Britain's alcohol problem.

reply to post by woodwardjnr

Why do we drink so much in this country, this is not a class thing either, some of the highest rates of alcohol consumption are in the richer parts of the country, it's a national problem that is costing people there health and costing the tax payer billions.

What makes our country so different that we have such a drinking problem?

I think the British mentality is a fairly repressed one, many British people live depressing lives and live within constrictive paradigms and perspectives. It's a very large question, but British people are generally reserved and overly conscious of what others may think of them. They are also locked into the complaining mentality, they love to have something to complain about as if its an incentive to keep going. Perhaps post-WWII Britain was a depressing place to live in, with very little enjoyment outside of Drinking, Football and Television, etc. I mean hell, it can still be a very depressing/lonely place to live in.

Being wasted is firstly an escape, so many of my mates start the night off thinking 'I'm going to get wasted' and drink as a means towards that end (rather than, I'm going to go out, have fun and enjoy a couple of drinks while I unwind) - so its inevitable. Secondly, they use being wasted as an excuse to do what they don't want to be held accountable for. Whether that's perfectly acceptable behaviour like being more confident and approaching members of the opposite sex, or its unacceptable behaviour like getting in fights with strangers - they can do it and if worst comes to worst 'oh well I was so wasted'. In the latter example, there's still that element of repressed destructive and misguided emotions being unleashed by the alcohol. Even the whole one night stand thing, if they sleep with someone but they're embarrassed for whatever reason the next day - oh yeah its ok I was wasted.

Obviously thats a generalisation, but there definitely is a huge binge drinking culture in the UK. By all means get drunk, I love my alcohol - but there really is a line. If you're going to ruin someone else's night or do something you truly would regret or even endanger yourself or your friends, then it's not cool. Who wants to be burdened by a drunk mate thats trying to start fights with everyone or pass out on the street?

A final point, I don't like the attitude (though this isn't limited to Britain) of acknowledging one's mistakes without doing anything to rectify them. What I mean is, 'yeah I did x or y because I was so drunk, oh well' but doing the exact same thing on a reoccurring basis - this is not limited to when people are drunk, but its a good example!

reply to post by DaMod


(although not the 21 we have here... I mean you can die for your country but yet cannot have a beer?!?!)


That is not entirely correct.

If you are in the service at 18 you can drink on base and buy alcohol...

As far as britians drinking problem, I do not live their,
so I can not tell you a solution except quit drinking so much..

The latest figures for average weekly consumption show that 27 per cent of adult men and 15 per cent of women drink over the former recommended 'sensible' levels of 21 units (men) and 14 units (women) per week. The proportion of women drinking above safe levels has increased by 50 per cent since 1988.

21 units for men equals = 11.6 cans of 4% Fosters lager. So if your a chap and drink two cans of Foster per night your over the "sensible level", 1 can is 1.8 units....

I can honestly say that I'm more than confident that two cans of Lager a day isn't going to hurt anyone's health unless they have an existing Liver problem or other underlying medical condition.

So on that basis I'd say the figures are misleading to say the least...

I drink a lot of alcohol and have done for a number of years now, I'm even prepared to admit that if I carry drinking the amount I have done at times then I'm risking putting myself in a position where I'll suffer serious health problems in the future if I keep the behaviour up for another 5 years.

Saying that though, I've always had a high tolerance to alcohol and you hear stories of people becoming serious alcoholics and drinking for decades without actually suffering health problems (well maybe not directly)

I can speak from experience of when I was a teenager, we all drank on a Friday and Saturday night, looked forward to it all week!

There is a booze culture in Britain (I say that in a positive manner), it's a part of the nation and hopefully will always continue to be (unlikely given the price of things these days, pubs shutting etc)

I have no issue with people wanting to drink, if they understand the possible consequences then let them be.

I think it's unfair however to label Britain as a country with an alcohol problem, I didn't watch the documentary Woody linked but I did see it advertised last night.

In all fairness I think you could probably find as many examples of people abusing alcohol in other countries, kids sitting on the park drinking cider, old layabouts sitting outside the pub at 8AM in the morning etc

Have a pint on me everyone.

reply to post by arollingstone


Although this kind of goes against what I've just said, I agree with you on many points there. However, most sensible adults aren't getting "wasted" every night of their lives, nearly everyone I know has at least one alcohol drink a day but they also get up, work hard, look after their families and contribute to society.

