Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

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Spijed
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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by Spijed » Mon Feb 04, 2019 8:59 am

TheFamilyCat wrote:Quick question to those who drink low/non-alcoholic beer: what is the range of beers available like? It seems to me that brands offer one option and most are lagers; are all tastes catered for e.g. a best bitter, IPA, stout etc? (I’m assuming it is possible to make low alcohol versions of these).
Places such as Tesco's stock a good range, even non alcoholic wine too.

basil6345789
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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by basil6345789 » Mon Feb 04, 2019 9:57 am

Alcohol is a very small issue in total - it's a government diversion. Drugs is so much worse, as is failing to control immigration and neglecting the NHS.

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by bfccrazy » Mon Feb 04, 2019 10:02 am

basil6345789 wrote:Alcohol is a very small issue in total - it's a government diversion. Drugs is so much worse, as is failing to control immigration and neglecting the NHS.

Only on here would a good thread on people discussing alcohol and it’s affect become about immigration :lol: :lol: take a bow!!
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Awayfromburnley
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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by Awayfromburnley » Mon Feb 04, 2019 11:50 am

basil6345789 wrote:Alcohol is a very small issue in total - it's a government diversion. Drugs is so much worse, as is failing to control immigration and neglecting the NHS.
No, I would say the alcohol issue is much more pressing as it effects so many and is pretty much unspoken about.

I would argue the NHS is struggling much more because of issues with alcohol, drugs and diet than any other causes.

boatshed bill
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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by boatshed bill » Mon Feb 04, 2019 11:54 am

A very serious problem. I blame supermarkets

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by houseboy » Mon Feb 04, 2019 3:44 pm

The main problem with alcohol in this country is it's too expensive and should be made cheaper, perhaps more in line with the subsidised bars in the house of commons. What we need is cheaper booze, especially wine.

Seriously though I drink regularly, usually at least 3 nights a week, typically Thursday, Friday and Saturday and mainly wine. I don't get hangovers and it doesn't affect anything I do and I have no alcohol related diseases or illnesses.
I do however work out, I have my own equipment and I typically work for up to an hour three days a week and it keeps me in good shape.....but.....I have recently been diagnosed with a double hernia for which I will have a operation in two weeks that will stop me from working out for about 2 months minimum (I was told it was okay to continue for now but sensibly I have cut down massively on weight used and time doing it).

So, in my case, which has been most injurious? Drinking or 'keeping fit'?

If it is the latter then that would be extremely ironic wouldn't it?

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by FactualFrank » Mon Feb 04, 2019 3:57 pm

houseboy wrote:The main problem with alcohol in this country is it's too expensive and should be made cheaper, perhaps more in line with the subsidised bars in the house of commons. What we need is cheaper booze, especially wine.

Seriously though I drink regularly, usually at least 3 nights a week, typically Thursday, Friday and Saturday and mainly wine. I don't get hangovers and it doesn't affect anything I do and I have no alcohol related diseases or illnesses.
I do however work out, I have my own equipment and I typically work for up to an hour three days a week and it keeps me in good shape.....but.....I have recently been diagnosed with a double hernia for which I will have a operation in two weeks that will stop me from working out for about 2 months minimum (I was told it was okay to continue for now but sensibly I have cut down massively on weight used and time doing it).

So, in my case, which has been most injurious? Drinking or 'keeping fit'?

If it is the latter then that would be extremely ironic wouldn't it?
I think alcohol is only a problem if it has an impact on your life and/or has an impact on other people's lives. It doesn't sound like that's the case, so you're fine. You'll get people talking down to you saying you shouldn't drink because they don't. But that's why we have middle fingers.

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by Dyched » Mon Feb 04, 2019 4:00 pm

FactualFrank wrote:You really don't like people who drink alcohol, do you? You're the alcohol equivalent of a vegan.

An alcoholic is an alcoholic. It's someone who wakes up and the first thing they think about isn't bacon and eggs; it's a bottle of wine. They need it to get through the day. They need it to function. A 'functioning alcoholic' is the same alcoholic as a 'non-functioning alcoholic'. They'll both be smashed out their face by 9am and be unemployable.
I think that’s the major problem. Just because someone doesn’t wake up and have a Carling for breakfast doesn’t mean to say they don’t have a problem. I think that’s what many tell themselves too. People have 6/7 pints a night every night and that’s a problem. But not for breakfast so they’re ok. But someone who wakes up has 6/7 points then sleeps all day, wakes up and does it day after day has a problem.

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by FactualFrank » Mon Feb 04, 2019 4:07 pm

Dyched wrote:I think that’s the major problem. Just because someone doesn’t wake up and have a Carling for breakfast doesn’t mean to say they don’t have a problem. I think that’s what many tell themselves too. People have 6/7 pints a night every night and that’s a problem. But not for breakfast so they’re ok. But someone who wakes up has 6/7 points then sleeps all day, wakes up and does it day after day has a problem.
Clearly that's a problem. I'm on about the term alcoholic. Someone who drinks 8 cans a day isn't an alcoholic. That's when they wake up and drink when they're awake. Still a problem, of course.

