“Yes, I totally agree, L'escalier.

Interestingly, the BBC World Service recently had one of those From Our Own Correspondent reports about khat in the Horn of Africa. Use of khat does lead to depression and bad temper. However, the interesting thing was that khat is so important in the region that people make a real effort to grow it, harvest it, sort it for quality, and get it to market before it deteriorates (apparently, it's not nice after a day or so); it was pointed out that, if only that kind of dedication could be brought to bear on the problems of poverty, drought and famine that the area suffers from, most of its problems would be solved.”

“Kay_Powell - it all depends upon how badly you want the stuff - many alcohol, and drug addicts go without food as long as they have their fix.

This is a totally useless post - who cares if this lady who happens to be a Muslim got drunk? It is only in recent years that the Police charge such people - Gin-addiction was the usual state for many not that many decades back - even in prohibition America or in Britain.

Jut because someone reported this lady - many go unnoticed.”

“by Bonkim2003

'This is a totally useless post'

If you mean the article, B, then I agree. I should state, for clarity, that the title of the story was 'Mum drunk in charge of child', but that by implication of including a statement by Usman Bhaimia about converts, Islam was brought into the frame, when it shouldn't have been.

Mind you, 'mum drunk in charge of child' is hardly worse than 'mum sober and letting her four year old wander round alone in the road', which I've seen on Upton St. What does one do about that, though? Ask the child, who may not speak English, where his parents are? Put him in your car and take him to the police station? There's a story in the making...”