Drinking is an unpleasant part of British culture. Over the years do-gooders and unelected moral guardians have created dry-zones and restricted sales in such a way that people think they have to drink, just in case they can't. Add in rapacious sales outlets, greedy airlines and holiday spirit we have a recipe for drinking to excess.
As for control, I think we have enough law, all we have to do is apply it. I've bounced off quite a few and never had a problem.
PM