AA offers hope for those who want it

Gingerly, I walked through the door. I took a seat in the corner.

I had called an information number for Alcoholics Anonymous. Yes, it was all right to attend, as long as I chose an open meeting. It was all right to come and listen.

When a leader arrived, I introduced myself. He made my presence known to the group and asked me to briefly speak.

I'll tell you what I said at the AA meeting this week in Marysville, where one member told me "anonymity is our most prized possession."

With New Year's a time of fresh starts, I told those gathered I wanted to see how Alcoholics Anonymous works. Since its beginning in 1935, the fellowship has helped problem drinkers maintain sobriety by sharing experiences and following a 12-step program. Spiritual belief is at its core.

Up close, I encountered people, not jargon. They are people you might see at work or school, at church or the mall.

When they spoke, it was first names only: "Hi, I'm ... and I am an alcoholic." I'll use no names at all.

"I messed up three marriages along the way," said one man, describing himself as a "maintenance drinker" for much of his life. When medical problems caught up with him, he turned to AA. Sober for six months, he said, "The strength of the people in these meetings gives me strength."

Addressing the day's topic of "sobriety, serenity and the holidays," a woman said sobriety was going well. But with teenagers at home, serenity was hard to find.

"I still get angry," she said. "But I don't want to go back to the way it was, waking up to the dread of the day." Prayer, she said, is her new way of dealing with anger. "God keeps me sober."

A pretty girl in a sweatshirt said she was there to listen, "and get a check mark," an indication her attendance was court-ordered.

She wasn't alone among the 20 gathered in having had trouble with the law.

"The wrecked cars didn't do it. Jail time and paying some fines, that just goes with the drinking," one middle-aged man said. A moment came, though, of "laying there knowing I couldn't drink anymore."

A man who had quit drinking without AA said until coming to the program he had "no serenity and no higher power."

"I was sick and tired of being sick and tired," he said.

For a mother in her 30s, rock bottom was when life became "unbearable." With her life a mess of men and drinking, a family member was caring for her child. One Christmas she was asked, "Aren't you even going to come home to see your little boy?"

Meetings, a sponsor and a year of sobriety changed everything. Her child is home again. "I started to hear a message in here," she said. "It really was one of hope."

The meeting began with a moment of silence and a recitation of AA's Serenity Prayer. Someone read the group's preamble, which includes: "The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking." Participation is free, but a basket is passed around for donations.

On any given day or evening, "500 or 600 people are in different meetings in Snohomish County," said a committee member with Alcoholics Anonymous District 12, based in Everett. Worldwide, according to the organization's Web site, more than 2 million people call themselves members.

The local official, sober for six years, said he was first sent to AA "to have a court slip signed."

"I was mad at being there," he said. "But there was hope and a lot of laughter there."

At the Marysville meeting, a man who'd started drinking again after years of sobriety said he ended up losing two wives, homes and cars, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings before coming to AA.

"How desperate I was when I came here," he said. "How horrible it would be if there was nowhere else to go."

Several said that AA isn't for everyone. "It's not going to help someone who doesn't want to be helped," said the man who had stressed anonymity.

I understood his reluctance about my presence. Alcoholics Anonymous doesn't promote itself or solicit members.

I want him to understand why I came. By walking through that door, I hoped to show others what's inside, and to hold it open for anyone wanting and needing help.

HeraldNet

AA suggests extra holiday gatherings

Holidays were never an easy time for Dennis. He's the central office manager for Alcoholics Anonymous, and a recovering alcoholic himself.

He said he receives many calls this time of year from people who ask for advice, comfort and the definition of an alcoholic.

"Some can't understand the disease complex of it," Dennis said.

Although alcoholism can be an issue through the year, Christmas is difficult because it's right before New Year's Eve - two major holidays that typically focus on parties and alcohol.

"They think New Year's is coming up so it's OK to drink," he said. "And after the holidays, they are filled with guilt and remorse. Some are strapped on money, and it makes them more guilty because they think of the money they spent on alcohol and gifts."

When Dennis talks with visitors, he discusses the "12 steps on keeping their holiday season sober and joyous" list.

The No. 1 suggestion recommends lining up extra AA activities for the holiday season. Dennis said there are several events in the metro and suburban area.

Near the Ralston area, the public is invited to District 23's annual New Year's Eve Celebration at Faith Presbyterian Church in La Vista on Dec. 31.

That event's itinerary starts with a happy hour at 7 p.m., a sobriety countdown and guest speaker at 8 p.m. followed by a raffle and dance.

The event chairman said this local event has been on-going for at least 15 years with an average of 250-300 people in attendance.

"It helps people realize being sober is fun and there are other things to do other than go to the bar and drink," he said.

Tickets are available to purchase before or at the door. For more information about this event or others, call the AA central office at 556-1880.

Other ideas to avoid alcoholic temptations from the central office include: · host AA friends and newcomers to a gathering; · keep an AA telephone list nearby; · skip any drinking occasion if it creates nervous tension; · bring candy along to parties; · plan to leave a party early; · worship in one's own way; · catch up on other hobbies such as reading, going to museums, walking and writing letters; · stop getting excited about all the holiday temptations; · think "one day at a time" and enjoying the true beauty of the season.

