UK Health Care

Hic. Hic.

The cash-poor UK National Health Service reported the drinking [i.e., alcoholism] is costing the UK's taxpayer funded medical system $4.4 billion a year on treatment. Costs have doubled in the past five years. Total funding for their health care system is $162 billion annually.

UK officials estimate that 1.1 people have alcohol addiction and 10.5 million drink above sensible limits. The UK population in 2008 was estimated at 61.4 million people.

Alcoholism was a big problem in the USSR and continues to be a huge problem in Russia. Government controllers have increased the price of vodka in an effort to reduce consumption and alcoholism. Alcoholism is three times higher now than it was 15 years ago.

Over 15 million Americans are dependent on alcohol and 500,000 are between the ages of 9 and 12. The highest percentage of heavy drinkers (12.2%) is found among unemployed adults between the age of 26 to 34.

What will the destructive effects of nationalize health care [i.e., poor economy, lost jobs, rationed care] do to the US population. We have previously written about the unintended consequences of government programs [like welfare] and nationalized health care is likely to be no exception to the rule ... the right jack