To rant about alcohol and the way it's normalised?

[CheapSausagesAndSpam]

It's EVERYWHERE and it's poisonous. People normalise it..."Oh...wine o'clock already tra la la!"

And all that shite.

It's responsible for thousands of deaths and injuries and trauma every year and yet it's the first thing people think of when they want to celebrate something.

Get this

3 May 2017: New figures released today show that hospital admissions due to alcohol are at their highest ever levels.

The data, summarised in a release from NHS Digital, shows that alcohol-related hospital admissions in England have increased by 64% over the last decade, with an extra 430,000 people being admitted due to alcohol-related causes in 2015/16 compared with 2005/06.

This takes the total number of alcohol-related hospital admissions to over 1.1 million in 2015/16.

And this

Alcohol is linked to over 60 illnesses and diseases, including heart disease, liver disease and cancer. Figures from the local alcohol profiles for England show that admissions due to liver disease have gone up 57% over the last decade, and that the number of people diagnosed with alcohol-related cancer has increased 8%.

How is this a lovely drink? How is this something that is ok to do in front of children and even to allow children to partake of?

People on MN often say "Oh I let my 12 year old have half a glass of wine...it's a good way to introduce it!"

WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO!?

And new research points to the fact that it causes irreversable damage to stem cells, scrambling DNA and eventually causing cancers.

www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jan/03/alcohol-can-cause-irreversible-genetic-damage-to-stem-cells-says-study?CMP=fb_gu

Think about it. Society is not doing itself any favours.

"This post sounds like you need a “glass or 3” to have fun?confused"

She doesn't need it, she just likes it. For you, I suppose you don't miss what you've never had.
Imagine giving up your favourite food or hobby or TV programme. You'd feel a bit sad wouldn't you? Doesn't mean you're addicted.

"What we need to do is normalise moderate drinking."

This. I find it's the people who look down on others for having a glass of wine with lunch who then go and get smashed on a Saturday night. I think having more cafes where you can have a good selection of hot and soft drinks as well as alcohol will help take people away from the cafe for a cup of tea during the day and then off to the pub to have one after the other at night.
Drink a little bit, slowly and responsibly, rather than go from all to nothing.

"If I do have a drink it really doesn't enhance my enjoyment."

Just one drink might not, two or three might do.

No I don’t lack imagination. I think the “glass or 3” people lack imagination if they need that to have fun

Nobody said they NEED it. This is the crux, you have assumed where you should not. LIKE is not the same as NEED. Habit is not the same as addiction.

I like a drink does not mean I need a drink.

Entire premise flawed, like I said.

Ok I’ll rephrase that, to those who like a glass or 3, in order to have some fun, lack imagination.

Still wrong. Want another go?

Third times the charm? What you meant to say was "I don't drink and don't understand why other people may gain enjoyment from it, even though it is entirely reasonable that they might do so".

Ok I’ll rephrase that, to those who like a glass or 3, in order to have some fun, lack imagination.

Well, I could say that about anything couldn’t I? “People who like to go for a run / bake cakes / go out for dinner in order to have some fun, lack imagination”. (I don’t actually think that btw).

Just because you don’t enjoy doesn’t mean people who do are lacking in imagination dies it?

I hate it too. We have the odd bottle of wine in so the DC see alcohol in moderation bit no it's not something to consume daily or needed to have a good time.

They know I don't drink as hate the stuff and it's unhealthy but that it's too have the odd glass for special occasions.

I can't control what they will do as adults but as it's not been the everyday norm growing up hopefully it won't turn into that for them.

Agree. There’s nothing wrong with a glass here and there. Problem is a lot of people wouldn’t consider they drink too much because it is so ‘normalised’. Alcohol shouldn’t be banned of course but advertising it should - just like tobacco.

That is exactly what the alcohol control pressure groups want to see happen. They are following the script from dealing with tobacco almost to the letter. Their goal is to denormalise alcohol, not just heavy drinking. Minimum pricing is up first, advertising is high up on the list and they've started talking about plain packaging. These groups, which receive most of their funding from the government incidentally, are direct descendants of the prohibitionist campaigns from the 19th/20th century. Most of their campaigning is for broad brush actions to reduce the amount everyone drinks, not just those who drink to excess. If anything, it will have less affect on those addicted than moderate drinkers.

Thankfully I don't think there is the political or public will to let these things happens, but they're certainly going to keep trying.

Gwen having 2 - 3 drinks doesn't enhance my enjoyment of my friends or DH's company either.

People will drink more in response. Adults don't like being told what to do, especially when the people telling them have got it wrong.

People who immediately decide to neck twice as much alcohol just because someone tells them not to, aren't very adult are they.

They were discussing it on Womans Hour on Radio 4, alcohol is a depressant and can increase anxiety. Let's face it mental health issues in this country are a serious problem, perhaps we are all adding to it by drinking so much.

Lizzie

In our case it’s because dh works away all week, we both have stressful busy lives, we both run businesses and I help with childcare for my grandchildren and in addition have caring responsibilities for my parents who have altzimers. I have 5 grown up kids who still need support and help in various ways.

I can honestly say if I couldn’t have s relaxing glass of wine with dh on a Friday night I would collapse totally. It’s our down time and Unwind.

whatsthecomingoverthehill

Do you have any links/names of those groups?

pink

I think that can be true. Alcohol can be a crutch for sure but in moderation can be a wonderful relaxing fun stuff

For the record I or dh di not lack imagination. Or empathy. Maybe others should take note.

I ended a relationship because of his drinking, and I was shocked how many people thought the amount/frequency was normal. Was a deal breaker for me

Tess, Alcohol Concern and the Institute of Alcohol Studies are the main ones I know of.

"Gwen having 2 - 3 drinks doesn't enhance my enjoyment of my friends or DH's company either."

Well, bully for you.
I thought you didn't drink anyway?

"I ended a relationship because of his drinking, and I was shocked how many people thought the amount/frequency was normal. Was a deal breaker for me"

How much did he drink?
In any case, the problem would be his behaviour after drinking rather than the actual amount, wouldn't it?
I wouldn't want a relationship with a heavy drinker either.

Gwen no, I believe I have stated a couple of times on this thread that I enjoy a good vodka & tonic. If there isn't a good vodka available I will have a soft drink or a coffee instead.

You really shouldn't need to have a few drinks in order to more enjoy your DH and friend's company.

You really shouldn't need to have a few drinks in order to more enjoy your DH and friend's company

Again? She didn't say she NEEDED it. Some of you are in need of a dictionary, as well as a drink.