Are the middle classes drinking too much?

Hecateh · Foundation Stone Joined: 10 Feb 2007 Posts: 2006

Middle class drinkers are putting their health at risk by consuming more dangerous levels of alcohol, a report by Liverpool John Moores University claims.

Research showed that “hazardous” drinking - consuming between 22 and 50 units per week - was highest in the Surrey area of Runnymede and lowest in the London borough of Newham.

"Harmful" levels - above 50 units - was found to be higher in poorer areas. Manchester topped this table with Winchester in the lowest position.

One large glass of wine - 250ml at 12% alcohol - contains three units. A pint of standard strength beer contains two units.

Do you agree with the findings of the report? What action should be taken to deal with alcohol abuse? Are you drinking too much?

_________________
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Nannyp · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:44 pm Post subject:

I have many issues around alcohol, so my judgements are heavily biased as a result.

I feel that many "classes" in the UK are driniking far too much, and that alcohol has become a dangerous substance in the hands of the wrong people. The problem is there is so much denial about the influnece and impact on others of alcohol consumption, it is difficult to get a realistic picture.

I feel so angry when I see TV images of young girls and lads, absolutely off their heads with drink, creating havoc, injuring themselves and others and being completely unable to take an responsibility for their actions.
I feel so angry when I hear of mothers, or child carers being under the influence of drink when they are meant to be responsible for their children.

Growing up as the child of an alcoholic is most confusing and frightening, and I feel so sorry for children being faced with a drunken parent. A drunken parent cannot make reasonable judgements and can become agressive and unreasonable.

So my answer to the question is YES
and I have no idea how something so endemic can be addressed, as high taxes or abolishtion will just force it underground.
I do think that the teenagers and or adults who require emergency assistance as a result of alcohol abuse could be billed for the services. It may then get them to see some sense.

Davbro · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:08 pm Post subject:

I would tend to agree with the statement even though I have a small glass of red wine each evening with a meal. That never gets to two glasses or "lets just finish the bottle".
At one point in my life (many years ago) I drank 1 to 1.5 bottles of brandy each day and could not get out of bed until I had drunk a can of lager. This nearly led to me having a fatal accident and for years after that I could not smell let alone drink alcohol without feeling sick.

dingsy · Site Admin Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 2106 Location: Devon

I too agree, although don't think the class distinction on this issue is terribly relevant, in that it would appear to be a problem across the board.

I personally don't drink too much-because I don't drink! I used to enjoy a glass or two of wine several night a week. However since having chemotherpay, the thought/smell nauseates me and I have no desire whatsoever to drink alcohol. Do I have as much fun as I used to? Yes, of course I do, the biggest problem being "friends" who insist that I must want a drink, when patently I don't.

None of us drink terribly much-Brian and Iain will have a beer or two, Jennifer wine on ocassion. There is wine and beer at home-but little else!

I was shocked recently at a very dear friend (herself an alcoholic), who was encouraging her son to drink at home-he's 15. She felt this would teach him the dangers of alcohol:I felt it was giving him the message that under age drinking was acceptable.

Guest · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 1:48 pm Post subject:

I think this has been a growing trend in recent years - in the South East particularly, France is a very short hop away and the regular booze runs are a way of life really. In addition, alcohol is available everywhere - this includes some petrol stations! In addition, we have a greater desire to "enjoy" a drink - not too sure where this has come from. Certainly I do not ever remember my parents getting drunk and I am not even sure my mother has really been a drinker at all. My Dad enjoyed the odd drink. This also seems to have been the case for the parents of most of my friends and also my parents friends. Moving to my generation I have seen every single one of my friends and extended circle of friends drunk - in fact our evenings are planned around - pre-dinner drinks then dinner then after dinner drinks.

I agree with Elaine that the "class" thing is really a bit of a smoke screen. You will probably find that those who fall into the "middle class" drink at home; whereas the "working" class drink at the pub.

Although in my 40's I think I now fall into the binge drinking category. I can go weeks with out a drink and then ... bang ... a meal and a bottle of wine and that is just the start of the evening. I certainly used to enjoy a bottle of wine on a regular basis than I do now, not sure why I don't feel I want a drink, perhaps I am more accepting of things that have happened.

Last time I had a drink - beginning of September when my sister came round and ..... yes we did do justice to that bottle of Pimms! Next time I'll be having a drink ......... No idea!

dragonfly · Pioneer Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 1507 Location: Wales

yes they do.. everyone does.

katieqr · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:52 pm Post subject:

none of us drink. me, o h or 24 yr old daughter.

my son has just turned 15 and i m amazed that people think he s now of an age to drink!! he s not impressed when he sees his peers falling about drunk and hopefully when he is old enough he ll be sensible about it.

dingsy · Site Admin Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 2106 Location: Devon

Thomas sounds like Iain was at that age-just not impressed with people making a fool of themselves, and he had little desire to experiment. He was never terribly impressionable and was always quite prepared to make his own decisions, never greatly bothered about being in with the in crowd. Think this outlook helped enormously.

Remember worrying when Jennifer went to uni, as she too wasn't bothered about drinking and we had visions of all sorts happening (it didn't!)

katieqr · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 9:25 pm Post subject:

dragonfly · Pioneer Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 1507 Location: Wales

me and hubby tee total too!

Guest · Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 4:18 pm Post subject:

I do worry about the UK's attitude (not every individual, but the majority) to alcohol, especially the young. When I was a lecturer in further education, I was horrified at the 16, 17 and 18 year olds, especially girls, planning their night out ... all revolving round how they were going to get drunk!! Next day, the "guage" of a great night out was now little they could remember :( I really cannot understand this mentality at all.

In my own family, my parents drank very little, and never ever got drunk. Of my 4 sisters, only 1 really drank much, and as a teen-early-20, she drank so much she scared my then-OH's RAF mates!! Rarely got drunk, which was even scarier; her body was so used to that quantity of alcohol, usually gin or rum, that she didn't show any effects!! Not like it now though. I got drunk once, aged 16, quite by accident; was very ill, and it put me off for life!

My kids - my daughter has a very healthy attitude towards alcohol, and as a result is classed as "a lightweight" - 2 drinks and she's decidedly tipsy!! Not drunk, just very merry and giggly. She does this maybe once a month, otherwise can't be bothered with alcohol. My son drinks more than I'd like him to, but he is, at nearly 23, no longer under my influence; besides, telling him he's drinking too much would have the opposite effect from the desired one, and he'd drink even more to spite me!

My husband has wine at the weekend; one bottle for the weekend, that's it. So if he binges it and drinks it all in one night, tough, he's got none for the rest of the weekend!! If we go for a meal with friends / neighbours, he does tend to drink a bit more than this, but the sanction of "more than 6 units and you're in the spare room" (cos he snores if he's had more than that!) is usually enough to stop him from going OTT