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?

You're right, reeling. What would Paxman think?

Oh please. What the fuck is wrong with having a couple or three (or four for that matter) glasses of wine/vodka and tonics, when the kids have gone to bed.

Fuck knows how my oldest child has reached 18 unscathed in that case.

Pahahahahahahahahahahahaha Thingumy. That's all.

Is that the general consensus, do you think, Coco?

That it is not ok for one half of a couple (whilst the other remains sober) to get drunk whilst a child is asleep upstairs?

Oooh Paxman....the drinking thinking woman's crumpet.

Pass that spliff back now please Rock.

oh please Coco

what about meds that make you sleepy then?

is that a big no-no too?

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

It's not hidden, and its not a problem - a glass or 2 of wine with dinner is how most responsible cultures drink alcohol, and have done for mllenia.

Meds in hardly the same if you need it

However if someone drove on them that is deeply a no no- or would you think its a great laugh?

Who said anything about driving?

I can't drive when I'm sober.

Someone asked if meds that makes you sleepy was ok- yes if you need them and stay at home

However it crosses a line to then drive on them- it is balancing the safety levels of choices

if course i wouldn't think it was a great laugh, what a preposterous thing to say!

I failed to add 'vat' into that sentence

who the hell said anything about driving on meds or after drinking?

you're picking arguments out of a beer barrel for the sake of it now

No its an analogy- you would take meds because you need them. But it would be a disgrace to drive on them

Just the same as if you want to drink then do it out of the house- not with children around

Why?

I mean, I could go in the garden... but I can't see the telly very well from the kitchen window.

'Just the same as if you want to drink then do it out of the house- not with children around'

I'll drink to that...behind my lace curtain.

I worry about the whole needing to be a bit lot pissed BEFORE you go out mentality particularly with younger folk. I used to be a big party girl when I was young and did drink a lot, but we went out to have fun and that included a drink not solely to be as pissed as possible even though we used to be pretty much that way sometimes, we didn't start the drinking before we hit the pub. DS (18) says its cheaper but tbh I still worry. I think its often a self esteem thing, people think they are happier, more fun, outgoing, less shy etc when pissed and I think we need to work on raising the self esteem and aspirations of young people so they don't need to be pissed to have fun. (not just young people) I know it won't really change things and tbh I have no answer as I too drink and until a few years ago it was every night until one day me and DH poured another glass looked at each other and admitted we didn't really want it, it had become a habit so we keep it just for weekends now. thought that was better but realise that we are now probably binge drinkers as we drink Fri, Sat and Sun. If does seem sad to me to hear DS and friends defining a good night as one they actually barely remember but dunno the answer.

Drinking 2-3 glasses every single night is a problem. It doesn't make you a hooligan or a bad parent but it does make you unhealthy and probably prone to putting on weight, suscetible to illnesses and more dependent on drink

I see you have inflated 1-2 glasses to 2-3 glasses, and redefined the size of glass, and will no doubt claim the most alcoholic wine as being "the norm"....

I would love to see the proof that drinking 1-2 glasses of wine a night makes people more prone to putting on weight and susceptible to illnesses than a teetotal control group, and I'd love to see an overall study of teetotal vs moderate alcohol drinking life outcomes prove your thesis.

(...I want to see this because quiet a few studies have shown that catsbumface teetotallers die earlier than moderate alcohol drinkers)

Cheers :)

Coco, again - why is it irresponsible to drink with children in the house? What happens if you're a single parent, have no friends or family to babysit and want a glass or 3 of vino on a Saturday night? Is that allowed?

Given the increased strength of wine nowadays (12 or 13%) and bigger measures at home 2 glasses of wine is easily 6 units. 42 units a week.

That is WAY too much!!!

Just to be clear a 125 ml of 12% wine is 1.5 units

125ml is tiny!!!

Fuck. I'll just pour all my lovely bottles of Rioja down the sink then. After all, I'm on my own with a small child, so best not have a glass of wine once in a while.

Seriously, I hardly think having a couple or three glasses once or twice a week is going to a. make me fat, b. put my DD3 at risk and c. make me ill as I am/doing none of the three.

FWIW my father was an alcoholic. He died when he was 51 and was a total and utter cunt for my entire childhood. He nearly destroyed my darling mother in the years that she was married to him, and even after they divorced he tried everything to make her life hell.

He was such a deluded drunken arsehole cunt that he began to see me as my mother and turned his vile abuse to me.

The day he died was and remains one of the happiest days of my life. Never had a glass of champagne tasted so fucking sweet.

So, coco, put that in your pipe and don't preach that people who have a glass or three once in a while while their children are asleep. Or not for that matter. Until you have seen the REAL damage a REAL alcoholic can do to their child/ren, seriously, a bit here and there is fuck all a problem.

End of fucking rant. I am SOOOOOO sick of sanctimonious arses judging with no fucking knowledge or back up.