Dennis said the support of friends and family helps deter temptations. He said to plan events without alcohol, clean the party location of it and inform all guests of the situation.

Special AA meetings and events are key near these holidays.

"It gives a new person in AA a place to be," Dennis said. "A lot of people, due to their past relationships and friendships, are gone, and they are kind of on their own. If they sit around by themselves, they'll think about drinking."

Suburban Newpapers

Long-acting alcoholism drug wins support

U.S. health officials have granted conditional approval for Alkermes Inc.'s once-a-month drug to treat alcoholism in adults, when used along with counseling, the company said on Wednesday.

The drug, called Vivitrol, is an injectable form of naltrexone administered monthly to help ward off a craving for alcohol and should be available in the second quarter of 2006, according to the company.

Alkermes shares rose as much as 7 percent, in after-hours trading following the news.

Before final approval to sell the drug, formally called Vivitrex, Alkermes said it must still meet several conditions set by the Food and Drug Administration, including providing the agency additional preclinical data.

Alkermes officials told Reuters earlier this month they plan to target the more than two million persons seeking treatment each year, but could not disclose estimated sales figures.

"At launch, our focus is on those patients who are motivated to stop" drinking, Alkermes Chief Executive Officer Richard Pops told Reuters in an interview earlier this month. "There (are) enough patients in that 2.3 million people to have an enormous medical impact."

Nearly 18 million American adults are alcohol dependent or abuse alcohol, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

CIBC World Market analysts have said Vivitrex could reach peak sales of more than $500 million.

"We believe Vivitrex could become the gold standard for treatment of alcohol dependence, particularly for patients with compliance issues," they wrote in a November research note.

Naltrexone is already available in pill form to help treat alcoholics and some drug addicts, but experts have said it can be easy for addicts to slip up and miss taking their pills. It is sold generically and under the brand name Revia by Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. unit Duramed Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Alkermes' Pops said having to take a drug once-a-month should make it easier for patients to improve.

"The problem that alcohol-dependent patients have is with compliance ... each day you have to make a decision to take your drug or drink," Pops told Reuters. Vivitrex "removes the need for daily decision making."

Reuters

Alcohol-related health problems on the rise in Britain

Alcohol-related diseases are on an increase in Britain. Statistics reveal that on an average 140 people get to hospitals a day with such ailments and there is a 12 per cent increase in the numbers requiring treatment in the last one year. LONDON: Alcohol-related diseases are on an increase in Britain. Statistics reveal that on an average 140 people get to hospitals a day with such ailments and there is a 12 per cent increase in the numbers requiring treatment in the last one year.

Experts feel binge drinking habits, cheap availability of alcohol and the relaxations in drinking laws will take the figures up, which will put a tremendous pressure on the National Health Scheme.

Official figures showed that there has been a 30 per cent increase in the number of hospitlisations due to heavy drinking since the Labour party came to power. There were 35,740 people aged 18 and above in England, who were treated for alcohol-related problems eight years ago. This figure has gone up to 46,299 in 2004-2005. Including children, there were 51,000 admissions in hospitals during the year. In the one year 2003-2004 - 2004-2005, the number of people requiring treatment increased by 5,177.

The statistics showed that there is a 15 per cent rise in the number of youngsters admitted in hospitals due to drinking problems between 1997 and 2004-2005, up from 4,173 to 4,809. They had complaints of alcohol poisoning, mental disorders and liver disease. On an average, 13 children are admitted in hospitals every day suffering from the effects of binge drinking.

More than 20,000 people die a year because of alcohol-related causes, which is a 20 per cent increase. Alcohol misuse is also estimated to cost the NHS some 1.7 billion pounds.

As many as six million of the U.K. population are believed to be binge drinkers. The prescribed safe limits are two to three units a day for women and three to four units for men.

Medical studies have proved that every heavy drinker in five develops cirrhosis of the liver. Another disconcerting fact is that there are cases of young women developing symptoms that would not normally appear until late middle age as a result of prolonged binge drinking.

Member of Parliament Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat), who got the figures in an answer to a question in the Parliament, said these showed that the binge drinking is leading to more and more people getting admitted to hospital. He said the government must think of preventive measures as it is trying to cut its spending on the NHS.

In a survey in the summer by the NHS, it was found that the number of children under 15 buying alcohol had doubled in 15 years. The annual survey on drinking, drug taking and smoking among 11-15-year-olds indicated there has been no real progress in curbing these habits. It also showed that girls were almost on par with boys in their drinking habits.

Vip News

Hospitals hit by rising toll of binge drinkers

Around 140 people a day end up in hospital because of binge drinking.

And the figure could rise as a result of Labour's 24-hour drinking laws, putting more pressure on the NHS.

Statistics revealed yesterday show a 12 per cent rise in the numbers needing treatment in the past year.

Since Labour came to power in 1997, there has been a 30 per cent rise in hospital admissions due to heavy drinking.

