August 2011... On the Couch
Why do you think people drink to excess?
HELEN STACEY, 54 - A lecturer at the University of Glamorgan, Helen, who lives in Cardiff, thinks children should be better educated about the dangers of alcohol.
MAROLIN WATSON, 56 Marolin lives in London and works for Hope UK, a charity promoting abstinence and thinks a culture change is needed.
RUSSELL HUGHES, 44 Russell is a recovering alcoholic and dad of two from Sunderland. He runs alcohol treatment programme Aluston Health.
Russell: "I started drinking because I was shy as a teenager and I found alcohol gave me the confidence I lacked to talk to girls. And I think a lot of young teenagers start drinking for the same reason, but for me it got out of hand. One of the reasons that happened is because of how socially acceptable it is. In certain places, like where I grew up in the north-east, people
don't judge you if you go to the pub everyday."
Helen: "I agree, it has now become socially acceptable and I see that a lot with the students in the university where I work. They will go out drinking several nights of the week, but because
they're at university they think it's almost expected of them to behave like that."
Marolin: "Our drinking culture is very different to that of other countries. People in the UK go out with the purpose of getting drunk, whereas in places like France and Greece the priority is having a good time with your friends, and that doesn't usually involve drinking to excess. I think it comes from a number of factors - the introduction of alcopops, which make alcohol taste much nicer for teenagers, the promotions and happy hours that make alcohol so cheap and this idea that drinking is 'glamorous'.
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Do we have an alcohol problem in the UK? (CLOSED)
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Comments:
"I've noticed that no matter what the law, people always do things before your legally allowed too. I truly believe that the age for drinking should be raised to something like 21 or 25. because we KNOW that people will drink before they are that age.I was allowed by my parents to drink any time I wanted, and anything I wanted. this permission made drinking not special for me. I drank for the taste not to get drunk. I drank baileys, whiskey, sherridans, I tried blue bols and loads of others. I gained a desire for quality. maybe thats what other children need. In France children drink wine with their family at meal times, and they don't have the yobbish group we have,. maybe thats another option."
Nichola Hazel Palmer - Wednesday 10th Aug 2011