Comments on: Drinking games

By: Quaequam Blog! » Third time lucky

Quaequam Blog! » Third time lucky — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 13:34:31 +0000

[...] This, I would remind you, is the mastermind behind the party’s opposition to relaxing the licensing laws, claiming that alcohol related crime was “out of control” (when it has been falling) and that we were to expect a “Christmas Crisis” once the new laws took effect. [...]

By: Quaequam Blog! » Drinking Games 2

Quaequam Blog! » Drinking Games 2 — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 19:18:43 +0000

[...] “Mark” is accusing me of using dodgy stats in my last post. [...]

By: James

James — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 17:17:28 +0000

They aren’t “my” stats - as I say above I haven’t had a chance to look at the original figures and I don’t recall endorsing them at any stage.

But they are the stats that Mark Oaten is referring to.

I quite intend to look at the primary source as soon as I get a chance.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 17:10:44 +0000

Not convinced by your stats … as the number of violent crimes hasn’t stayed the same since 1996.

So an increase in the *proportion* of violent crimes that happen near pubs of 16% doesn’t mean that the number of violent crimes taking place near pubs has gone up by 16%. It may have gone up by more or less (depending on what’s happened to the total number of violent crime). But either way confusing change in the proportion with change in the actual total doesn’t exactly burnish your argument that it’s everyone else who is touting dodgy stats …

By: Simon

Simon — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 12:50:18 +0000

Indeed, I am yet to find a pub that has decided to stay open longer than 11pm, nor have I witnessed hordes of people charing round town centres at 11pm on a school-night looking for said rare late night drinking dens. As ever, the much vaunted social calamity had failed to materialise.