Eight years ago, 35,740 people aged 18 and over in England were treated in hospital for problems linked to alcohol.

This went up to 46,299 in 2004-2005 - a 30 per cent increase.

Between 2003 and 2004 and 2004 and 2005, the numbers needing treatment rose by 5,177 - the biggest annual jump since Labour came to power.

Including children, more than 51,000 were admitted to hospital in 2004-2005 because of binge drinking.

Figures released in August showed an increase among under-18s needing treatment.

There was a 15 per cent rise in youngsters taken to hospital for drink-related problems between 1997 and 2004-2005, up from 4,173 to 4,809.

Thirteen children are admitted to UK hospitals every day suffering from the effects of binge drinking.

More than 20,000 people a year die from alcohol-related causes. And alcohol-related deaths have soared by 20 per cent in the past five years.

Alcohol misuse is estimated to cost the Health Service £1.7billion per year.

Almost six million people in the UK are thought to be binge drinkers, consuming more than the recommended units in single session.

Safe limits are two to three units a day for women, and three to four units for men.

Studies also show that one in five heavy drinkers develops cirrhosis of the liver.

And in recent months, liver specialists highlighted cases of young women developing symptoms that would not normally appear until late middle age as a result of prolonged bouts of binge drinking. But while there has been much publicity about the rise of binge drinking among women, men are nearly five times more likely to become alcoholdependent.

Liberal Democrat Paul Burstow, who obtained the figures in a parliamentary written answer, said: "These figures show our binge drinking culture is leading to more and more people being admitted to hospital.

"With the Government now pressing Primary Care Trusts to stop spending in an attempt to plug the hole in NHS deficits, it is vital that preventative measures to tackle the causes of these hospital admissions, such as alcohol-related services, do not get scrapped.

"If the Government forces local health organisations to divert precious resources away from programmes that tackle the problem-drinking culture in our country, they will merely be storing up a huge health bill for future governments to mop up."

Anne Jenkins, of Alcohol Concern, said the charity is worried about a relentless rise in problem drinking which has not been matched by Government-led action and protected funding for NHS treatment.

She said: "Successive governments have ignored the steady increase in UK alcohol consumption and the health and social problems that result from excess drinking.

"This has led to chronic under-funding for alcohol services.

"Currently there are no national targets for either reducing alcohol consumption or treating people with alcohol-related problems.

"This means that Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) have no target-led incentives to tackle alcohol misuse at a local levels.

"Alcohol Concern is pressing the Government to provide ring-fenced funding to enable PCTs to support and develop the treatment services that are desperately needed by problem drinkers and their families."

comments

It is no longer a problem for our pubs and clubs but more our access to alcohol. Pubs and clubs are governed by rules and restrictions as to what they can and to whom they can sell or they face penalties. For example, a pub which offers a buy 2 for the price of 1 would be frowned upon for encouraging binge drinking yet our everyday local supermarket is running a special on a CASE of beer at half price and it is not just the small corner stores. The major supermarket chains are guilty of this too. So we have a generation of kids growing up who don't see mummy and daddy buying 1 or 2 drinks at a time but rather a case or 2 or a couple of bottles of spirits they can sit at home with and pour their OWN measure. As you may have gathered I am in the licenced trade and feel very strongly that it is being made into a scapegoat. Perhaps this growing need is to allow us to deal with a day to day lifestyle which is becoming harder and harder to accept.

It is very worrying to read about the problem of binge drinking. I can only see the problem getting worse because of the recent legislation enacted by our totally irresponsible government. I am prompted to write this letter because by the case of a young man whom I know personally. He is married to a lovely girl and has three beautiful children. He works in a situation where there is a heavy drinking culture. Unfortunately he has succumbed to this culture and is now causing his wife a great deal of worry and stress by his heavy drinking. How can the people who pass laws making it easier to drink excessively; How can the brewers justify the vast sums of money they spend on advertising to increase their already bloated profit margins. Of course it would be easy to lay the problem on the shoulders of the poor unfortunate souls who do go under but shouldn't this easy availability of drink impinge on the conscience of us all.

Daily Mail

Hospital alcohol admissions rise

The number of drink-related hospital admissions in England has increased by more than a quarter over the past eight years, figures show.

There were 51,108 admissions in 2004-05 - up from 39,913 in 1996-97 - a rise of 28%, official statistics obtained by the Liberal Democrats show.

For underage drinkers the figure rose by 15% and for adults it was up by 30%.

Lib Dem health spokesman Paul Burstow, said it was "vital" more measures were taken to prevent binge drinking.

The statistics cover admissions for liver disease, alcohol poisoning and mental and behavioural problems.

Preventative measures

The figures show 4,809 drink-related admissions for under-18s in 2004-05, up from 4,173 in 1996-97.

For adults the number was 46,299 - up from 35,740.

There were also 95 admissions in 2004-05 for people whose ages were not known.

The Times newspaper reports that the government is considering lifting a 20-year restriction on "sting" operations on retailers suspected of selling alcohol to underage drinkers.

Pub licensing laws in England and Wales were changed last month, with some 1,000 premises allowed to open all day.