Maybe there is the current binge culture with today's youth, but to label that to every drinker in the UK is unfair IMHO.

reply to post by woodwardjnr


On my very first trip to the UK one thing was clear to me, these guys like to drink! that being said on my side of the pond we love drugs not everyone but alot of us. I live way out in the middle of nowhere Its nice and quiet and everyones friendly, even out here we have a huge drug problem. There's this one dealer who pretends to be fishing all day, I've counted he gets over 100 cars a day to stop and buy his drugs.

reply to post by Death_Kron


Of course, I agree with you - that's why I had hoped to acknowledge that I was generalising.. But of the people that do go out drinking in public on a regular basis, many of them do get way too drunk.

Obviously some of the worst are the students, who may not have drunk much before (they're closer to my age bracket and I've probably been exposed to them more than others) but there are still a few others of all ages who do the same thing. Seeing a group of men in their 40s getting wasted and threatening bartenders is a low point lol. Same goes with women in their 30s urinating on the side of the road. Now, I'm no prude by any means... but it's a bit rank!

reply to post by PapaEmeritus


Ever been to Scotland? Cities like Bristol and London are pretty mad too..

reply to post by woodwardjnr


But what are the "facts" woodwardjnr? The safe limits that the article refers to are all just imgainary and made up out of whole cloth.

What "facts" are you referring to? Please enlighten me.

TIRED OF CONTROL FREAKS

USA has Obesity, UK has Alcohol Abuse AND Obesity.

reply to post by chocise

What do you expect?
A country with no direction, no light at the end of a very bleak tunnel for your children or even
their children, bugger all to do, everyone in seats of privilege with their own noses in the trough,
a looming pensions crisis on par with the current financial mess.
No future. It's inevitable.

I agree.
Third-generation unemployed families with benefits from their Government
that provide many with monies to fritter away and yet, yearn for more.

Though they have never known true poverty, debt is the way forward and
many see the idea of not paying the debt back as cunning and full of guile.
Attributes that many admire.

I suppose it's a better time now, but work ethics, social grace and a lack
of religeous fear -as turned the UK (and many other places) into a land of
fairly-plenty, but no spiritual direction.

I'm not a fan of religeon or convincing a country to die in the name of patriotism,
but I believe there are merits in these areas that can give one a sense of purpose.

I apologise for the rant of an old man.

reply to post by arollingstone


I rarely go out to drink any more if I'm completely honest but if it's anything like it used to be then I see where your coming from, I guess I used to be one of those people getting wasted in the town centre - I'm a lot wiser than that nowadays, not perfect but I know my limits and when to call it a day - after many experiences of not knowing when to stop and suffering from the consequences...

Originally posted by woodwardjnr
reply to post by dalan.

 

What and go the American route on Healthcare, where you spend twice as much of your nations gdp on healthcare and are still slaves to the insurance companies. No thanks. It dont seem to be working that well for you guys at the moment.

The NHS aint perfect, but puts the US system to shame.

The US system sucks for many reasons. Mostly because people don't want to pay for their own healthcare.

But the reason why our healthcare is so expensive is because of monopolies.

We have countless cases where one company will produce a product hospitals and doctor's offices need, and they will be the only company that makes said product. So they have no competition and can set the price for their product as high as they want.

If your healthcare system is so much better, then don't complain about footing the bill for people's lifestyle choices.

sign of the times. all tptb have trained us all to become addicts from babies. why great britain so high? Maybe the ease of availability? maybe the cold weather? I dont know, but I suspect every other country will be just as high within the next few years

Originally posted by existenz
reply to post by DaMod

 

i'm not sure if this question has been addressed but.....the drinking age in the UK IS 18. full stop. no questions asked. if a 14 year old is in a pub drinking alcohol then they are breaking the law. as is the landlord of the pub.

also, most places, stores and pubs have gotten together to introduce a policy called 'think 21'. this means that unless a person looks 21 or over, they will have to prove that they are 18 or over with a valid ID, in order to be sold alcohol or allowed entry into a liscensed premises.

eX.

