Title

Being a public health communications guru must be a tough gig. In Diary's view public health is a case of win, lose or draw even more ridicule when trying to get the message out. Every story outlining the latest worrying trends of the nation's obesity crisis can be dismissed by a sub-editor's glib use of ‘Fat chance' as a headline. The impact to local authority budgets of the evils of tobacco can be ‘stubbed out' or ‘written on the back of a fag packet' before it ‘goes up in smoke'. And as to the demon drink, suffice to say The MJ's newsroom responded with mock-incredulity at news the Scottish Government had launched a smaller wine glass campaign. Public health minister Michael Matheson has called on bars north of the border to promote responsible alcohol consumption by giving folk a genuine wee tipple of no more than 125ml of wine per serving. ‘That's crazy talk' was the immediate cry of one Pinot Grigio chugging member of the newsteam. Diary does not believe in small measures – in any context. Our suggestion is that responsible bar-stewards should serve low-alcohol by volume wine from smaller bottles to preserve the dignity of these glasses of diminutive stature. In effect turning a ‘wee dram' of el vino into a novel form of shot for the post-Lambrini generation.

Title

No belief in small measures

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