' benefits if they do not get treatment is a good idea as far as I'm concerned.

Granted, it won't jolt every drink dependent individual into kicking their addiction, but it could be the lifeline for many.

For Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesman Steve Webb to say the move would be "fundamentally inhumane" is ludicrous.

What is more inhumane, and frankly irresponsible, is to repeatedly provide alcoholics with the money to buy booze, without offering them the help to get sober.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Theresa May has said the welfare system has "gone into meltdown with more than 100,000 people claiming benefits because they are drug addicts or alcoholics. That's more than doubled from 48,700 since 1997."

While she clearly uses these statistics as a stick to beat the Government over the head with, they surely emphasise the need for intervention in a bid to help addicts get back to work.

Continuing to do nothing is not an option and I for one applaud the Government's plans for action.