University of Glasgow Cirrhosis of the Liver Study

[Riverkilt]

Reasearchers say, "Scotland is facing a huge public health problem which will require strong and radical action by the Scottish government."

Scotland has one of the highest rates of mortality due to cirrhosis of the liver in Western Europe.

Twice as many Scottish men are dying from alcohol-related causes as Scottish women.

Details here if you've an interest

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/9/58

Ron

[Phil]

Whether it is a particularly Scottish problem or not I don't know but it seems that many northern countries have similar problems with alcohol consumption and, I might say, suicide rates. Whether this is tied in with shorter day lengths, poorer work opportunities and poverty generally I don't know. Many Scandinavian countries impose heavy price penalties on alcohol as well as restrictions on its availability, as does Canada I believe. I have been told that, as a result, after-shave is the preferred tipple of choice among Faroe islanders with Scottish fishermen ensuring they have a hold-full when visiting there.
The Scottish Government's solution to the problem here was to propose a minimum pricing policy involving a very minor price increase for the cheapest brands and a ban on under 21's buying takeaway booze. They could still get smashed in pubs, of course.
There will always be alcoholics who cannot control their addiction many of whom will succumb to alcohol-related disease. What I have seen over a lifetime, however, is the much more ready availability of alcohol and more social acceptability of it's use. At one time alcohol was only available in pubs and hotels and a limited number of off-licence shops and the proprietors of these places exercised some control over excessive drinking, not from any altruistic motive but to avoid losing their licence to sell alcohol. Nowadays alcohol can be bought cheaply in a multitude of corner shops, supermarkets at all hours of the day, pubs are closing at an unprecedented rate, and night clubs have proliferated offering 2 for 1 deals etc. to lure people in. Add to this the demographic change that young people rarely start work on a low wage in the expectation of rising through the career ladder over many years but now enter short-term jobs with higher starting salaries but no career progression. These young people now have spending power undreamt of by my generation. And what do many of them spend it on? Yep. Alcohol. Every night after work in workplace bonding sessions (seems an essential tool to keep your job nowadays) and weekend benders in nightclubs. The evidence is there to see every Monday morning as you negotiate the pools of vomit, sometimes a trail of bloodstains, odd articles of discarded clothing and all the paraphernalia resulting from excessive boozing.
So what is the answer? Prohibition? Nope - America tried that. Didn't work and they still have the Mafia to show for it. Put the price up? When did anyone with a real thirst think about the price and anyway people in jobs have plenty cash nowadays? Restrict the outlets? Maybe but the big supermarket chains have a lot of clout nowadays and would fight that all the way. And go back to the social attitudes that used to prevail and restrained many from excessive drinking. Well no chance of that. Not while church attendances are falling out of existence and young people laugh at the values they hold.
And who encouraged all of this. The media, no doubt. I mean who can remember a soap where the actors are either viewed in a pub for most of an episode or who reach for a bottle the minute they come through the door. But perhaps Governments are even more to blame for presiding over changes that have discouraged family life and the values passed on to children as a result. That have encouraged single parenting where children no longer know what a father is. That have relaxed licensing laws to such an extent that cheap booze is universally available virtually 24 hours a day. Sadly these statistics merely show up a problem that we all know is never likely to be resolved without the most fundamental changes in society and the values it upholds. And that simply is never going to happen. And on a lighter note - statistically lying in bed is the most dangerous thing you can do. Statistics confirm that most people die in bed!

[cessna152towser]

One of the reasons I gave up alcohol is because I want to live longer, life is too short to waste time in a drunken stupor or nursing a hangover, yet when we are younger we fail to appreciate this.

[macwilkin]

One of the reasons I gave up alcohol is because I want to live longer, life is too short to waste time in a drunken stupor or nursing a hangover, yet when we are younger we fail to appreciate this.

Respectfully, though, not everyone who enjoys a wee dram or a pint now & then is a drunkard.

I would suggest that this topic is a bit like other "hot topics" such as religion and politics -- perhaps it would be best to leave it to other venues and forums and respect the differences of opinions on this subject?

Sincerely,

Todd

[gilmore]

I don't think so.

Many of us who wear kilts don't drink. Nonetheless, many kilt nights and other kilted events are held in bars, pubs, etc. We sometimes have to negotiate not only being in the company of fellow kilt-wearers who are at least tipsy if not quite drunk, and more often are surrounded by people who are emboldened by alcohol to say all sorts of things that we would rather not hear. How many sober women (or men) do kilt checks? Or ask what we are wearing under the kilt? Or spill drinks on our kilts, or our chairs or tables where we get them on our clothes?

[macwilkin]

I don't think so.

Many of us who wear kilts don't drink. Nonetheless, many kilt nights and other kilted events are held in bars, pubs, etc. We sometimes have to negotiate not only being in the company of fellow kilt-wearers who are at least tipsy if not quite drunk, and more often are surrounded by people who are emboldened by alcohol to say all sorts of things that we would rather not hear. How many sober women (or men) do kilt checks? Or ask what we are wearing under the kilt? Or spill drinks on our kilts, or our chairs or tables where we get them on our clothes?

So everyone who drinks is responsible for these instances? Gieusabreak.

I respect other people's right not to drink, but I do ask for the same to be returned to me if I choose to have a pint or dram. Respect is a two-way street.

T.

[gilmore]

So everyone who drinks is responsible for these instances? Gieusabreak.

I respect other people's right not to drink, but I do ask for the same to be returned to me if I choose to have a pint or dram. Respect is a two-way street.

T.

We are all responsible for our society, our culture and each other. There are some things that are thought by some to be socially acceptable, even an inherent part of Scottish and Irish culture. (In fact there may be something to that in that it is now thought that there is a genetic component to alcoholism that is more prevalent in some ethnic groups than others.) How many drunk Irishmen jokes have you heard? Or drunk Scots jokes? I can think of more than I can count on both hands.

The point is, contrary to what some hold, it's not necessary to be a drunk, or even to drink, in order to wear a kilt or to be around those who do, whether they are kilted or not.

[Riverkilt]

Just published the link to the study for those interested.

What is sad for me is how young so many of us start drinking. In the U.S.A. the drinking age is 21 when everything else is legal at 18 because the human liver does not mature until age 21.

So many young people begin heavy drinking in their youth and easily become addicted and build a high tolerance early on. High tolerance means it takes a lot more alcohol (carrier vehicle doesn't matter. Alcohol is alcohol no matter what beverage its in) to keep that wonderful buzz.

The more alcohol a human consumes the more damage is done to their body by alcohol and its metabolite acetaldehyde. Young organs have little chance against such chemical assault.

While its impossible - finding a way to keep youth from alcohol until their liver matures and they have a chance so be social drinkers rather than alcoholics - would go far in reducing alcohol related deaths.

Here in the U.S.A the American Medical Association believes that more than five drinks in one day is binge drinking. A drink being a regular beer or a shot. Four drinks for ladies.

And of course alcoholism is a disease that tells us we don't have a problem.

It was sad to see this particular study because it indicates that many Scots have crossed the line from social drinking to alcoholism.

Hope I'm not preaching here. Intent is to point out the study and increase awareness of a very real danger.

Ron

[ghostlight]

In the U.S.A. the drinking age is 21 when everything else is legal at 18 because the human liver does not mature until age 21.

I had no idea there was a biological reason for the specified age.

I'm embarrassed to admit I thought the choice was politically motivated.

[pdcorlis]

Boy - you learn something new every day!