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Alcohol

I cannot comment on that as I know nothing about cannabis, never having used it. I know that others have differing views on cannabis, but that is for another debate. In Sweden, they have had serious problems with alcohol. They had typical northern European binge drinking—people would not drink for a fortnight but then get unconscious on two bottles of schnapps. At one time, everyone had a little black book and had to record the amount of drink bought—like a rationing book. That was abolished in the late 1950s, but they still have the systembolagets—the state-run off-licences that control the sale of drink. In Norway, which the Committee also visited, I was surprised to find that in the square by the Parliament building a pint of beer cost £5, so they have raised their prices. Northern Europe has long had a drink problem—it may be to do with the long winters.