The government has issued new guidelines on safety abroad after an alarming rise in the number of rape cases against British holidaymakers.
Some 129 Britons were raped last year, compared to 61 in 1997.
The Foreign Office says the guidelines are aimed at everyone, but they are a thinly disguised attempt to get young people to wise up when they’re on holiday.
Of course, no-one deserves to get attacked, let alone raped, on holiday, just because they’ve had too many drinks.
But the Foreign Office, and rape crisis centres, believe women are making themselves vulnerable by getting plastered at clubs, wandering off alone and getting into taxis with strangers.
The best way to minimise attack is to retain some degree of control over your bodily functions.
There’s nothing wrong with having fun and a few drinks on holiday, but young people need to take responsibility for their actions in the same way that they would do if they were at home.
Of course, you can still be unlucky. Taking precautions may not prevent an attack, but it will certainly reduce the likelihood of it happening.
Read previous comments by Jeremy:
27-June-2003 Forget service, price is king: Comment by Jeremy Skidmore
20-June-2003 Survey must shock industry into action: Comment by J.Skidmore
13-June-2003 Agents need to raise their game on insurance: Comment by J.Skidmore
06-June-2003 Keep terror alerts in perspective: Comment by J. Skidmore
30-May-2003 Packages must be competitive: Comment by J.Skidmore
30-May-2003 Government must improve communication: Comment by J.Skidmore
