ALCOHOL ABUSE

What are your views on alcohol abuse ?

Do you mean alcoholism, binge drinking or underage drinking?

Just really what you think about the misuse of alcohol, be it underage alcohol drinking, the excesses of it, what it does to family life, how you see it really. People talk about drugs. I wanted to see how much alcohol affects their lives.

The same as any sort of self abuse really. You shouldn't do it, you know it has an impact on you and others but at the end of the day its an addictive thing with social pressures and some people with addictive personalities just cannot stop.

The idea of asking was because I live in an alcohol based society here in France, but every day see something that amazes me. I personally don't drink, cannot hold alcohol and am not really interested in it, but in the supermarkets, I see English People filling basket after basket with alcohol as if its an obsession. I know its cheaper here, but many seem to make that the major aim of their holidays and I cannot understand it being that important.

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I see English People filling basket after basket with alcohol as if its an obsession. I know its cheaper here, but many seem to make that the major aim of their holidays and I cannot understand it being that important.

Maybe they just like French wine, much of which is hard to come by in the UK.

People being sniffy about alcohol forget the simple and pure fact that an excellent wine, whisky or ale can be one of the most pleasurable and complete sensory experiences a person can have.

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People being sniffy about alcohol forget the simple and pure fact that an excellent wine, whisky or ale can be one of the most pleasurable and complete sensory experiences a person can have.

Others would see having a joint equally as enjoyable, but why is it so important ? I am not sniffy about alcohol. I keep it in the house for visitors but have also seen the huge problems that is causes here in France with alcoholics because it is very hard to try and abstain, when it is a normal thing to be offered booze when you visit people, and some really do insist.

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Others would see having a joint equally as enjoyable, but why is it so important ?

The complexities of taste, texture and colour? The sheer craftsmanship that goes into creating a perfect wine?

Or something that's been up a tourist's bottom?

I do not drink at all, even down the pub/clubs, never. Every single person in my family is a big drinker and my mum was/is an alcoholic and it litterally made my life hell.

Alcohol can be really dangerous to the person drinking it and their families and that is why I am against drinking it.

Dangerous, but it tastes so good

Last night I had a half of Fruli (Belgian Strawberry beer) and a pint of Admiral Nelson Bitter (or something similar).

Both drinks were beers, but a world of complexity separated the two flavours, both of which were extremely yummable.

You just don't get the same subtle shading of taste with orange juice...

Given that I started drinking yesterday at lunch time and did not stop until closing time I must say that it is wise never to abuse alcohol by calling it names as it does have feelings, all the talking pnk elephants told me so last night.

I never touch the stuff...............

Alcohol has no effect on my life. I can quit whenever I want...

Ahhhh, was in the Napa Valley a few days ago

I didn't think much of the Californian Wine we get in the UK until then, but tasted a few crackers.

I love wine. I love good wine especially. I normally drink more than 14 units a week, therefore I by definition abuse alcohol.....

With regards to alcohol abuse, unfortunately it is all to common, and the biggest increases are seen among women.

For me the scariest part is the rise in national pub chains and increased competition over the last say ten years or so. I would think twice about going out drinking in most cities on a Saturday night now. The 24 hour thing and the cost of cleaning up city centres and police is not a good reflection on UK culture either.

That said, I work in hospitality, we have over 1000 outlets and socialising has been a part of UK lives for hundreds of years and the recent law changes seem to be going the opposite way to the smoking ban, with regards to health. Strange.

helencbradshaw wrote:

Ahhhh, was in the Napa Valley a few days ago

Ooooh, how was San Fran?!?!

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I love wine. I love good wine especially. I normally drink more than 14 units a week, therefore I by definition abuse alcohol.....

Yup, you got me WELL drunk on the stuff, so kinda noticed!!!! LOL

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The 24 hour thing and the cost of cleaning up city centres and police is not a good reflection on UK culture either.

That said, I work in hospitality, we have over 1000 outlets and socialising has been a part of UK lives for hundreds of years and the recent law changes seem to be going the opposite way to the smoking ban, with regards to health. Strange.

Do you mean that we shouldn't have the 24 hour thing? I think we should. The main example I use is Australia. In Sydney, most clubs are open 24/7. The BIG difference is is that people drink until they have had enough and then go home. In the UK under the current laws, we drink up till we can't buy it and drink as MUCH as we can untill that point.

