Panorama last night. Middle Class Alcoholics.

[cherrypie]

Did anyone watch Panorama last night?
Alistair Campbell, a self confessed alcoholic himself, talked to people who could be described as middle class to show that you do not have to be lying in the gutter to be classed as an alcoholic. He interviewed Anne Robinson, people in a private hospital for addiction and Medics who are concerned about the rise in people needing treatment.
For anyone wondering what excessive alcohol does to your liver, you are shown abused livers.😱
There was also a suggestion that pubs, now closing in their droves, were helpful in curtailing drinking prior to the 24hr. opening coming into force. It is also asked is the growing trend of people drinking at home that has made the problem worse?

Meeting the Nation's Secret Alcoholics.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/default.stm

 

[Northerner]

I'm pretty sure that drinking at home must have had a massive increase over the past couple of decades. I never actually bought any beer to drink at home until I was about 30 - prices were pretty similar to pubs back then, but then came all the cheap supermarket stuff where prices can be a third of what you would pay in a pub. For quite a few years there has been a growing trend of people drinking the cheaper stuff at home before going out so they don't need to spend as much in the pubs, but I imagine people end up drinking more this way as their judgement will be impaired by the time they've had their first drinks out. ?4 will buy you your weekly 'allowance' of 21 units in my local supermarket (white cider 7.5%, 3 litres)

 

[fencesitter]

Yes, saw that too. Thought Alistair Campbell was courageous to make the film and so were all the people who appeared in it. The scenes shot in the lab with all the livers really made you think - didn't he say 2 bottles of wine a week could be enough to set off problems (but more likely after 4 a week, when the risks start to rise exponentially)? That seems within the govt guidelines for men (max 3 or 4 units daily), so it would be good to have that clarified. I think the latest advice to have a few dry days every week is v. sensible, and that the guidelines should be revisited.

 

[Catwoman76]

Did anyone watch Panorama last night?
Alistair Campbell, a self confessed alcoholic himself, talked to people who could be described as middle class to show that you do not have to be lying in the gutter to be classed as an alcoholic. He interviewed Anne Robinson, people in a private hospital for addiction and Medics who are concerned about the rise in people needing treatment.
For anyone wondering what excessive alcohol does to your liver, you are shown abused livers.😱
There was also a suggestion that pubs, now closing in their droves, were helpful in curtailing drinking prior to the 24hr. opening coming into force. It is also asked is the growing trend of people drinking at home that has made the problem worse?

Meeting the Nation's Secret Alcoholics.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/default.stm

I didn't watch it Cherrypie, too close to home for me at the moment because Tia's daddy is so seriously ill. His liver is shot to bits So sad, whatever 'class' the person happens to be. Sheena

 

[margie]

I didn't watch the programmes but if anyone is living with someone with an alcoholic try this web-site for local support groups.

http://www.al-anonuk.org.uk/

This may make some of you laugh but when in Canada we were trying to see if we could get a discount. We were asked if we belonged to any groups and my OH said AA - which caused the owner to give him a funny look, until I explained that it was the UK equivalent of the CAA and not what he was thinking.