BBC初級口語:蘇格蘭的酗酒問題

Background: 蘇格蘭政府部長們說，他們計劃開始實施酒類商品最低售價以對付該國日益嚴重的酗酒問題。目前蘇格蘭的酒銷量佔居世界第八位，也是全歐洲肝臟疾病死亡率最高的地區。

【文本】

Scotland's had a close relationship with alcohol for hundreds of years.

Scotch whisky generates vast export revenues and drink has long been a part of social occasions: dances, weddings and even funerals.

Offering a drink is a gesture of hospitality.

Gaelic speakers have a phrase for it: a wee deoch an dorus or one for the road. But other Northern European nations have also had a tradition of heavy drinking.

The trouble for Scotland is that our consumption now outstrips that of Norway, Finland and even Russia.

The Scottish government says one of the reasons is that drink has become 70% more affordable here over the last 30 years but shop-keepers who sell alcohol say they're not to blame.

"If people drink too much it is not up to shopkeepers to decide that. It needs to be tackled from an educational and a social point of view rather than merely legislation. It is not the shopkeeper's duty to police what people drink."

The evidence of Scotland's steadily worsening booze habit is clear.

It plays a big part in all crime and especially violent crime, and drink places a huge strain on the health service.

40,000 people are taken to hospital every year with alcohol-related illness.

Scottish pubs can be lively, friendly places, but alcohol has come to play a central role in the lives of too many Scots.

【口語突破】

alcohol 酒/酒精

whisky 威士忌

vast export revenues 巨大的出口收入

funerals 葬禮

gesture of hospitality 熱情好客的一種表示

Gaelic 蓋爾語

consumption 消費

outstrips 超過了

affordable 有能力支付的

tackled 對付，解決

legislation立法

booze 酗酒

huge strain 沉重的負擔

alcohol-related illness 和酗酒有關的疾病