Did anybody see the Panaroma about binge drinking last night?

[Orangelight23]

Real eye opener for me. Women in their 30s being diagnosed with liver disease. I must admit I have myself been drawn into wine culture and drinking wine to relax.

It's made me have a real think about my alcohol intake to be honest.

@Susanap thank you, I appreciate the supportive message and definitely agree with you.

Lots of things can give a person with an unknown heart vulnerability a heart attack. Millions of people in the UK use cocaine. The UK has more Cocaine users than anywhere else in Europe. Do you know that some people die from alcohol poisoning every year?

Not from one glass of wine they don’t.

Cocaine is known for causing heart issues. Even for those without an undiagnosed heart condition.

I’m pretty happy with my argument that a few glasses of wine a
week is healthier for you than a couple of lines of coke per week.

@cookiebee were you drinking say, a bottle of wine per day or more when you got pancreatitis? Do you mind giving a ball park figure? It's another risk that I don't think people who drink moderately or even heavily would consider.

@AnnieSnap most of the cocaine users I know are absolute bellends. I do judge them for hanging out in the toilets when children are coming in, snorting it off the sink.

I'm sorry you've had a bad experience with your DH but I do not class alcohol as the same as heroin. I used to be in the rave scene and I've seen what drugs can do to people. My opinion.

Also a line of coke or a shot of heroine is going to give a quicker immediate high.

Yep and therefore much harder to moderate.

You can sip a glass of wine slowly - and you know the effect it will produce.

You don’t have that control with a line of cocaine or shot of heroin. Also there’s more of a risk there are other drugs mixed in there, or rat poison etc.

God, I don’t even know why I am arguing this. So ridiculous!

DH used to belong to a group that has disbanded but they still keep in touch. He just found out one of the members’ wives - 47 - died of liver failure. During Covid apparently they both just sat there and drank. By the time she was diagnosed it was too late. She left two kids, one teenager one barely over 20 in what was a totally preventable death.

My average was drinking twice a week about 5 pints of bitter each time. Then the usual variations when someone’s birthday crops up, more on holiday or Christmas etc etc, it wasn’t rigid, it ebbed and flowed. I drank in a fashion that most who consider themselves moderate drinkers do. I got ill while others who drink the same or a hell of a lot more carry on. It’s definitely changed my perspective on what we all think is ok around drinking. I’ve had a few hospital stays and met so many people who never thought it would be them.

When I got pancreatitis I had been staying with my dad for two weeks because my mum dropped dead, he drinks every day and because I was keeping him company so did I, then bam, it came on a day after I stoped for a rest. Going to my mums wake still in physical pain and not being able to have a drink to send her off was hard, but I’m here and sober. I just want people to know that moderation may not protect you.

My views are not about my husband’s alcoholism, although of course it will have coloured them. I have worked in mental health for 30 plus years, seeing people with all sorts of issues from mild anxiety and depression, through occupational stress and beyond. I have not worked in addictions services in that time, so my experiences are not based on that sample, but on a much broader one. When I have worked with alcoholics, their problems with alcohol are revealed during therapy. They have not been the reason for the referral. A large proportion of people I see are having big problems with alcohol and that only becomes apparent during the course of therapy. Interestingly, the big alcohol users are the patients with the biggest problems. The cocaine and cannabis users, not so much. I get that this is an inconvenient truth. Heroin is a huge problem (although for those with the right help and support) easier to give-up than alcohol.

I never suggested that moderate alcohol use is going to cause major problems (though as another poster said, the evidence shows there is no safe level for our physical health), but neither do other drugs at a moderate level. So stones and glass houses come to mind!

@cookiebee are you make or female?

I just disagree that class A drugs at a moderate level have the same impact as genuine drinking at moderate levels (within the guidelines). For all the reasons discussed.

@AnnieSnap we will have to agree to disagree on our own different experiences.

I actually think you are talking rubbish. Taking a pill is way more dangerous than having a glass of wine.

If my DS said he'd had a vodka & coke when he was out I'd be happier than if he'd said he'd popped a pill.

There are a lot more drugs out there than what we've mentioned that are class a and are very dangerous.

Yes there are, but the topic was Class A. The most common Class A is not as alarming as many think. Some posters have said they “judge” Class A users. That judgement comes with a big dose of hypocrisy. I am happy to agree to disagree, but I find your statement that I’m “talking rubbish” is just another judgement based on bugger all!

Male

I'll take being called a hypocrite by you. I absolutely do not care what you think. I have my own experiences. I saw a lot of drug taking in my younger years. I actually don't think you have been in contact with many really ill drug abusers even though I know you are going to say you have.

No I haven’t. And I don’t doubt that there are many. My original point is that heavy drinkers (most of who consider themselves ‘normal drinkers) looking down on Class A drug users are being hypocritical, since most of those who use Class A drugs are not “really ill”, they are in fact quite well. It’s the judgement that is hypocritical.

You are talking about cocaine. I get that they may not be unwell. Other A class drug users are not going to be well.

My first boyfriend got into heroine after we broke up. I have friends who drink and no problem.

I think your DH told you he was a normal drinker when he wasn't and you are quite angry still.

I can't be bothered to argue with you anymore. Go ahead and call people hypocritical if it makes you feel better. When you don't know shit about drugs.

I think you are the angry one.

Where exactly are you getting that information from?

On Radio 4 they mentioned the Panorama, I think they said 3 glasses of wine are classed as binging. I'm not a drinker, if I go out I have one drink, two if it's a wild night out 😂then I switch to energy drinks or water. I think women my age (forties) do seem to drink a lot in comparison to the grown up children we know.

3 large glasses- that’s a lot.