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by SammyBoy » Mon Feb 04, 2019 4:25 pm

I drink roughly once maybe twice a month, but it's usually a lot and I invariably end up with a bad hangover, however the other 95% of the time I don't touch it. Even 2-3 pints is enough to make me feel a little off the pace the following day, and if I drank regularly during the week I think it'd affect my overall mood and performance at work. Is little and often worse than having a massive session every now and again? I'm not sure, but personally I'd rather take a couple of days of feeling incredibly rough each month than be waking up day after day with that slight malaise a few beers leaves behind.

For what it's worth I would say the British relationship with alcohol is fairly unhealthy. My girlfriend is Portuguese and when I've spent time with her family it's a lot more moderate. They seem to drink at half the pace, and I'm yet to see anybody completely hammered.

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by houseboy » Mon Feb 04, 2019 4:40 pm

FactualFrank wrote:I think alcohol is only a problem if it has an impact on your life and/or has an impact on other people's lives. It doesn't sound like that's the case, so you're fine. You'll get people talking down to you saying you shouldn't drink because they don't. But that's why we have middle fingers.
Agree mate. I get tired of people in this country saying you shouldn't do this or that because it's bad for you. Life is bad for you and it always and in every case kills you in the end. I don't and never have smoked fags but I don't have any problem with people who do. Essentially I believe in do what you want as long as it doen't harm anyone else, and when I say harm I don't include 'upset'. People get upset at the slightest thing so 'upset' or 'offended' don't count. If your drinking means that bills don't get paid or your dependants don't get enough food then that is wrong, but if your friends and family simply 'don't like' your habit, whatever it be, then that shouldn't count. The nanny state tends to be interference based on either telling people how to behave or a money making excercise by way of 'health taxes'.

As far as real health issues are concerned and the cost of treatment then perhaps a limit on treatment for people with a proven lifestyle illness with sufficient warning of what will (or will not) happen if they don't change.

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by houseboy » Mon Feb 04, 2019 4:42 pm

SammyBoy wrote:I drink roughly once maybe twice a month, but it's usually a lot and I invariably end up with a bad hangover, however the other 95% of the time I don't touch it. Even 2-3 pints is enough to make me feel a little off the pace the following day, and if I drank regularly during the week I think it'd affect my overall mood and performance at work. Is little and often worse than having a massive session every now and again? I'm not sure, but personally I'd rather take a couple of days of feeling incredibly rough each month than be waking up day after day with that slight malaise a few beers leaves behind.

For what it's worth I would say the British relationship with alcohol is fairly unhealthy. My girlfriend is Portuguese and when I've spent time with her family it's a lot more moderate. They seem to drink at half the pace, and I'm yet to see anybody completely hammered.
You need to drink more often, you will find that the hangovers affect you less and eventually often stop altogether.

This is sound advice from someone who knows. ;)

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by houseboy » Mon Feb 04, 2019 4:49 pm

FactualFrank wrote:Clearly that's a problem. I'm on about the term alcoholic. Someone who drinks 8 cans a day isn't an alcoholic. That's when they wake up and drink when they're awake. Still a problem, of course.
It's only a problem if it is affecting your health or ability to operate. Most people drink, many people drink quite a lot, few people have a drink problem, at least in percentage terms. The problem is when some people think someone has a drink problem because they drink a lot but take no account of their ability to work, support a family, keep healthy etc. If they can do all those things and drink heavilly 3/4 nights a week or even every night, there is no problem unless it becomes injurious to health or ability to earn a living and most drinkers do not get to that point.

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by Longside4evr » Mon Feb 04, 2019 6:50 pm

Lost my brother he was 48 to alcohol he got sorosis of the liver after being told by specialists he needed to stop drinking or expect serious repercussions
What did not help his partner was also an alcoholic it took his life and he left our family distraught.
We had him in rehabs got him clean numinous times i gave him a job earning a good wage, really put the effort in to no avail.

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by Dyched » Mon Feb 04, 2019 7:30 pm

FactualFrank wrote:Clearly that's a problem. I'm on about the term alcoholic. Someone who drinks 8 cans a day isn't an alcoholic. That's when they wake up and drink when they're awake. Still a problem, of course.
An alcoholic isn’t just somebody who needs a drink or 8 in the morning. What if somebody needs a drink or 8 to wind down after work? Are they not an alcoholic?

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by FactualFrank » Mon Feb 04, 2019 7:39 pm

Dyched wrote:An alcoholic isn’t just somebody who needs a drink or 8 in the morning. What if somebody needs a drink or 8 to wind down after work? Are they not an alcoholic?
No. I keep repeating myself, but an alcoholic needs alcohol to function - to live and get through the day. They need it upon waking up. They cannot go a few hours and then think they'll have a pint. They need it every waking hour. So no - someone who has 8 cans a day has a problem that could do with talking to somebody. But they are not an alcoholic.

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by Jakubclaret » Mon Feb 04, 2019 8:12 pm

FactualFrank wrote:Clearly that's a problem. I'm on about the term alcoholic. Someone who drinks 8 cans a day isn't an alcoholic. That's when they wake up and drink when they're awake. Still a problem, of course.
I understand what you mean well I think I do, you can be on a park bench drinking the hard stuff sleeping rough but you can also be a functioning alcoholic who’s outward appearance shows no signs, has a family, money, holds a job down ect.

