Do the British drink too much?

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Why do we Brits drink so much?

We’re facing an epidemic of cirrhosis.

Booze-related admission to mental hospitals up 300 per cent in seven years.

A child of ten in A and E with alcohol problems.

Alcohol related violence and health problems cost this country £20 billion a year. And what’s the government gonna do about it - put warning labels on bottles or extend pub opening hours?

Would raising the age limit from 18 to 21 help control our love of liquor? (no )


Compared to the other European countries (such as France) we drink much more. However, other countries that have dreary weather such as Norway and Russia also have drinking issues.

What are we like compared to USA and Australia? I always get the impression that the Aussies love to get pissed!

Any thoughts?

[Drew]

Raising the limits just makes it more lucrative, considering underage teenagers find it easy enough to find alcohol now, what's the change going to make, considering it's already pretty expensive?

Perhaps the reasons why people drink should be found out and then these problems looked at?

[tannat]

What are we like compared to USA and Australia? I always get the impression that the Aussies love to get pissed!

Any thoughts?

Having worked in the beverage industry(wine/beer/liquor) for a number of years, I've always been a proponent of responsible consumption..


I've not been around enough Englanders to pass an opinion, but you have to be careful with how you measure such a metric...

Have admission standards for drinking been loosened (more $ fro those hospitals)?

Damages incurred one year might not be directly comparable to those of another.

Regarding ages-if kids want it they will FIND a way to get it (I was the one who always made the purchase for our underage crew )

[AndySpeed]

Can you imagine the changes to the university lifestyle if the drinking age was raised to 21?!

[Ian McC]

Yes yes we sure do, now hurry up Jon it's your round!

[AndySpeed]

also my final exam is tomorrow and i intend to binge drink from 5pm (when it finishes) until I can drink no more, probably after emptying the contents of my wallet in a club in Lancaster

[tannat]

Having worked in the beverage industry(wine/beer/liquor) for a number of years, I've always been a proponent of responsible consumption..

Although I quite enjoyed many a night of 'altered reality states' while in college...

[jso1985]

raising drinking ages or putting more limits to alcohol consumption don't help much, anyway the people will still drink(and a lot if they can).

As anything I think it shoulnd't be done in excess, I love to "travel to the parallel universe"( ) once in a while but I also understand the big problems that could cause me if I'd do it more often

[Ian McC]

It's like a desert in here, someone get the drinks in

[jso1985]

care the re-open the virtual pub? :