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.

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

But how many people are actually saying that? . They are saying that they enjoy a drink just like you.

Having said that if I go out with friends and have things that I enjoy that does add to my enjoyment of the evening. Am not sure that makes me Oliver Reed's doppelgänger.

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

Oh, so we're all in need of a drink now? Why's that?

Cos you might STFU calling anyone who ever has a pint a raging alcoholic.

Is it one of those protesting too much thing? Much like the men who go mental about being around gay men are closeted, those of you screeching nonsense about alcohol actually have vodka bottles in the loo cistern and under your pillow?

My God the rudeness on here is dire.

I'd offer everyone a drink to release tension, @PortiaCastis. Alas...

Actually new years eve I had too much to drink, my inhibitions went out the window and it added to my enjoyment.

I am clearly in need or rehab, I will walk the streets looking for a clinic whilst my husband walks behind me ringing a bell shouting "shame... shame... shame"

I agree with that @PortiaCastis

I don't drink pax for reasons previously stated but thanks very much anyway.

Is it one of those protesting too much thing? Much like the men who go mental about being around gay men are closeted, those of you screeching nonsense about alcohol actually have vodka bottles in the loo cistern and under your pillow?

Oh, there's definitely some excessive protest on this thread, yes. Mostly in your posts, to be frank.

Yours,
A Lurker

I guess you missed all the others (as well as the point)

Gwen - sort of yes and no. It was me always being the driver and to me it was too much. I started getting sick of the sound of a bottle opening, meals out were always me driving etc etc
Every night - 1-2 bottles of wine or 6-8 cans of lager. Wasn't a night when he didn't drink

And I do drink! Just not often at home, I can go a year without drinking or drink twice a week, just depends. At home I probably only drink about twice a year

Nobody was screeching nonsense about alcohol. Nobody wants it banned. Some people would just like it to feature less in everyday life and not be the norm for everyone.

My daughter's father and grandmother were alcoholics, her grandmother died an alcoholic in her 40s, her father in his 30s. I want there to be alternative social life possibilities for my daughter when she hits drinking age and a lot less pressure to drink. Is that too much to ask?

I'm not protesting too much, I don't even like the taste of alcohol.

I am sure there are some posters here that like to stress how much they don't rely on alcohol to secure smug points, when I'm sure their FB feed is chocca with them having pub lunches, weekends away with friends and xmas parties agogo.

Just out of interest. The people who are adamant that they don't need to drink when socialising - if you had a party - for example at new year - would you not feel the need to get alcohol in?

I don't drink. And I do find is shocking that it's 'normalised', but that's because it IS the norm.

I remember an ex-partner used to have three cans of beer a night, in the week & then go crazy at the weekend & spend Sunday tired/moody/ 'depressed', only to do it all again the next week. It truly baffled me, as it baffled him that I didn't drink.

But I don't think starting a thread 'belittling' people's choices, is the way to go although I'm not sure what the answer is.

I've had parties at Christmas, New Year, Halloween and birthdays without alcohol. I know it's not normal in this country - that's my point. Sorry if you don't get it.

With you completely, OP. If it was up to me, it would be completely banned. It's laughable that people think it's on the same level as fat and caffeine. They don't cause people to fight, become aggressive and drink drive.

Introducing it to children is vile, drinking while in charge of children is vile, needing alcohol to have a good time is vile. I can't bear being around people drinking and avoid pubs and clubs like the plague.

I also hate the attitude of drinkers towards non-drinkers. I won't ferry everyone around every, single time there's a work's night out and I won't be persuaded to have a drink, despite trying to push it on me all night, every time I've attended anything where people are drinking. Ridiculous behaviour.

People get very angry over this too, OP. A lot of it is because they haven't got it in them to not need alcohol. They'll call you boring, sad, pathetic and other wonderful names, just because you choose not to swallow a liquid. It says a lot

Alcohol in moderation isn’t a problem but the drink culture is this country is extremely damaging. For a lot of people the aim is to get absolutely hammered which is damaging both to them physically and creates a toxic atmosphere in our town centres.
People get very defensive when you question how much they are drinking.
I do drink but I have friends who don’t drink and people are always trying to get them to just have the one or saying don’t be boring etc.
People severely underestimate the amount of alcohol they drink and think it’s fine to drink every day because it’s normalised.
Nearly all social events including work events hinge around booze and if can be really isolating being the one who isn’t drinking,

I've had parties at Christmas, New Year, Halloween and birthdays without alcohol. I know it's not normal in this country - that's my point. Sorry if you don't get it.

I was just asking. I do get it - my husband doesn't drink but it isn's something I would usually choose as I quite like a drink.

That is the fault of the people drink driving and getting violent, not the fault of the alcohol

Obviously it is, as without the alcohol they'd just be driving.

That is the fault of the people drink driving and getting violent, not the fault of the alcohol

I agree. Most people would never drink drive, the problem isn't the drink it is the person

Nobody was screeching nonsense about alcohol
you didn't rtft did you?

I agree with a lot of what Valerrie said, but I wouldn't want it banned. If people want to drink, let them. I agree with live and let live. Just don't push it on me and my family. The advertising of it should be banned and if you've ever tried to push alcohol on someone else you should be very ashamed of yourself.

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.

@TheOtherGirl

So as someone who likes a good vodka and tonic but doesn't feel like you should need to drink to enjoy the company of others would you see alcohol as essential to a party - say for an evening event such as NYE or would you throw an alcohol free party for adults in the evening.