The Scottish Parliament’s latest silly season idea is to set a minimum price for alcohol in a move which they think will discourage binge drinking and loutish behaviour.

Can I start by saying that I do believe that we have a problem in Scotland – particularly with the amount of underage drinking that goes on and the resultant violence and damage that it causes.

However I believe that their ill thoughout proposals, like many other legislative proposals that come from Holyrood or Westminster these days, seem designed to “nanny, bully and tax” the innocent majority whilst not solving the problem or targeting the guilty minority. I have never been a binge drinker, I have never been drunk and dis-orderly, I have never assaulted anyone or wrecked someone elses property whilst under the influence of alcohol. That said I do enjoy a few glasses of wine at the weekend. The proposed legislation targets people like me rather than those who run rampage on our streets.

Proposing new legislation as they have done generates headlines and creates the impression that the Government is doing something. But as always the desire to generate headlines through new legislation obsures the fact that they do not use the existing legislation which is perfectly adequate for tackling the issues. Talking about new legislation hides the fact that we cannot properly police the existing laws let alone any new ones.

We do not need new laws. The Government need to have the guts to force the police to enact the existing laws. If the police say they are too mired in red tape to do that then remove the red tape. Force the police to prosecute those who buy alcohol under age and those that sell it to people who are under age. Close down a Tesco or close down a Pub or two. That would soon send a message that they meant business with the existing laws. If people are drunk and committing acts of violence or property damage – again arrest and charge them under existing laws.

The problem with the headline grabbing new legislation is that theywill fail to enact that in reality but will have succeeded in nannying, bullying and taxing people like me – the innocent majority.

Beyond the question of alcohol to the UK in general – it seems to me that there is an increasing desire to “nanny, bully and tax” both from Westminster and Holyrood. I have decided that I can no longer sit back and stay silent at the constant attack on our hard earned income and our civil liberties. I intend to become much more vocal on this subject and others that concern me. Government is always saying that it “listens” to what the people are saying. I see little evidence of being listened to at the moment – but in future you will find my voice to be louder.