Booze - The facts and me (Alcoholism in General)

Member Name: Ian Proudfoot

Product:	Alcoholism in General
Date:	23/07/02 (829 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's a stress reliever, Social, Refreshing

Disadvantages: We drinking too much, We not aware we are drinking too much, Problems later on

Most people like a drink, but a recent study by the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) suggests that a larger number of people are drinking to excess. The survey found that 27% of men and 14% of women were exceeding the "old sensible" limits of regular drinking. The figures show that consumption is highest amongst the 18 to 24 age group. So what is driving so many young people to drink to the limit? The question is that rather than being a personal addiction has the UK's love of a 'Swift half' turned into a pandemic social virus.

Since the IAS started running its alcohol studies in 1988 its findings have shown a clear pattern. More young people are drinking to excess. In 1988, 35% of young men were drinking more than the recommended 21 units a week, while 18% of young woman drank more than 'safe' limit of 14 units. By 2001, these percentages were 42% and 26% respectively.

A unit of alcohol can be measured as a half pint of 3% bitter/lager, a glass of average strength wine (approximately 10%) or a single measure of any normal spirit. A popular misconception is that all pints of bitter or lager count as 2 units. If tour regularly drinking Stella or Kronenberg 1664 then your average 4 pints in an evening is going to be about 12 units. Drink that amount on Friday and Saturday night and you're above the recommended limits without really pushing the boat out.

The increase has occurred ever with the increased publicity given to medical and mental problems associated with large alcohol consumptions. The IAS study makes particular mention of the associated link between drinking and liver and stomach cancers at one end of the scale as well as the less cases of minor hospitalisations caused by alcohol. In 1995 the survey says, "there were 20,727 admissions to NHS hospitals for alcohol dependence and 2076 admissions for alcohol poisoning" While in 1996, 4484 people died of alcohol related medical proble
ms.

The IAS suggests several reasons for the increased numbers of young people drinking. One is that a greater number of young people have a disposable income. Which taken on it's own doesn't add up to much. The IAS study shows at the same time that the advertising on alcohol has reached record levels. In the UK in 2000, advertising expenditure on alcohol equal £227.3 million. The IAS study argues that it is these two factors together account for the increase.

The figures show that alcohol abuse is on the rise and many people probably do realise that they are in some way addicted to booze. Addiction is always seen as a personal psychological problem but remove it from a social environment that thrives on a 'drink and drugs' culture and your missing out on the wider picture. On a personal level alcohol addiction can be a devastating force, wrecking the individual and those around them life, but as a social problem it?s widely ignored and often glamorised by the media and drink?s corporations.

Ask the average young drinker and you get a variety of reasons why they drink. Mark, 25 said "alcohol gives you a boost of self-confidence and makes you happier. So it's a going-out thing". Others developed this argument. Christian, 28 said "From the age of 16 to about 25 I used to drink a lot about 12-14 pints on a weekend night. Why? To get totally out of my brain when clubbing." he added " Now I drink a lot less. The older I get the less well my body deals with hangovers. And the less I feel the need to get drunk."

For others though drinking was less a matter of excess and more about the pleasure. Aaron, 33 said "I drink because I like the taste and the effect, but I don't drink that much." He did though admit to the occasional binge "I really only drink socially, either at gigs/parties or on works nights out. On these occasions I do usually consume quite a bit though&quo
t;

Most people admitted to drinking at least once or twice a week, mainly at the weekend and most in moderation. There were also a few horror stories, like Henrik who said " when I tried absinth for the first time. I took 2,5 glasses, 15 minutes later my memory went out, I woke up 6 hours later on the floor of the club."

Not many people would admit to be addicted to alcohol, but its clear from some of the drinking patterns that some are pushing themselves to the limit without realising. And that's where the rub of the problem lies.

Many people have already questioned the author about his experiences of addiction. Well it's time the truth was told. My alcohol problems began like some many others when I started drinking underage. From the age of 15, a visit to the local offie or the notorious under age drinkers pub (every town has one) was the weekend activity for me and my friends. I started like most drinking cheap canned beer (Bowman's bitter anyone) before moving up the scales to drinking the monster that is Special Brew.

At this time I was younger and fitter and apart from a few mild hangovers, there was no real addiction or problems. My University years were much the same although boozing became a more often experience perhaps 3 or 4 times a week. Still no problem.

However in my final year I started to get problems, consumption followed by diarrhoea and back again. A visit to the doctor brought back a verdict of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) supposedly bought on by the stress of my exams. Of course I hadn?t talk the doctor of the full scale of my alcohol consumption (now up to 5 nights a week). This coupled with a increasingly poor diet (Word of Warning: Living purely off cheap take-away curry is not a good idea)

After University, I returned to living with my parents and started earning money. My drinking went up with my increase in funds. It was normal to drink 7 or 8 pints of S
tella on a Friday and Saturday night (21 to 24 Units in on night, not good). Things weren't helped by the fact I began to drink to deal with the fact my father was dying of bowel cancer. Alcohol became my crutch to deal with this emotion overload. My health rapidly went down hill with my IBS bringing me much pain and discomfort. Its difficult to explain to people why you feel like a balloon must of the time. However it didn?t stop my ravenous drinking habits. I was addicted even though I still find it hard to believe.

It wasn't until my Dad's death that I realised that I had a problem. Instead of going cold turkey over the last few years I have slowly (and I mean slowly) decreased the amount I drink. I'm in no way teetotal and still enjoy a good drink at the weekend, but now I feel I have more control over my drinking. Or maybe it still controls me. As they say its the realisation that you have a problem that is the key to deal with a problem.

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