My partner works for Tesco. She's 25 but looks about 17 and because of this her boss asked her to accompany him on an alcohol purchasing test at 10 stores within the city. Out of the 10 stores she tried purchasing alcohol from only 4 asked for ID. 60% failure says a lot about the think 21 policy.

Originally posted by EnlightenMe2012
reply to post by Surreptitious

 

A lot of people on benefits are screwing the system for every penny they can so they can afford to drink and have nothing better to do than get wasted.
I live in flats and half the people here are on multiple benefits and drinking themselves to death. You never see them buying food over the shops, its always spirits and cheap beer. Take my neighbours for example. The woman is supposed to have a bad back and struggles to walk but she seemed fine the other month when she was chasing after her dog out in the back garden! It was a very funny moment. Since then her dog and her daughter have both been taken off her, she has been banned from the local shop and made many enemies in the local area which is now starting to effect my family, but still she manages to get steaming drunk everyday. Its a nightmare.
Also just to point out there is a pub very close to where we live which is still open but you never see any of the drunks from my flats anywhere near the place. They all go to my neighbours and drink, EVERY NIGHT. It sounds like world war 3 in there some nights, it's insane and i could tell you endless stories.

I know,....

But just think of the "REVENUE" your ASBO "friend" is paying back the Government..

What 20%...???????????

Infact ALL CRIME within the UK is actually a 20% revenue maker for the Gov.com

ANY penny spent/earned/invested makes a GUARRANTEED 20% V A T for the government,

So even mis-appropiated gains... (criminal earnings) Makes the Gov.org.uk a MASSIVE 20%.

Who is stupid, me, you or them @ 20% on ANYTHING bought, sold or earned...

EVEN from welfare/benefits..

Wake-up..


Regards.

Originally posted by EnlightenMe2012
My partner works for Tesco. She's 25 but looks about 17 and because of this her boss asked her to accompany him on an alcohol purchasing test at 10 stores within the city. Out of the 10 stores she tried purchasing alcohol from only 4 asked for ID. 60% failure says a lot about the think 21 policy.

Think about it, with the recession and the increased cost of living, is it not easy to see why some shop keepers find it easier to turn a blind eye ?

reply to post by woodwardjnr
I hjate to get all political, but wouldn't you expect to see this in a society that is filled with entitlements?
(America, listen closely, we're next!)

ETA: the U.K. needs another mountain chain to conquer, another continent to rule. Something to drive them.
Why not go to the stars? NASA ain't!

Originally posted by Death_Kron

Originally posted by EnlightenMe2012
My partner works for Tesco. She's 25 but looks about 17 and because of this her boss asked her to accompany him on an alcohol purchasing test at 10 stores within the city. Out of the 10 stores she tried purchasing alcohol from only 4 asked for ID. 60% failure says a lot about the think 21 policy.

Think about it, with the recession and the increased cost of living, is it not easy to see why some shop keepers find it easier to turn a blind eye ?

LMFAO,,

Her "Boss" was obviously trying to "get in her pants" after the 'drinking binge' and possible hopes of her "promotion"..!

Seen this before..

Leads to a VERY happy Boss.


Regards.

P.S. Britain has the highest rate of teenage pregnances, within Europe,.... I wonder why???? (drink??) nah..

Just Slappers..!!

Originally posted by beezzer
reply to post by woodwardjnr

 

I hjate to get all political, but wouldn't you expect to see this in a society that is filled with entitlements?
(America, listen closely, we're next!)

To be fair, England has far less "entitlements" than the US. The difference is that theirs helps their people while ours only helps corporations, banks, and the military profiteers.

Make no mistake, America is far more socialist than any European nation. It's a Corporate Socialism. The worst kind.

Originally posted by beezzer
reply to post by woodwardjnr

 

I hjate to get all political, but wouldn't you expect to see this in a society that is filled with entitlements?
(America, listen closely, we're next!)

ETA: the U.K. needs another mountain chain to conquer, another continent to rule. Something to drive them.
Why not go to the stars? NASA ain't!

edit on 2-8-2011 by beezzer because: (no reason given)

It's ok, we've got Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya.... soon to be Iran...
Lots to play with...



Regards.