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has said more staggered closing times and an accompanying clampdown on bars that allow binge drinking will help make town centres safer.

But opponents, including Tories and Lib Dems, say longer hours will lead to a rise in alcohol-related health problems and violence.

BBC News

Study shows how alcohol damages bones

New York - Bone loss is an often-overlooked consequence of heavy drinking, but recent research has illuminated how alcohol takes a toll on the bones, according to a new report.

In a review of cell, animal and human studies, Dr. Dennis A. Chakkalakal of the Omaha VA Medical Centre in Nebraska describes how heavy drinking leads to bone loss, higher risk of fractures and slower healing of bone breaks.

The main problem appears to be that alcohol inhibits the normal formation of new bone, Chakkalakal reports in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

Though excessive drinking has been shown to promote bone thinning and fractures, some studies have suggested that moderate drinking may actually help protect bone mass - possibly because small amounts of alcohol promote new bone formation.

The opposite appears true of high amounts of alcohol, according to Chakkalakal's review.

Throughout adulthood, bone undergoes a process of "remodelling," whereby cells called osteoclasts break down small portions of old bone, and cells called osteoblasts form new bone. In healthy, younger adults, this process is usually balanced, so that bone mass is maintained.

Too much alcohol, however, appears to inhibit osteoblasts from doing their job, and heavy drinkers may start to lose bone mass in just a few years, according to Chakkalakal. The potential for bone loss climbs in tandem with drinking, evidence shows, but it's not clear where the risk threshold lies.

Most studies on alcohol and bone loss have defined "heavy" drinking as roughly six or more drinks per day. But, the review points out, there's some evidence that bone loss is a risk for people who have closer to three or more drinks a day.

Though many people know about the damage heavy drinking can inflict on the liver, far fewer know about the effects on bone, according to Dr. Terrence M. Donohue Jr., also of the Omaha VA Medical Centre.

In a statement, he recommended that anyone with a bone fracture avoid alcohol during the healing process.

"The review," he said, "underscores the importance of abstinence from alcohol consumption by patients - alcoholics or teetotallers - with fractures and who may want to drink during their convalescence."

Reuters ~ Tue Dec 27, 2005 ~ SOURCE: Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, December 2005.

Binge drinking takes rising toll on health of young

The number of young people admitted to hospital for drink-related diseases continues to rise, with record numbers needing treatment for a range of problems.

Experts say that the binge drinking culture, the relative cheapness of alcohol and longer opening hours have all played their part in the toll that alcohol is taking on the health of the young.

New official figures show that the number admitted to hospital in 2004-05 has risen by 15 per cent since 1996-97, when Labour came to power.

The figures, released to the Liberal Democrats, show that 4,809 people under 18 received in-patient care in 2004-2005 compared with 4,173 eight years before.

The illnesses include alcohol-related liver disease including cirrhosis, mental behaviour disorders and the toxic effects of drinking when teenagers and children have drunk so much that they have poisoned themselves.

At the same time there was a 30 per cent increase in the number of adults admitted to hospital for drink-related disorders, up from 35,740 to 46,299.

Paul Burstow, the Liberal Democrats' health spokesman, said: "'Tis the season to be jolly but, as these figures show, our binge drinking culture is leading to more and more people being admitted to hospital as a result of having too much to drink.

"With the Government now pressing primary care trusts to stop spending in an attempt to plug the hole in NHS deficits, it is vital that preventative measures to tackle the causes of these hospital admissions, such as alcohol treatment services, are not scrapped."

Mr Burstow added: "If the Government forces local heath organisations to divert precious resources away from programmes that tackle the problem drinking culture in our country, they will merely be storing up a huge health bill for future governments to mop up."

Throughout the year reports have illustrated the growing alcohol problem.

In the summer a survey from the NHS showed that the number of children under 15 buying alcohol illegally had doubled in 15 years.

It said that the annual survey of drinking, drug taking and smoking among 11- to 15-year-olds showed that little progress was made last year in stemming damaging habits. It also showed that girls were catching up with boys in their drinking habits.

Researchers found that of those who had alcohol in the previous week, 50 per cent of girls said they had been drunk, compared with 42 per cent of boys.

In October a poll of 2,000 indicated that a quarter of adults, 11 million people, were binge drinking regularly.

The Telegraph ~ 27/12/2005
 

Alcoholic pest 50 jailed

A man described by police as a "public nuisance" has been jailed for three months after refusing to observe a court order banning him from New Addington's dispersal area.

Alan Taylor, of Kennelwood Crescent, was sentenced after previously being found in the area around central New Addington on numerous occasions.

Sergeant Janet Bridger, from the New Addington Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: "He's had enough warnings. This was inevitable. He has had more than enough opportunities to get himself sorted out."

Taylor was arrested on July 29 in Central Parade for breaching the dispersal order.

It banned him from Central Parade, Salcot Crescent, Chertsey Crescent, Overbury Crescent, Cudham Drive and the front of St Edward's Church at the end of the parade.

The 50-year-old alcoholic was only allowed in these areas on Mondays and Wednesdays between 10am and 12pm to go shopping or visit the bank.

