Comments on: On the Binge of Europe

By: Katie

Katie — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 21:20:13 +0000

Here is my essay!

In my real life job Im a nurse and I work in an A&E observations area. I quite often have do deal with the problems that alcohol creates.

I ‘binge’ drink, myself probably to a lesser extent to what I used to as a student but I still drink so I cant be too judgemental.

I believe I am a sensible drunk… I dont fight, or cause problems, or get into trouble or get myself into hospital. I believe that the vast majority of people are like this.

Its always the small majority that spoil it for the rest, and the hospital service really is put under an unnecessary level of strain due to people consuming excessive levels alcohol.

I really think a minimum price per unit will make a big difference, as it wouldn’t change the price of a pub pint but will help to reduce the consumption of ‘problem’ drinkers. I remember as a student drinking by price and not by quality, so this scheme would have without a doubt reduce my intake (or possibly just increased my debt!)

By: pdtnc

pdtnc — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:17:56 +0000

I keep reading someone’s forum signature, it reads something like this:
“Good people drink Good Beer, and Bad people drink Bad beer”…
Never a truer word said, its a lack of education of the parents of some of the last generation who find out that by playing their cards right they don’t have to work as the government will pay for them to do nothing.

In short, Chavs Breed Chavs who teach excessive drinking.

The country needs to change to break the cycle.

By: steve

steve — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:35:44 +0000

It is nice to read a moderate blog or article on beer for once. I am impressed with the way you potray it as it is. Perhaps some people might disagree with you about what the actual quantity of alcohol a day should be for a rda, but I think few would disagree with the sentiments of this article. cheers!

Steve

http://stevehynd.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/the-dark-side-of-real-ale/

By: Tom Goodhand

Tom Goodhand — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:05:50 +0000

Indeed. Without wanting to plug my own wares, there will be a fairly extensive article in the Leeds Guide on this very subject sometime around Christmas or in the new year. I spent an evening in Otley with publicans, CAMRA and MP Greg Mulholland discussing the pub trade in some detail. Hopefully Pete Brown will be chipping in too. It will be good. I’ll link to it on my blog when it’s up online.

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:20:57 +0000

Tom – I agree entirely with this sentiment. In my local, the landlord is always fully aware of the people in his pub, and has been known to take action where necessary.

The fact is that the tax and consumer laws in this country encourage individuals to buy multipacks of beer from supermarkets (who, as you say are currently allowed to do this as a loss leader – although there were rumbles of rules being changed to tackle this a while ago) as opposed to drinking in a social environment such as a pub, where drinking can be managed.

Alcohol duties have undoubtedly affected the pub trade during the recession as people look to cut costs – it is often not feasible for people to go to pubs as regularly as they used to. It would be nice to see some common sense in this matter, but unfortunately it seems to be a subject matter entirely devoid of logical thinking.

By: Tom Goodhand

Tom Goodhand — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:11:04 +0000

The other big part of the problem is supermarkets selling booze as a loss leader, encouraging people to drink (in large amounts) at home. A good pub or bar can sell beer in a more socialable environment and a good landlord/publican/manager will tell someone when they’ve had enough.

What we need is stricter rules on supermarkets (who also don’t have to deal with the results of their cheap booze, unlike pubs) and good publicans who keep an eye on their drinkers and have the balls to stop service when someone has had too much.

By: Alan Walsh

Alan Walsh — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:18:08 +0000

I swear I read this three times and didn’t spot that typo!!! The sentence was meant to read in agreement with you. I think official recommendations and guidelines are set unrealistically (and in my opinion – although I have no medical grounding – unnecessarily) low. Ironically I think that this can actually prevent people who have a genuine need of help to slip under the radar.

I too am cautious about taking on the message of drink aware. I did find their site informative factually though, if not agreeing with the overring message.

I like your phrase distinguishing between drinking and drunkeness.

A campaign is certainly long overdue but I fear that we would be preaching to the choir with any publicity we could generate on here.

By: Barm

Barm — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:20:04 +0000

Did you mean to write “But it is crazy to consider that drinking four pints on a Friday night should not be considered to be a binge.” ?

If so, I have to disagree. A binge is when you don’t go to bed, or you do go to bed but then get up and start drinking again. Or when you’re in the pub at 11am three days in a row (and stay there all day).

The more I learn about alcohol the more I find drunkenness disgusting. You’re quite right, there are too many people just using alcohol as a drug and it is a problem.

But I am wary of getting into bed with the likes of drinkaware. I don’t think telling people to drink spirits instead of beer, as that site does, is good advice. Do we need an independent campaign by responsible drinkers against drunkenness?