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.

I definitely agree genetics plays a part - unfortunately, you generally don't know if you're one of the lucky ones until it's too late.

@30percent because they drink more than they say.

I don’t think it’s difficult to drink this amount (I would struggle to do this but that’s neither here nor there as to what others do), but I find it surprising that those people don’t think this is a problematic volume of drinking.

My father died of alcohol-induced disease so perhaps my view of it is skewed.

It did make me wonder how much the journalist was really drinking. And she mentioned she was in a band in her 20s and I wondered about drug taking too. I know one young lady with severe liver damage but she was drinking a bottle of vod per day.

The thing is, people can drink and damage their liver, and the blood tests don’t always show as abnormal until pretty advanced liver disease sometimes. So blood tests can sometimes give false reassurance. Our poor livers work really hard breaking down toxins and metabolising everything in the body. But at some point they give up.

Yeah, I think generally unless you're unlucky or drink really, really stupid amounts, most people won't show signs of liver disease as young as their thirties - it's generally something that hits you in your fifties or even older - like many lifestyle illnesses, really.

An addiction specialist {Professor} said alcohol is far more dangerous than diamorphine {heroin}

Heroin {prescribed and pure and of known dose} is actually quite benign in its effects on the body.
Neuroadaption {addiction} occurs, but the catastrophic brain and liver damage doesn't happen.

If alcohol was to be discovered now, it would be 'class A' absolutely.

I drank like crazy at uni with multiple binge drinking sessions a week in my early 20's. I had a drink problem. I had significant mental health issues and would sit in my room alone missing lecturers and day drinking too.

Now I don't drink at all, unless I'm going out. I'm lucky and have just never liked the taste, and tbh I associate drink with some bad times in my life. I'd rather just have pepsi max as my nightly treat! Even going for a meal out I have soft drinks. We don't keep drink in the house (not due to me, I genuinely couldn't care less about drunk now I'm mentally well!).

I have 6mo baby and still haven't drank since having her. When I eventually drink again, it will just be occasions, like my birthday. Then I'll binge drink. But given I was only doing it maybe every 4 months even pre baby, I just don't think it matters all that much.

I do think it's easy to fall into a trap of having wine after a bad day. But, ultimately, people know the consequences, and if you make an informed choice to drink, that's fine!

Yes I think there is all sorts we are exposed to these days that could be increasing cancer risk. I feel like not a day goes by when I don’t see some article about someone getting cancer in their thirties and forties, of a type usually associated with an older age. Alcohol happens to be one risk factor that we can potentially control.

Yes I’m sure that’s true. However he’s also got to mid 70s with zero other health issues. How I don’t know. So even if liver issues show up in the next few years he’s done pretty well. It’s not like he’s in his 20s..

When I tell him to give up or have a day off he just refuses!

I mean maybe but my dad/uncles drink a ridiculous amount of beer and have done for years and years with no health complaints. I do think maybe men's bodies handle it better (although their minds don't!) and beer is probably better for you then wine. Considering how strong wine is why is it constantly toted as a healthy Mediterranean drink?

Lots of experts think it’s the increase in UPFs - that’s what has risen dramatically over the last 20 years or so. Also something we can control.

I was under the impression binge drinking is more likely to cause liver problems than being an alcoholic.

That was our motto at university anyway. I don’t drink much now. I’d be dead if I was drinking as I did then.

Considering how strong wine is why is it constantly toted as a healthy Mediterranean drink?

I don't think I've ever seen wine toted as a healthy Mediterranean drink? I know the Mediterranean diet is always said to be healthy, and wine tends to be part of that but they generally only have one glass, whereas here we'll tend to have at least half a bottle

Mediterranean culture is wine with food - drunk slowly with a good meal. Not the UK culture which is wine on the sofa with a bag of crisps or Malteasers lol.

Read Catherine grays “unexpected joy of being sober”. I read it in 2018 in my late twenties and that was a revolution for me. Really well written, a real page turner.

im in my early 30s now, two children and I can’t be bothered to drink anymore (why make myself even more tired?)

How would they know if they had liver damage or not unless they're getting regular tests?

Really interesting responses on the thread. I have downloaded Drink Aware and have set some goals for drinks free days and amount of units etc. I am realistic though and I know a lot of that will go out of the window over Christmas. I think the key for me though is to get out of the habit of drinking too much regularly rather than worry about special occasions.

True, processed food probably has a part to play. I do wonder about the effects of the Angel Delight and Smash that I was fed as a child in the seventies!

I'm from a family of drinkers, many have sadly died. What I have found with all of them is that they were all fine, not drinking every night and able to take a week off etc, until one day it wasn't fine and the alcohol took over. For my mum it was divorced that triggered it. For my sister it was just a gradual increase in consumption.

I quit a couple of years ago. Just didn't want to risk it as obviously the alcoholic genes are strong in my family. It's a horrible way to die and wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Obesity is indeed still a bigger problem than alcohol related diseases, in terms of the strain on the nhs

And most alcohol is high in calories…

How do they afford it too?
What is it with people and drink it's horrible?

Nobody needs to keep drinking alcohol.

I know! My Mum was a terrible cook so I was basically brought up on findus
crispy pancakes, Smash etc. At least we know the dangers now.

Agreed with you. I did my binge drinking in my teens, 20s and 30s and when I got to 40 though I still got occasionally drunk I had and still have very good best friends who don’t drink to excess (but still like a drink). I’m relieved to be honest that I’m not expected to drink until I got drunk as other friends had me do (we all did it). These were friends who could “handle their drink”. They couldn’t.

When an older (by about 10 years) ex colleague of mine would joke about getting so drunk, she broke her glasses, lost things or did and said stupid things all when drunk, I vowed I wouldn’t be like her.