In September, Sergeant Bridger reported that he was very rarely sober and an intimidating sight when drunk.

Speaking at the time, she said: "Mr Taylor is a public nuisance. He usually has a can of beer or bottle of cider in his hand and uses loud, foul and abusive language. He is now being moved on or arrested on a daily basis."

Taylor was given an interim ASBO at Croydon Magistrates' Court on December 1 and he is due to return to court on January 31 to discover whether he will be given a full ASBO.

But, speaking after he was sentenced this week, Sergeant Bridger said: "I don't know whether he will be out of prison in time for his ASBO hearing."

ic South london

College students not alone in dangerous drinking

New York (Reuters Health) - Though getting drunk is often seen as a traditional college pastime, other young adults, particularly men, have similarly high rates of potentially hazardous drinking, new research shows.

In a study of nearly 2,000 young adults who'd been followed since high school, researchers found that by the age of 24, both college graduates and those with no more than a high school diploma had comparably high rates of heavy drinking.

In general, men and women with only a high school education drank more heavily in 12th grade and maintained the habit through early adulthood. College graduates, on the other hand, tended to drink less in high school but "caught up" during college.

Though drinking on college campuses has garnered much attention, it's clear that risky drinking is a problem among all young adults, the study authors report in the medical journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

"These results emphasize the need to intervene early to prevent at-risk alcohol use," write Dr. C. Raymond Bingham and his colleagues at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

What's more, they add, the study shows that risky drinking "is neither unique, nor necessarily the highest among individuals who complete college."

Overall, men who finished college had the biggest increase in drinking between 12th grade and the age of 24 -- boosting their drinking more than women did, and more than men with less education.

Women with a college degree also began to drink more heavily and get drunk more often after high school -- though, by the age of 24, they had merely "caught up" with women with less education, and their upturn in drinking during college was actually on the decline.

Women who attended high school only tended to have higher rates of drinking in 12th grade, but their drinking either held steady or began to taper off as they got older.

Men, on the other hand, did not show a reversal of their college, or high school, drinking habits. College graduates had the highest rates of drunkenness, binge drinking and drunk driving at the age of 24, though other men were not lagging much.

In fact, the researchers note, men with only a high school education appeared most at-risk, since their heavy drinking began in high school and continued or increased as they grew older.

"This pattern of alcohol-related risk reinforces the need for early intervention to prevent alcohol misuse in high school," the researchers conclude, "and this need is especially great for students who are not likely to complete college."

Reuters ~ Source: Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, December 2005.

Alcoholic distressed by London bombs - inquest

A Woman who started to drink more heavily after watching depressing TV footage of the London bombings was found dead at home after mixing alcohol and anti-depressants.

Scenes of carnage after the July 7 attacks, including shots of the hospital where her sister had died in childhood, drove Marion Robinson of Wokingham into a downward psychological spiral, a coroner heard.

The 53-year-old had split with her husband, Alan, who said he could not cope with her mood swings after she had been drinking.

In July, Mrs Robinson confided in neighbour Nicola Harmsworth she had been drinking throughout June.

Less than a month later the divorced mother fell on the stairs and died.

Giving evidence at the inquest in Windsor Mrs Harmsworth said: "Most of June she was drinking and at the beginning of July when the London bombings were on television, which reminded her of her sister who had died in one of the same hospitals."

Mrs Harmsworth said her neighbour had an on-and-off drink problem which had recently worsened after separating from her 57-year-old husband.

At the end of July Mrs Harmsworth said she became concerned after not seeing her neighbour for several days. When she entered Mrs Robinson's home in Waterloo Road she found her naked body.

A post-mortem examination later revealed she had been dead for at least a couple of days. Tests showed Mrs Robinson was just below the legal drink-drive limit.

Dr Hunt could not conclude exactly how she had died, but said a mixture of alcohol and anti-depressants found in her system may have been fatal.

Mr Robinson told the inquest his wife had a low tolerance for alcohol and could get drunk very easily.

In a statement he said: "She had a history of poor health and by the fact she drank in excess I would describe her as an alcoholic."

Coroner Peter Bedford said: "An unascertainable cause of death means I can only record one verdict, which is an open verdict."

ic Berkshire ~ Dec 22 2005

Think of a small amount to drink .. and then double it

Scots drinking at home are pouring themselves more than double the standard pub measure of alcohol, according to a study by Edinburgh researchers.

Despite high-profile campaigns aimed at encouraging Scots to be healthy and drink less, most people still do not know what constitutes a standard measure of alcohol.

And when it comes to playing bartender in their own home they are generous to a fault, pouring measures twice the size of those seen in the pub and helping friends and family drink to excess.

Alcohol groups today described the new research as very worrying, and warned that ignorance about the amount of alcohol people are drinking was contributing to drink-related deaths.

Recently released figures show that at least five Scots die of alcohol-related illnesses every day - three times more than 20 years ago.

Alcohol was a factor in the deaths of 2052 people in 2004 - more than 70 per cent of them men. This is an increase of almost four per cent from the previous year and equates to more than five Scots losing their lives to alcohol-related conditions every day.

