Teenagers and twenty-somethings are being unfairly blamed for the crisis in binge drinking.
Research today reveals that “grown-ups” are no better at knowing when to stop boozing.
Almost 44 per cent of people aged 30 to 50 said they still had not learned to stick to a safe alcohol limit, compared with 40 per cent of 18-to 29-year-olds.
Britons, it seems, are not older and wiser when it comes to drinking — a survey has found that those over 30 are no more sensible than younger boozers.
The survey for the “Know Your Limits” campaign found that a third of people aged 30 to 50 admitted that, on at least one occasion in the last year, drinking too much had ruined a night out or a family event.
Half also said excessive drinking had given them a hangover which left them unable to function properly the next day.
Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians and chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said: “This research shows that binge drinking and hangovers are not just a problem for younger drinkers.
“Many people underestimate the amount of units they are drinking because drinks have been getting stronger, and glasses larger, over the past couple of decades - a small glass of wine can now be two units and large glasses three to four units.
“People over 30 should be aware that their body is less likely to cope with the after-effects of alcohol, think carefully about the weekly amount they are drinking and stick to the safe limits so as to avoid alcohol-related disease.”
The BBC quotes Alcohol Concern:
“As a person gets older, less body water and more fat in the system means alcohol stays in the blood stream for longer, which helps explain why people often experience the effects of heavy drinking more than they might have done if younger .
“However young or old, a hangover is your body’s way of telling you that you’ve had too much the night before.
“The surest way to enjoy Christmas drinks with none of the baggage is to stick to the recommended daily limits.”
The Know Your Limits website doesn’t have any details about the poll that I could see, but they do have some new posters. Here’s their one about pedestrians:
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11 January, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Leaving aside the views of the Daily mail, the problem with alcohol is that even a single pint begins to affect the judgement centre of the brain, releasing inhibitions, which of course is one of the reasons so many people enjoy it, the sense of euphoria.
It is also one of the reasons why people who are normally quite sensible about their drinking sometimes drink too much. The combination of good company and a few drinks can, sadly, lead to problems.