To think that alcohol misuse is the elephant in the room in the uk?

[rogersmellyonthetelly]

Ok, so I'm not talking about alcoholics here, people who are alcohol dependant and their families have my sympathy. I'm taking about people who go out and get hammered week in week out, puke on the pavement, behave like boors, injure themselves, assault others and generally cause a nuisance. They also cost a fortune in extra policing, and you only have to walk into any a&e in the country after 9pm most evenings to see the effect its having on the nhs. Yet week in week out, I see supermarkets advertising how cheap their booze is, my local garage has 1 aisle out of 4 dedicated to the bloody stuff, its in abundance in every corner shop. Why is it that in the uk it seems to be that alcohol is perceived as necessary to having a good time? Isn't it time that the government stopped advertising alcohol like they stopped advertising fags?
I'm no stick in the mud, I go out with friends, I have a laugh, a dance and a good time, and I don't drink at all except the occasional baileys which I have because I like the taste. If people want to have a glass or two of wine, or a couple of beers to relax, fair play, but please could someone tell me what is relaxing about waking up with your hair stuck to your face with sick, having pissed in your bed, or worse, pissed in the bed in the police cell, having no idea where you were the night before, what you did and with who?

The thing that isn't being much mentioned on here is that drinking is fun - it relaxes people, they get giggly and a bit silly. BUT it is too easy for that to get out of hand too quickly and once you're that drunk, there's no way back (on that particular occasion).

I'm thinking of giving up drinking because I find it too easy to have one to many - I don't seem to have an off switch when it comes to wine (but strangely, not when it comes to beer or clear spirits) and I think that's very common. Friends of mine call white wine 'Lady Petrol', which seems apt.

It's about finding a balance - which I don't seem very good at.

The thing that is beyond me is people who get drunk... then spend their night drunk and on the internet. Why?

Even as a 17 year old drunken fool I found that type of thing deeply sad....

"The thing that isn't being much mentioned on here is that drinking is fun - it relaxes people, they get giggly and a bit silly."

I disagree. Drinking can enhance a fun situation but it can also, if people have too much, turn a fun situation into one that's sordid and unhappy. Fun doesn't come from a chemical, fun comes from who you're with and what you're doing.

Many people I've known believe that to have fun you pretty much have to drink. I take that as a warning sign of someone who either already has, or is likely to develop, an alcohol problem.

Someone mentioned earlier about having alcohol on sale at school fairs. I noticed that my DD's primary school was, for the first time, offering booze (cans of Stella, no less) at its most recent summer fair. That really struck me as incongruous and unnecessary.

I agree with you Snorbs, that was the point I was trying to make.

There's such a wide spectrum of opinion on what is normal, and what is misuse though isn't there?

For someone who doesn't drink at all, the thought of their being alcohol on sale at a school event (or even given out free at the PTA meeting I went to last night ), or of someone saying "oh I'm so looking forward to having a drink tonight because it's Friday - I couldn't get through without it!" might be very worrying. But to others, me included I'm afraid, that's just part of normal behaviour, like saying "oh I couldn't get through the afternoon without a cup or tea", or "I can't function in the morning without an espresso".

For me, enjoying alcohol is part of everyday life, even sometimes getting a bit drunk, but equally I'm fairly worried about my DDs growing up, going out, and putting themselves in a vulnerable position (and if I had DSs, I'd be worried about them too). But I don't think a knee-jerk "alcohol misuse is such a problem in this country, we should all stop drinking / make it much more difficult to buy alcohol" is really the answer. As Whatmeworry says - the statistics don't support a huge increase in binge drinking, whatever the Daily Mail would have us think!

YANBU.

40% of A&E admissions are alcohol-related, which seems a huge proportion to me.

Yes, what were the stats on A&E admissions in the 80s because that might give a better reflection of the problem

Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear - I didn't mean "part of everyday life" to mean "it's normal to have a drink every day". The guidelines are pretty clear about having drink-free days. Just that drinking alcohol (a few days a week for example) is a "normal" activity and not something to be frowned on.

As others have said, it's the effects of the alcohol in the UK that's a problem.
I like the odd drink, and sometimes even getting a bit drunk.
But what I'd like to see a clampdown on is acceptance of drunk+disorderly behaviour.
So pubs and in particular nightclubs should have the law about not serving drunk people enforced.
People who start fights outside said pubs and clubs should be locked up for the full 48 hours without charge (or charge them with assault as well).
People who are drunk and throw up or commit vandalism should also get locked up for the weekend.
More breathalysing of drivers on a Saturday night, with higher penalties. And encourage bars to give discounted soft drinks to designated drivers.

And chill out about under-18s having the odd drink in a pub. At least if they're in a pub you know where they are and what they're doing!

It is very normal in those European wine drinking countries we so respect to have a glass of wine woth dinner every evening, and often a drink as a sundowner. In France and Germany it is still quite normal to have a drink over lunch as well.

IMO the British have a sort of glut/purge relationship with alcohol, drinking nothing during the week and then pouring as much as possible down their necks on weekend nights in a short as time as possible.

Bramshott, I've nothing against the everyday use of alcohol. I sometimes wish I understood and was a part of that culture. I'm just not.

I like the way it's (according to popular belief, anyway) done in France.

I don't get worried when a friend says 'Oh thank God I cna have a drink', in fact I sometimes make jokes like that myself but I never actually mean it, because I don't drink.

I embrace alcohol as part of our culture but only in sertain respects and that doesn't include the selling of alsohol to people who want to get completely pissed and have a scrap outside the club in town.

I don't think that should be normal.

sorry for awful typing. My keyboard is in a funny place today. I can't reach it properly.

I agree that the hidden problem is those in their 30s -60s who drink a glass of wine or 2 every night. A big glass of wine could easily be 3 units (or more) so a woman drinking even one biggish glass every night is having too much. For most people this fairly low level over indulgence won't do much obvious harm but for those who are susceptible even this could cause cirrhosis. And that's not to mention the increased risk of certain cancers, heart disease plus mental health problems ( alcohol is a mood depressant)

Even one or 2 nights per week without alcohol would be very beneficial for most people

Sorry if I sound sanctimonious but I work in NHS and feel very strongly about this (am also in Scotland where things are even worse)

Coco, sometimes I like drinking and have a small child who prevents me from going out.

Is it just going on the internet drunk which is sad or is it ok to watch newsnight whilst bladdered? Because, TBH, gin really livens it up.

Oh, and DP is French and at family dinners with his side of the family, they all seem to get completely wasted. Although they do eat roquefort at the same time.

You get bladdered with children in the house? Yes Im sorry I find that very, very irresponsible.

It is very worrying you get drunk to simply watch TV. Fair enough a glass of wine; but to get drunk?!

Oh, yes. Bladdered.

You have of course assumed I live on my own...

Would squiffy make a difference?

I think i'm seeing a link here between non-drinkers and a lack of sense of humour

My ds is 18 ,I nick his beer when mines run out

For tethers

You are quite right you know coco.

They're all a bunch of sadsacks.

I think MNHQ should crack down on the drunks on here.

No wonder the Daily Male get the wrong idea.

Don't you agree?

I assumed no such thing.It doesnt matter if you live on your own or not.

I disagree with drinking with your children in your care, dp or no dp.

I only have a small sherry at Christmas