The research into how people drink at home was carried out by researchers Dr Jan Gill and Dr Marie Donaghy from the School of Health Sciences department at the Capital's Queen Margaret University College, who revealed nearly half of Scotland's men and around a quarter of women regularly exceed the daily recommended limits of three or four units for men and between two and three units for women.

Much of this is consumed away from pubs and clubs, all of which serve alcohol in standard UK measures - half a pint of beer, one small glass of wine or one single measure of spirit each being one standard unit of alcohol.

The study involved staff from three major employers in the city, representing three different types of worker - academics, bankers and factory workers - and tried to determine how much alcohol they would pour for themselves or friends at home.

The aim of the study was to look at both the amount people poured and the size of glass they used, with volunteers filling out a questionnaire then pouring a glass of whisky and a glass of wine.

The results showed that whenever people were in control of the drinks, they routinely pour more than the standard measure of alcohol. They found that:

• The average glass of wine poured in the home was 1.92 standard UK units, while 43 per cent poured single glasses of wine containing more than two units.

• The average measure of spirit poured was 2.3 UK units, and 55 per cent poured single measures of spirit that were more than two UK units.

• Males poured significantly more spirit than females but there was no difference in the units of wine poured.

Dr Gill, a lecturer of physiology at Queen Margaret University College's Department of Nursing, said: "We wanted to show that people really aren't aware of what they are drinking or how much, and even people who are quite keen to keep an eye on how much they drink can find themselves pouring a measure that is far stronger than they think.

"We were a bit surprised by the results, as they were higher than the results of similar studies carried out in Europe.

"It is a big concern, because as well as the long-term problems of people drinking to excess on a regular basis, or binge drinking, there is the worry about people pouring their guests large drinks."

Gillian Bell, of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: "This research confirms that people pouring their own drinks are much more generous with their measures than standard pub measures.

"This throws up the possibility that we have under-estimated how much Scots are drinking."

Scotsman ~ 21-Dec-05

Partying to hell

Three years ago Hussain Ali (not real name) was lying in a hospital ward with only 30 per cent chance of living.

A drug addict and alcoholic, his organs were almost ruined and he was suffering from heavy internal bleeding due to years of substance misuse.

But now the 22-year-old has transformed his life, stopped taking drugs and drinking alcohol and is now in a steady job, happily married and is an active member of the Oldham Young Muslims Organisation (YMO) helping to clean the streets from drugs.

Said Ali: "A couple of years back I wouldn't have even thought about changing my life and stop taking drugs.

"I didn't want to help myself or listen to anybody, I just didn't care what happened to me, but now my life has changed forever."

Ali's first taste of drugs was at the age of 12. He was already smoking cigarettes when a group of friends introduced him to weed. He liked it and at 15 he was an addict, spending his dinner money and any other spare cash on drugs.

It had taken over his life, and so had drinking.

School wasn't important either. He attended classes when he "felt like it". Was excluded several times and never took his GCSE's.

At home his parents tried to get him help and stop his drug addiction, but even they failed.

Ali didn't listen to his mum or dad, didn't care what they had to say, shouted back at them, came and went to the family home as he felt like.

In his spare time he was causing trouble outside of the home, breaking into other people's vehicles, smashing windows, thieving.

Ali's life spiralled out of control.

Said Ali: "I was always hanging around the wrong crowd and whatever they did I followed. I thought it was cool. I started smoking because everybody else did it, it just didn't feel wrong. Weed was easily available and when a friend introduced it, I was hooked straightaway. As a teenager I worked part time in takeaways and restaurants and every single penny was spent on ganja or alcohol. I always came home buzzing. When my parents told me off, I didn't care what they had to say.

"I was meeting people throughout the UK, they were all taking drugs but I thought it was a great lifestyle, it was just one big party for me.

"The more anybody tried to tell me I was doing the wrong thing, the more I did it.

"I was always getting into trouble, I'd even cause trouble outside of my parents home and I knew that nobody could stop me. I knew my parents will never kick me out and even if they did, the authorities would have found me a home. Schools tried excluding me but they had no choice but to take me back each time."

The turning point in Ali's life came when he was admitted to hospital with internal bleeding and was given 30 per cent chance of living. He was admitted into a ward with people on their death bed.

Said Ali: "I was the youngest in my ward. Everybody else was old and dying. I just thought I couldn't spend my last few days dying surrounded by all these people.

"The doctors couldn't find out why I was bleeding so heavily. I was in so much pain and I knew the years of taking drugs and drinking had finally taken its toll."

While he was in hospital, Ali's cousin who was a member of YMO had visited him in hospital with some friends and upon arrival gave Ali an Islamic greeting.

Ali was taken by surprise

"They all said 'salaam' to me and I felt overwhelmed. I was a druggie in hospital and these young Muslims were actually greeting me with respect while my so-called friends hadn't once visited.

"It made me think about my lifestyle and gave me the confidence to discharge myself out of hospital. I then went to the doctors regularly and I even stopped taking drugs and alcohol. I was in hospital for a month and I decided If I could go four-weeks without it then I can carry on doing so.