Having said that, you guys in England have STUPID laws as you stop selling alcohol as 2am in clubs but still open till 4/5am. This ENCOURAGES drug use IMHO. Up here, we are able to buy drink until the club shuts and from my experience, use of drugs like extacy is a lot less as when the bar shuts, you have to leave. Whereas in the clubs I have been to in England (mostly manchester[where I will be tomorrow night!] or London) you can't buy anything except water or drugs after 2am.

What I think I am trying to say (admittedly after half a bottle of Rose) is that we have it totally wrong in this country. If people were able to buy drink whenever they wanted, things would get worse for a short while, then better in the long run as proved on MANY other countries.

I have lived in both Britain and France, and here alcohol doesn't seem to be a huge problem in general, like we hardly ever see streets full of people rowdy because they drink, driving laws are quite strict, and bars open all day and generally only closing when there are no customers. Even crowded pubs (or cafes) seem good humored and people can chose between alcohol or non alcoholic drinks and if you want a coffee or a hot chocolate, it's never a hassle for the barman. It's a different culture altogether here and there never seems the big kick for people to get outright drunk. Sure we have the odd person that drinks too much, the hospitals have alcoholics, but there was a noticeable difference between here and the UK the last time I went back, and even in big cities like Paris and Toulouse, there wasn't the problem I saw in places like Plymouth and Southampton. Kids are not brought up to think that drink is anything but normal really, and there isn't the huge stigma and I think that attitudes play as big a part in it as anything.

drewboy wrote:

Ooooh, how was San Fran?!?!

Fab!! Loved SF, Loved Yosemite, Loved Tahoe, Hated the Flight

drewboy wrote:

Yup, you got me WELL drunk on the stuff, so kinda noticed!!!! LOL

Yes that might have been 14 units, just all in the one night

drewboy wrote:

Do you mean that we shouldn't have the 24 hour thing? I think we should. The main example I use is Australia. In Sydney, most clubs are open 24/7. The BIG difference is is that people drink until they have had enough and then go home. In the UK under the current laws, we drink up till we can't buy it and drink as MUCH as we can untill that point.

Having said that, you guys in England have STUPID laws as you stop selling alcohol as 2am in clubs but still open till 4/5am. This ENCOURAGES drug use IMHO. Up here, we are able to buy drink until the club shuts and from my experience, use of drugs like extacy is a lot less as when the bar shuts, you have to leave. Whereas in the clubs I have been to in England (mostly manchester[where I will be tomorrow night!] or London) you can't buy anything except water or drugs after 2am.

What I think I am trying to say (admittedly after half a bottle of Rose) is that we have it totally wrong in this country. If people were able to buy drink whenever they wanted, things would get worse for a short while, then better in the long run as proved on MANY other countries.

I didn't realise Australia was like that and I lived there two years. Or that England was different from Scotland with when you could buy drinks. I clearly don't get out enough

I agree with points you and Rachel both make about other countries, I just fear in our binge drinking country, a mere change in law might not be the answer. It is a little too early to tell.

(I don't agree with all this Gambling Casinos being approved all over the place either....but that is another debate!)

Oh christ, do I abuse alcohol now and again and it certainly makes me feel good.

How many units in 4 pints of Vodka and Red Bull? (Forget the litre of red wine and pint beforehand.)

Nah, Alcohol abuse is up there with any kind of adictive substance. If you get to need or depend on it, leave it alone.

I was like that with ciggys and never flinched at giving them up when I relaised that they were taken over my life. If I ever get to that stage with alcohol I will do the same.

I don't drink much. I drank a lot when I was younger but always ended up with my head down a loo or gutter somewhere throwing the whole lot up again - so no point. To be honest I only really like the taste of lager, vodka and baileys but even then not to excess. Can't remember the last time I was drunk.

My mum said she had a problem with alcohol when we were younger but I don't rremeber anything negative from it.

I shall be committing alcohol abuse tonight.

I shall enjoy it.

I did

Who did you go out with?

Just Ana, we thought we'd pushing our luck for a table in Southfields at the moment with any more. We went to Nilima and had one of the best tandooris I've ever tasted.

nothing like celebrating is there mate, it always tastes so much nicer.

(I caught you out here and made you name someone.)

It was an awesome night that's for sure.

And it's OK, because I didn't name Edited for Naming