Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

204 replies

rogersmellyonthetelly · 21/09/2011 21:17

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?

OP posts:
RockStockAndTwoOpenBottles · 22/09/2011 19:58

Got a fat tongue Reeling dearest?

Cocoflower · 22/09/2011 19:59

No I didnt sparkle I said:

CocoflowerThu 22-Sep-11 17:10:49

Fair enough a glass of wine; but to get drunk?!

reelingintheyears · 22/09/2011 20:00

You'll have a fat lip if you're not careful Rock me duck.

reelingintheyears · 22/09/2011 20:01

HA

'Rock me duck' sounds like a 70's pop song!

RockStockAndTwoOpenBottles · 22/09/2011 20:03

hahahaha. It does!

ThePosieParker · 22/09/2011 20:12

Booze that is cheap is generally drank to get pissed not for the taste, imo.

ThePosieParker · 22/09/2011 20:17

Ah see the thread has moved on.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 22/09/2011 20:20

I'm sorry I was busy down the pub at work. Grin

I'm being good tonight though. Jober as sludge.

mrsruffallo · 22/09/2011 20:23

More people die from cirrhosis of the liver in France than in England, so maybe the hand wringers have more to worry about there.
Personally, I like getting drunk with DH and friends. It's fun, we laugh and dance and there is much merriment.

LindyHemming · 22/09/2011 20:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ripeberry · 22/09/2011 20:29

If you live in a crappy area, surrounded by horrible people and with no hope of ever escaping, you would be hitting the bottle or something stronger all the time Sad

ThePosieParker · 22/09/2011 20:37

The British are embarrassing abroad, scandalous behaviour in city centers at the weekends.

LindyHemming · 22/09/2011 20:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChardonnayGirl2 · 22/09/2011 20:41

bluddy hell - a lot of sanctimonious bletherings here!

I like drinking. I like how it makes me feel. I drink most nights and I am not 'ashamed' to say that - not one jot.

My personal view is since the general view that smoking is bad for you has got through, now drinking is the thing they are banging the drum about.

In 20 years time it will probably be proven that mobiles cause terrible cancers, but I will shrug and continue to puff on a Marlboro Light and text my friends to meet up for several wines ....

oddjobber · 22/09/2011 20:41

I have an ill-thought out and unresearched theory, so feel free to shout me down. A few months ago, there was an item on the news about a million admissions to hospital that were alcohol-related. Why not charge for them? I think that people who are involved in car accidents get sent a charge for the ambulance. I can see the down-sides but it might act as a deterrent. A million?

Cocoflower · 22/09/2011 20:45

Well I have to say spending an evening in A&E amongst the drunks is a nasty experience... often police have to restrain them and they are very violent and out of control.

Every respect for staff working there tbh.

oddjobber · 22/09/2011 20:46

I don't know how well-known is the charge for the ambulance if you knock someone down, and I don't think that that would deter people from knocking people down.

If you were short of money and your teenage daughter had an alcoholic-induced fit, would it deter you from taking her to casualty?

If you are short of money and suddenly have to repay 000s of tax credits, how does that work? A short amount each week?

I know that my plan is full of holes but it would have to be publicised to work on a deterrent basis.

oddjobber · 22/09/2011 20:48

Or perhaps the fine could go towards alcohol education, not as a 'thin end of the wedge' operation threatening the 'free' NHS.

ThePosieParker · 22/09/2011 20:51

Thing is a sensible tipple is great, a lovely glass of cold beer on a hot summer evening is superb, or a perfect glass of red as the night draws in....

But pissed up in charge of children (alone or both parents) or out hammered out of control is not good, not responsible and bad for your health.

southeastastra · 22/09/2011 20:54

i see everyone has completely ignored my 'what else is there to do in the evenings' post?

what can kids do instead?

Cameron et al don't seem to be opening youth centres, rather closing them down.

Cocoflower · 22/09/2011 20:56

Posie are we actually agreeing on something?!

oddjobber · 22/09/2011 20:59

I am picking apart my own argument now. How much does it cost the NHS to treat someone for a serious alcohol overdose, involving detox, or treating a fit? Does anyone know?

Whatmeworry · 22/09/2011 21:00

But pissed up in charge of children (alone or both parents) or out hammered out of control is not good, not responsible and bad for your health

Sure....but the % of people like that is small, (as is the % of teetotallers), so why do those minorities always get trotted out to represent the vast majority who are sensible, moderate users of alcohol (and for whom there is virtually no medical evidence of ill effcts, and in fact some positive ones).

oddjobber · 22/09/2011 21:01

I don't know how much the ambulance charge is, but I think it used to be £25 or £50; a round number. Perhaps a charge like that as a deterrent/stigma. (falls through holes in own argument)

minxofmancunia · 22/09/2011 21:44

I used to drink far too much, it DID affect my health, relationships, career progression....I had a lot of fun but many of my big mistakes were down to alcohol.

Now I try to drink less, i was one of the 1-2 glasses a night brigade but now I have at least 3 alcohol free days a week. I do "binge" on one weekend day but not in a lairy way. Maybe a bottle of wine over several hours with friends. I find socialising boring without it, as do all my friends apparently as they seem to love it too. A glass of red on a friday eve after work once kids are in bed is one of lifes great pleasures.

The funny thing is, I feel just as tired, woozy, foggy of head and lacking in concentration the days after a non drinking eve. It's not made me feel any better at all....possibly worse in fact. And it's not like i'm getting wrecked the rest of the time...between 1 and 3 glasses max.