"My cousin came to visit me regularly and I started attending regular meetings at YMO. The organisation was seriously helping the community. They helped me by involving me in activities, keeping me motivated and helping me get my life back. I was told by one member of YMO that society was like family, and to help society was to help our family. That is how I now see the community I live in.

"I now go out and talk to young drug users. I can relate to them because I've been there, I know how to talk to them and what kind of reaction to expect from them.

"I feel sad that I wasted my teenage years but I am now making up for it."

The Asian News ~ 20 December 2005

Booze culture killing 40 Scots a week, NHS figures reveal

Hospital release - non psychiatric hospital discharge rates per 100,000 of population - Scotland

Almost 40 people a week drank themselves to death last year, latest figures on Scotland's increasingly troubled relationship with alcohol show.

The number of fatalities in which alcohol was the underlying cause or a significant factor passed the 2000 mark for the first time, the NHS statistics division reported.

The toll of 2052 in 2004 was one-and-a-third times the 881 recorded a decade earlier.

The statistics also showed a surge in discharges from acute hospitals for alcohol-related disease among the middle-aged.
Despite teenage drinking often grabbing the headlines, the long-term numbers showed hospital discharges were relatively static or falling among the under-17s.

The number of children under 14 discharged for an alcohol-related condition fell 32% from 314 to 213 between 1996-97 and 2004-05.

However drink-related discharges for the 45-to-64 age group rose 67% over the same period. Experts blamed the cumulative effect of years of heavy drinking resulting in cirrhosis and other diseases of the liver for the figures.
Between 1996-97 and 2004-05, discharges for cirrhosis rose by a third, by 82% for acute hepatitis, and by 185% for alcoholic liver failure.

The data from ISD Scotland, which compiles NHS health statistics, also showed a wide variation around Scotland in hospital discharges due to drink.

Overall, numbers rose 45% between 1996-97 and 2004-05, from 27,919 to 40,448.

Last year, 7754, or 19%, of discharges stemmed from an emergency admission, with 55% happening on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Two-thirds of discharges related to "mental and behavioural disorders due to the use of alcohol", including acute intoxication, dependence, psychosis and harmful use.

However in North Lanarkshire discharges rose 105%.

The greatest concentration of hospital cases related to alcohol was in the Western Isles health board area, where there were 1554 per 100,000 people. Other high rates were in the Greater Glasgow area, where there were 1137 discharges per 100,000 people, and 1254 per 100,000 in Inverclyde. The Scotland-wide rate was 748 per 100,000 people last year, up 17% since 2000-01.

The data followed figures issued last week by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, which showed emergency hospital admissions of people suffering high levels of intoxication rose by 40% for men and 30% for women between 1996 and 2004.

Dr Jonathan Chick, of the Alcohol Problem Service in NHS Lothian, said: "Cirrhosis figures in France have plateaued, and in Italy, Canada, the US and Australia they're coming down. It's particularly in the UK that we see this terrific increase.
"It's so much more affordable for a young person to drink now than 10 to 20 years ago. Putting up prices is widely believed to be the most effective single measure to correct this," he added.

Lewis Macdonald, deputy health minister, said Scotland's drinking culture carried a heavy human and financial cost to society, but insisted ministers were acting to tackle the problem.

"We all need to face up to the massive problems this causes," he said. "That is why we are taking extensive measures to tackle alcohol misuse and binge drinking."

Stewart Maxwell, the SNP's deputy health spokesman, called for a national debate on how to end Scotland's "bevvy culture".
He said: "This report should be a wake-up call for the executive. The deputy health minister says the executive is 'taking extensive measures to tackle alcohol misuse and binge drinking' – the same executive which has removed the barrier to round-the-clock drinking with its licensing bill."

Tory Nanette Milne said: "Education is clearly needed and we have to take action to curb underage drinking."
Jack Law, the chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: "Alcohol is now far more affordable, more widely available, and many drinks are much stronger than ever before. Too many people fail to recognise that the way they personally are drinking may be causing serious harm, until it is too late and they have damaged their health, relationships or lifestyle beyond repair."

The Herald ~ December 20 2005

Alcohol abuse picture 'worrying'

A report on drinking trends in the Yorkshire and Humber region gives a "worrying" picture.

More than one-third of local adults - nearly half of all men and over a quarter of all women - drink more than the recommended daily allowance.

This is more than anywhere else in the country, says the survey which will be discussed at a conference in Leeds.

A range of services, including police, health, youth justice, and local authorities, provided the information.

'Social fabric'

Yorkshire and the Humber, along with the North West, has the highest prevalence of "binge drinking" in England, the report says.

Along with the North East, the region has the highest percentage (5%) of people dependent on alcohol compared to the national average (3.6%).

In line with national trends, deaths from chronic liver disease have almost doubled in the region in the past 10 years.

Regional director of Public Health, Professor Paul Johnstone, said: "Enjoying a drink with friends is an important part of the social fabric of our region.

"However we must also recognise that many of us are now drinking far too much - and this has serious implications for our future physical and mental health and social well-being."

