Over boozing

[Doore]

I changed doctors recently and was asked how much I drink on average in a week.  As is standard policy, I lied and said probably about 10 beers and a couple of glasses of wine in an average week, and was told I was drinking more than is safe.  This equates to about a beer and half and a sip of wine a day.  What a load of crap.  Luckily, there are a few more cans in the fridge for me to contemplate my apparent early death.

Tellingly though, the rest of my checkup said I was in very good health.  These doctors limits on boozing are clearly bollocks.  I understand that chronic boozing will kill you, but a few beers does noone any harm - and the world of good mentally.

[Fred Elliot]

but a few beers does noone any harm - and the world of good mentally.

Word




Just ask Ben

[flammableBen]

I don't drink much in teh week anymore.

[Simon Pieman]

I've cut back on my drinking significantly in the last few months (0-10 units a week on average). Sure, I've still had occassions where I've indulged greatly but what's the point of living if you can't enjoy yourself.

Anyhoo, I found out my bilirubin levels are high on Monday, which is probably down to a blood trait more than anything but it made me think - if my levels are high without drinking loads then what would they be like if I was drinking at the levels I used to. I should probably put it to the test over the summer in the name of science.

[pauld]

Have to confess, if it weren't for the context, if you'd just used the word bilirubin in conversation, I'd have thought you were referring to a Country and Western singer or some such. So what is bilirubin and how's it connected to drinking?

[Simon Pieman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilirubin

It's a byproduct of the breaking down of old red blood cells. If the liver is fucked it doesn't remove it from the body so well and can cause things like seizures.

[BANGKOK RED]

I read one of those questionnaire thingies in the paper recently.

Out of a possible 10 questions, I had already scored enough points to be deemed a hopeless alcoholic. What a load of crap.

[Danjackson10]

your liver is not something you want to mess around with, i have seen so many patients come in with liver cirhosis due to too much drink. Kinda puts you off a bit

[Spy]

The alcohol guidelines may sensible according to medical research etc but in terms of our peoples habits and lifestyles and our drinking culture in this country they are just ridiculous.

Isn't it that if you drink 4 pints or more it counts as a binge? 

[Talk Talk]

The alcohol guidelines may sensible according to medical research etc but in terms of our peoples habits and lifestyles and our drinking culture in this country they are just ridiculous.

No, they are not 'sensible', they are based on absolutely nothing.

Referring to the man who 'made up' the limits:

Guidelines on safe alcohol consumption limits that have shaped health policy in Britain for 20 years were “plucked out of the air” as an “intelligent guess”.

The Times reveals today that the recommended weekly drinking limits of 21 units of alcohol for men and 14 for women, first introduced in 1987 and still in use today, had no firm scientific basis whatsoever.

Subsequent studies found evidence which suggested that the safety limits should be raised, but they were ignored by a succession of health ministers.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article2697975.ece

Well worth a full read.

Wankers.

[Spy]

Thats interesting.

Yeah I can't really see a health minister wanting to raise recommended limits whatever the research. Its like the government advisors suggesting ecstacy should perhaps be reclassified a class B drug - like that would ever happen!

[jayohaitchenn]

No, they are not 'sensible', they are based on absolutely nothing.

Referring to the man who 'made up' the limits:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article2697975.ece

Well worth a full read.

Wankers.

I was going to post this - thanks for saving me some time. Basically the "guidelines" for safe drinking are completely made up.

[Phil_S]

Ain't I glda about that ! I can now go on my glastonbury binge with a clear consience if not a clear head !

[Doore]

No, they are not 'sensible', they are based on absolutely nothing.

Referring to the man who 'made up' the limits:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article2697975.ece

Well worth a full read.

Wankers.

I'd not seen that article before, so thanks for that.  I think this must go in the same bin as the BMI index - I'm no medical expert but the "one size fits all" approach to medical advice strikes me as simplistic.  Throw those "daily guidelines" on calories, sugar etc in there as well - apparently all men should eat exactly the same amount, and the same deal for women.  I'm 6 foot tall - should I eat the same amount as my mate, who is 5 foot 7?  How about my mate who is six foot six?  (Yes, I have odd looking mates.  Beggars can't be choosers.)  Medical advice needs to be focused on the individual.  This standardised stuff can lead to people being overly paranoid.

To the fridge!

[Simon Pieman]

There was a thing about the two litres of water a day on telly (think it may have been on the rubbish which is called the one show).

Anyway, I'd read about this before but you can get your two litres from tea, coffee and food. No need to even drink any H2O if you don't want.