Opinions - U.K. Binge Drinking - Valid Concern or Media Bullshit?

[Mammon]

Personally I’m sick of the moral panic in the U.K. at the moment about binge drinking. I’m of the belief that one of the things that unites British and Irish people is their love of drinking – it’s been in our culture for centuries. On the continent I’m told it’s different and I completely respect that. However, I feel we ought to be allowed to drink if we want to, and so many people I know need the Friday and Saturday piss up to release some of the tension built up in the week from working hard at shit jobs.

The Tories have got big plans to “curb” drinking if they get in. They won’t be happy till everyone poor works 60 hours a week in a crap job and then has no means of enjoyment. Don’t be fooled by Cameron.

Still, this is my opinion. How do you guys feel about it?

[Nature Boy]

You've just touched upon the underlying issue: long working weeks at dull jobs with nothing to look forward to other than killing some brain cells at the weekend. Maybe people around here are over-worked, maybe the weather has something to do with it. Realistically, I don't think binge-drinking culture is something that can be tackled by introducing more restrictive legislation. Alternatives are needed. Limiting society to cigarettes and alcohol probably causes more damage than limiting all psychoactives entirely.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Good point.

[Mammon]

Yeah, I'd like to see a study of the "binge drinkers", to see what their jobs are and the hours worked, etc. Based on my own experience, I'd say the worse your job is and the more you suffer in the week, the more likely it is you'll be getting hammered at the weekend.

That, however, is pure conjecture. If anyone's got any real information on this it'd be interesting to see.

[FuBai]

Originally Posted by Jamal

Yeah, I'd like to see a study of the "binge drinkers", to see what their jobs are and the hours worked, etc. Based on my own experience, I'd say the worse your job is and the more you suffer in the week, the more likely it is you'll be getting hammered at the weekend.

That, however, is pure conjecture. If anyone's got any real information on this it'd be interesting to see.

http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/sho...176#post370176

I would argue that there are lots of influencing factors when it comes to drinking, but binge drinking is not neccesarily a product of evil dictatorial politicians grinding workers into the dust until their only refuge is the bottle, it's a lot more complicated than that. The politicians are not all out to get you.

[Mammon]

O.K. I did say that my last post was:

1.) Based purely on my own experience, and therefore pretty limited when talking about a nationwide issue.

2.) Purely conjecture due to 1.

I also put it up there to ask for debate so don't get the idea I object to your criticism. The article does say, though, (beneath it's "attention grabbing" headline) that it's suspected that the stress of the professionals' jobs is what is driving them to drink so hard, which kind of supports my conjecture anyway.

Lastly, I don't think that politicians are "out to get me". Rather, as someone who finds himself (cough) "not that well off" he believes that life would be worse under a conservative government, which, given their history, isn't that bizarre an idea.

[FuBai]

Apparantly I came on stronger than I meant to - it was meant to be a joke, not an insult. There are many people on these forums that sometimes seem to get a bit over the top in the level that they beleive that politicians are working against them.

[Mammon]

No problem, mate. In truth I often have difficulty judging people's tone even speaking to them face to face.

Besides, a bit of debate keeps threads from going sterile.

Take care.

[Aar0n]

Whilst I don't express a strong opinion either way, I believe that alcohol fuels a large number of problems at the weekend, such as drunks fighting or smashing up cars or whatever. However, the main problem is the group of consumers who end up getting absolutely paralytic and then go on some rampage trying to find the first person who looks at them funny so they've got an excuse to smash them up.

I believe that it's not possible to curb binge drinking because it's always going to be available, and the morons who consume it to the point of causing trouble will always exist too. I think the problem lies within the people, as opposed to availability and lowering costs of alcohol.

[Mammon]

I'm still thinking about this one. I'll need to try and get some facts.

By the way, is binge drinking a problem (if, indeed, it is a problem) for any other nations aside from the British and Irish?

[FrankenChrist]

Originally Posted by Jamal

I'm still thinking about this one. I'll need to try and get some facts.

By the way, is binge drinking a problem (if, indeed, it is a problem) for any other nations aside from the British and Irish?

If the Dutch and Belgian media are to be believed, it is prevalent among teens.
However, all the binge drinking articles I have seen are about drinking teens, not about hard working yuppies who need to blow off steam. To my (local) opinion it's less prevalent than in the UK. I attribute this to a different drinking culture and a stronger social safety net. Our media call it coma-drinking, by the way.

I would also like to mention the Scandinavian countries, which have a drinking attitude quite similar to that of the UK. Some Swedish buddies of mine call it "ambulance drunk"

[Mammon]

I thought booze was hugely expensive in Scandinavian countries?

Still, it's good to know we're not the only alcoholic nation in Europe, probably just the worst.

[darkglobe]

Don't have the time nor the motivation to go into my observations of British culture & society, but I will give a few bits of food for thought....

Firstly, binge drinking is a very real problem, and anyone who chooses to think otherwise is being dangerously ignorant. 18 year olds having their stomachs pumped (sometimes more than once!), otherwise balanced people ending up in prison for assault etc.

Secondly - The media IS guilty of causing a moral panic with regards to bigne drinking, but they cannot and should not have the finger pointed at them for causing the problem. Some moral panics work synergistically with the problems they are depicting - for example the panic buying of petrol - but in this case I think the more this problem is placed squarely in the public limelight, the better. Awareness of just how serious our alcohol consumption is really needs to improve - especially among those at the centre of this problem.

A quick thingy about lifestyle etc - we're overworked & underpaid, we've numerous worries atm (the main being the worryingly bad state of the British economy, and its extremely rapid decline). Those "on the continent" (i.e. mainland Europe) work less hours for more money and seem to live generally easier lives. Stuff like this needs to be factored in before blaming the youngsters for their actions. I have many friends working stressful jobs (the majority work 12 hour shifts in call centres being under the constant threat of losing their job due to not meeting sometimes ludicrous sales targets), and on the weekend all they wanna do is get pissed and act like a bunch of retarded schoolchildren.

....and y'know what? I don't blame 'em. Sure, they're damaging their health - something which needs sorting - but everyone needs an outlet.

In short: Migrate!

[Mammon]

Interesting points there, Darkglobe. Are you in favour of some kind of prohibition, in which case you must surely extend that to lots of other drugs, or just more information on the effects of drinking?

Do you not believe in the rights of the individual to make their own decisions, even if they involve an element of self-destruction? If an 18 year old wants to drink so much he needs his stomach pumped, isn’t that his choice?

Some moral panics work synergistically with the problems they are depicting

I don’t know who’d think that the media is somehow causing binge drinking; certainly not me. I just think it’s the nature of the media to constantly tell people the country’s gone to the dogs; it’s what people want to hear – just look how popular the Daily Mail is.

Lastly, I haven't made my mind up yet as to whether binge drinking is the problem it's made out to be, but I accept that I am dangerously ignorant.

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excellent post!

[aerozeppelin123]

In my opinion binge-drinking in this country is very much a valid concern, it is hyped by the media but is certainly not bullshit. It seems like it's in our culture to drink alcohol primarily as a means of getting drunk, often dangerously so. Whereas in my experiences with other European countries it seems more thought of as a drink to enjoy/have with dinner, rather than to seek the intoxicating effects.

When it comes to our high levels of underage binge drinking in particular, it is certainly cultural/social factors that are far more important than laws - we have very strict and restrictive age limits compared to a lot of other countries where age limits are weakly enforced, if at all, yet despite this British teenagers drink a lot more.