Drink away your Benefit Money

[DulwichFox]

As Post Offices are closed down. So called Post Office Locals are to open in Shops and Pubs.

This means people will be able to draw benefits whilst in the Pub.

Great Idea or Not ????

I just cannot believe it.

For Fox sake

[peterstorm1985]

Most people in towns/cities will find a pub on the route home from the post office so I can't see a problem. In many respects it could be much better as for some isolated people it is more likely to generate some social interaction than a normal post office queue.

[Wilhelm]

Little known original working title of 'Dance Away the Heartache' ?

[computedshorty]

Why not bring back the Public Toilets, a place we all must call at some time.

We may draw our money and spend one at the same time.

[Marmora Man]

As I understand it such arrangements used to be relatively common in Eire. My father always remembered fondly entering such an establishment in Connemara - combined grocers, post office and pub at around 10.30.

He asked for a drink but was told the pub side wasn't open yet and didn't open until 11.00, the proprietor then said "but would you like a drink while you wait"? - which struck my father as a very civilised arrangement.

[PeckhamRose]

I agree with MM, it's common in Ireland.

Mr PR went in to one such establishment one time and it was in a tiny village miles from everywhere and the Post Office Man said, "Oim so sorry Sor, We're roight out of stsmps - let me buy you a drink to make up for it."

Perfectly civilised if you ask me. We can't keep blaming other things/people for the fact people get drunk.

The Card Shop and Thorntons Chocolates share a shop in various places which I think highly odd, since who wants chocolate sticky fingermarks all over their cards?! So a post office in a pub, which maybe also sells milk and maybe with a petrol pump outside would be bliss.

[*Bob*]

Fox is right - people on benefits must be thick as two short planks and therefore incapable of collecting their ?50 (for the whole week) without the temptation of spending it on tempting ?5 pints becoming too great.

Couldn't claimants also be fitted with a giant cotton wool ball - for their own protection? These people are clearly a danger to themselves as well as to us normal godfearing, taxpaying real people.

[DulwichFox]

*Bob* Wrote:

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> Fox is right - people on benefits must be thick as

> two short planks and therefore incapable of

> collecting their ?50 (for the whole week) without

> the temptation of spending it on tempting ?5 pints

> becoming too great.

>

>

> Couldn't claimants also be fitted with a giant

> cotton wool ball - for their own protection? These

> people are clearly a danger to themselves as well

> as to us normal godfearing, taxpaying real people.

What are you waffling on about...

Where did I suggest people on benefits were thick ????

I think you missed my point.

If it needs explaining, Well it would be like having to explain the punch line of a joke.

So I won't bother explaining it.

Fox

[Undisputedtruth]

Good point Bob. These people also risk health problems caused by drinking and I'd imagine Foxy complains they're a drain on NHS resources.

[*Bob*]

To be honest I don't think the unemployed should be allowed to handle money at all. They should just be rationed with a bottle of Special Red, an Iceland voucher and a kick up the arse - once a fortnight.

[right-clicking]

This subject will inevitably bring out two types of response, those who think it's fun to mock the unfortunate and those whom will feel sympathy, As I am one of those affected by unemployment I find it hard to appreciate crass statements as the one above clearly demonstrates a lack of understanding or humanity, I have applied for over 300 jobs, rarely get a reply let alone an interview I am desperate, downtrodden and depressed, my kids are wearing clothes from the charity shops and we eat very basic food. I cannot afford to buy them any presents at this festive time of year. You go ahead and laugh and have a happy Xmas and try not to choke on your self satisfied overstuffed turkey

[ibilly99]

Cheapest booze is Scimitar White Cider from Lidl ?2.07 for 2 litres - and comes in at a magnificent 7.5% alcohol. Democratic drink indeed.

[*Bob*]

right-clicking Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> This subject will inevitably bring out two types

> of response, those who think it's fun to mock the

> unfortunate and those whom will feel sympathy, As

> I am one of those affected by unemployment I find

> it hard to appreciate crass statements as the one

> above clearly demonstrates a lack of understanding

> or humanity, I have applied for over 300 jobs,

> rarely get a reply let alone an interview I am

> desperate, downtrodden and depressed, my kids are

> wearing clothes from the charity shops and we eat

> very basic food. I cannot afford to buy them any

> presents at this festive time of year. You go

> ahead and laugh and have a happy Xmas and try not

> to choke on your self satisfied overstuffed turkey

Yes, I'm on your side. Try and grasp the whole thread, not the last post you read.