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by FactualFrank » Mon Feb 04, 2019 8:16 pm

Jakubclaret wrote:I understand what you mean well I think I do, you can be on a park bench drinking the hard stuff sleeping rough but you can also be a functioning alcoholic who’s outward appearance shows no signs, has a family, money, holds a job down ect.
Not really. If you're an alcoholic you drink all day every day. You crave it and are pretty much 24/7 drunk. You wake up and start drinking again. Basically, it's your food. You're never sober.

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by Jakubclaret » Mon Feb 04, 2019 8:19 pm

FactualFrank wrote:Not really. If you're an alcoholic you drink all day every day. You crave it and are pretty much 24/7 drunk. You wake up and start drinking again. Basically, it's your food. You're never sober.
It’s a grey area I think there’s different degrees of alcoholism such as binge drinking who aren’t 24/7 but lapse from sobriety & hit it hard when they do, as a individual you should know yourself without outside diagnosis.

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by FactualFrank » Mon Feb 04, 2019 8:25 pm

Jakubclaret wrote:It’s a grey area I think there’s different degrees of alcoholism such as binge drinking who aren’t 24/7 but lapse from sobriety & hit it hard when they do, as a individual you should know yourself without outside diagnosis.
Hmm, I don't see a binge drinker as being an alcoholic. Alcoholics need treatment from a GP, often needing medication. They literally spend all day drinking. Me and you will have a few drinks in the evening but during the day work. Alcoholics wake up at 8am and drink until they fall asleep - every day.

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by BurningBeard » Tue Feb 05, 2019 4:00 pm

FactualFrank wrote:No. I keep repeating myself, but an alcoholic needs alcohol to function - to live and get through the day. They need it upon waking up. They cannot go a few hours and then think they'll have a pint. They need it every waking hour. So no - someone who has 8 cans a day has a problem that could do with talking to somebody. But they are not an alcoholic.
FactualFrank wrote:Not really. If you're an alcoholic you drink all day every day. You crave it and are pretty much 24/7 drunk. You wake up and start drinking again. Basically, it's your food. You're never sober.
FactualFrank wrote:Hmm, I don't see a binge drinker as being an alcoholic. Alcoholics need treatment from a GP, often needing medication. They literally spend all day drinking. Me and you will have a few drinks in the evening but during the day work. Alcoholics wake up at 8am and drink until they fall asleep - every day.
This is just not true at all. In fact it sounds like something someone in denial would say. Not saying you are btw.

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by Loyalclaret » Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:30 pm

Surprised someone who drinks 8 cans a day would not be considered an alcoholic.

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by tim_noone » Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:46 pm

Loyalclaret wrote:Surprised someone who drinks 8 cans a day would not be considered an alcoholic.
Me to....

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by GodIsADeeJay81 » Wed Feb 06, 2019 2:30 am

FactualFrank wrote:No. I keep repeating myself, but an alcoholic needs alcohol to function - to live and get through the day. They need it upon waking up. They cannot go a few hours and then think they'll have a pint. They need it every waking hour. So no - someone who has 8 cans a day has a problem that could do with talking to somebody. But they are not an alcoholic.
Yes they are an alcoholic.
Ask someone.who drinks like that to stop it and see what they say.
It's similar to asking a smoker or a stoner to stop doing it, they won't because it's their addiction.

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by mdd2 » Wed Feb 06, 2019 6:06 am

FactualFrank wrote:No. I keep repeating myself, but an alcoholic needs alcohol to function - to live and get through the day. They need it upon waking up. They cannot go a few hours and then think they'll have a pint. They need it every waking hour. So no - someone who has 8 cans a day has a problem that could do with talking to somebody. But they are not an alcoholic.
Not all alcoholics drink daily, nor do they all drink throughout the day; many will only drink in the evenings but will move hell and high water to get a drink. Others go on benders for days at a time unable to stop and then have periods where they drink little but when on a bender cannot control their drinking.
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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by mdd2 » Wed Feb 06, 2019 6:10 am

Loyalclaret wrote:Surprised someone who drinks 8 cans a day would not be considered an alcoholic.
Some folk do drink that much and if needs be can just stop-so not all heavy drinkers are alcoholics BUT I guess the majority are. By the same token some half a bottle of wine/day drinkers are addicted.

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Re: Is there a really serious issue with alcohol in this country?

Post by HieronymousBoschHobs » Wed Feb 06, 2019 7:05 am

I'm addicted to alcohol, it's ****. It isn't an easy thing to give up, essentially involves ditching the little social life you have for the one that you don't which is a difficult concept to get a grip upon for people who aren't in the same situation. Plus, short-term it eases your misery, makes you feel better about your life as is - the same is true for several recreational drugs, which I've also done my fair share of.

There is a lot of BS about substance abuse and mental illness in this country though. It isn't as though there is something particularly awful about British people, or even the culture, it's the way our society is organised: the pressure, insecurity and alienation of it. Not everyone feels that, but it's there.

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