Do we as a nation really have an alcohol problem?

Bob Hawke was a pretty good prime minister, he served the nation after the lackluster Malcolm Fraser, implementing a raft of changes that were unpalatable at the time but were necessary. Hawke was universally liked by his colleagues, with the notable exception of Paul Keating. 

He was known to be a big drinker throughout his university days including during his Rhodes scholarship and later as the President of the ACTU. Interestingly, Bob conquered his alcoholism to enter parliament and was dry throughout his political career.

The sight of former Prime Minister skolling a beer for the crowds is not an image we need to be portraying in light of the alcohol fueled violence we are seeing across the country. This is not his first appearance at the cricket doing so either. Am I being politically correct? I don't think so.

We now have a drunken violent sub-culture with no respect for people attacking and maiming in a aggressive nature under the influence of alcohol, it is now socially acceptable to be drunk and abusive. 

I have a lot of respect for Bob Hawke - I hope he realises that he still has the ability to influence Australians despite losing the prime minister's position in December 1991 - plenty of young people know exactly who Bob Hawke is.