The suggestion, by Mr Fox is that those on benefits shouldn't be allowed access to their cash in pubs because - ho ho! They'll only go and spend it! My point was that most people who are or have been on benefits (including myself - for a couple of years) - are largely aware of their financial limitations and therefore won't rush to the bar like a flock of demented seagulls - and then - doh! - have to sit in a cold room without food for two weeks.

Sorry about your predicament.

[bob]

There's whisky in the Giro( Thin Lizzy )

Bob S

[Senor Chevalier]

Yeah but for people living on benefits with the sense and awareness of their financial limitations not to spend it in the pub, wouldn't it piss them off to have to go the pub for it? Smell all the nice beer and then not drink any... Seems a bit fecking harsh to me.

It's one thing not being able to afford a pint, but making them trot through the pub "look but don't touch" seems beyond the pale. I know there are rural villages where there is a kind of pub, grocer, newsagent type one stop shop that becomes the hub of the community and presumably it is these sorts of plces that would be used for benefits. I can't see the Palmerston suddenly setting this up.

On a similar but different note, I gather that the legislation restricting (banning) the sale of alcohol at motorway service areas is to be lifted and they will be allowed to apply for alcohol licenses to the local authorities. Another slow clap...

[Sue]

bob Wrote:

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> There's whisky in the Giro( Thin Lizzy )

> Bob S

xxxxxxxxxx

:))

I think the idea of people having to cash their giros in a pub is a terrible idea, for all sorts of reasons, including the fact that everybody in the pub will know that you are on benefits - which some claimants (is that still the right word?) may not care about, but others may.

Or is the idea that the pub will provide a whole range of services presently provided by Post Offices? Great. You go in for a quiet pint and find a queue snaking through the pub waiting to buy stamps. Very atmospheric.

ETA: Oh, yet again I didn't read the OP properly. As you were. Can't be arsed to edit this. Supposed to be doing my cheapskate thing and sending e-cards.

[Ridgley]

Bob wrote

-------------------------------------

To be honest I don't think the unemployed should be allowed to handle money at all. They should just be rationed with a bottle of Special Red, an Iceland voucher and a kick up the arse - once a fortnight.

:))

[DulwichFox]

Might be better to hand out Food and Gas / Electricty Vouchers instead of cash.

Fox.

[Otta]

Jesus Fox, have you been working with Australian benefits agencies for aboroginal people?

[DulwichFox]

I have worked for close on 40 years... I was awarded (not Claimed) benefits for 7 weeks during that time.

After being made redundant in 2008 and still ueimployed have not claimed or indeed been told intitled to a single

penny in benefits since.

I am diabetic with other health complications and not fit for work, but still get no help.

So when I see people on benefits sitting outside the pub smoking and drinking for most of the day

it does make me wonder...

I could not afford to do that.

Fox.

[Otta]

How do you know they're on benefits though?

[El Pibe]

You can use the daily mail approved outragometer from the decent-is-us megastore just outside Ambridge.

It has a variety of detection modes including single-mums, thieving-gypsies, causes-cancer, cures-cancer, affects-house-prices and of course beneifts-scroungers-whiling-away-the-day-down-the-pub-with-your-hard-earned-money.

http://s.ecrater.com/stores/171421/4c3943514a581_171421n.jpg

[DulwichFox]

Otta Wrote:

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> How do you know they're on benefits though?

Because they are people I have personally known for over 20 years..

I do joke with them about it.

They just say. I know, Great init.

;-)

Fox

[*Bob*]

Well I've lived for getting-on for 40 years - and I've never had diabetes (or other health complications).

So when I see all these people with diabetes (and other health complications) filing into the hospital, placing a terrible strain on the NHS - well, it does make me wonder. I'm sure they all brought it upon themselves. Because all people with diabetes are the same, aren't they?

;-)

[Jah Lush]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>

> After being made redundant in 2008 and still

> ueimployed have not claimed or indeed been told

> intitled to a single

> penny in benefits since.

You got a nice little pay-off then.