The report will be launched at a conference of workers from health services, youth services, voluntary organisations, police and local authorities from around the region.

The aim of the conference is to provide a framework to help the region to frame its own strategy to combat alcohol related problems.

The conference is sponsored by the Home Office and the Department of Health.

BBC News ~ 2005/12/18

Don't let this happen to you..

Mother of teen killed in binge-drink attack begs..

Lying in intensive care after a booze-fuelled attack, this is the tragic picture of a dying son his mum hopes will alert other youngsters to the dangers of binge-drinking.

Sports student Dale Whitfield, 18, was killed by a single punch when he and a friend became embroiled in a confrontation with Dean Talbot-Bennett as they walked home from a night out to celebrate exam result.

His grieving mother Sharon Orr told how she tenderly kissed him goodbye after making the agonising decision to turn off his life support. Doctors told her there was no hope of a recovery from the serious head injuries caused as he fell backwards from the blow.

Despite her own pain, the 41-year-old toured the pubs and clubs of her home town handing out copies of Dale's picture with the warning: "Don't let this happen to you."

She attacked the Government and landlords for failing to tackle the binge-drinking culture sweeping Britain that led to the death of her only child and insisted longer licencing laws will only lead to more violence.

Sharon said: "I want it to get to the kids, to have an impact on them. It's my mission. My son died because of one stupid night out. Dean was drunk and Dale was drunk. In my opinion drink and violence go hand in hand.

"On another night both boys would have gone home and woken up with a hangover. Instead both their lives are ruined and many more besides. I'm against the new licensing laws. We don't have the same culture here as they do on the continent.

"Extending drinking time is about money, nothing else. It will lead to more violence.

"Youngsters are being encouraged to have too much alcohol. Some clubs do a thing called a fishbowl. It is full of booze. It would kill you to drink it.

"Bar owners need to take respon-sibility for what they are doing."

Recalling the night Dale died in July, Sharon told how he popped into the pub where she works to buy her a glass of wine and said to her: "Love you mum."

He had left their home in Warrington, Cheshire, to go on a rare Friday night out with some friends.

Later one mate ended up in an argument with 19-year-old chef Talbot-Bennett and when Dale stepped in to act as peacemaker he was felled by the punch.

Sharon got a phone call at 4am saying he was in Warrington General Hospital. Husband Nigel drove her straight there and the couple were met by the shocking sight of him hooked up to tubes, drips and a ventilator.

She remembers singing his favourite childhood lullaby Hush Little Baby Don't You Cry to him as he lay in his intensive care bed. She stroked his hair, listened to his heartbeat and washed him...until doctors finally told her there was nothing they could do to save him.

Five months on, Sharon still cannot bear to be parted from her son.

She sleeps with his ashes and keeps the blue, blood-stained T-shirt he was wearing on the night of the attack neatly folded under her pillow. There will be no family Christmas this year. Sharon said: "Dale was my life.

"He was an ordinary teenager yet he was exceptional. He was handsome, clever, vibrant. He just passed his driving test and was going to university.

"He was my closest companion. Now I will never see him again."

Talbot-Bennet admitted killing Dale and got 21 months jail at Chester Crown Court for manslaughter.

He is expected to be released with a tag in half the time.

Sharon said she could never hate her son's attacker. She told how he looked like "a frightened rabbit" in the dock.

She added: "Part of me feels sympathetic. But his life will be back to normal in less than a year, mine will never be the same again."

The Mirror

The spectre of drink-driving returns to haunt Christmas

The campaigns were working, the death rate falling year by year, but now it is rising again. Why? Emma Smith of The Sunday Times investigates
For years drink-driving appeared to be on the way out. Hard-hitting public information campaigns drummed home the message that alcohol and cars did not mix, and the old invitation to have “one for the road” became a social faux pas. As a result drink-driving-related deaths plummeted.

But today the picture is very different. This Christmas there is concern that the spectre of drink driving has come back to haunt us.

After two decades of progress, which saw the death toll from drink-driving-related accidents drop from 1,640 in 1979 to 460 at the end of the 1990s, the figure is creeping back up. Deaths from drink driving are at their highest level for more than a decade.

An estimated 590 people died in drink-drive accidents last year — 130 more than in 1998, the year after Labour came to power. Between 2001 and 2003 (the latest figures available), convictions for driving while under the influence of drink or drugs increased by 10%, despite an overall 14% drop in the number of breath tests being administered.

The question is: why? One answer seems to lie in a cultural shift among drivers who no longer see drink driving as the sin it once was. But there are more specific reasons, ranging from the increased availability and strength of alcohol to the way in which today’s police are patrolling Britain’s roads.

In a country that has embraced a binge-drinking culture, the change in people’s attitudes is clear. Last week two surveys gave a damning portrait of motorists’ increasingly careless attitude towards drink-driving.

In a survey of 1,600 motorists by Auto Trader magazine, one in three admitted to drink-driving. One in five said they’d had an accident or near miss after drinking alcohol, and half of those said it would not stop them doing it again. In a report by the online broker motorinsurance.co.uk, only 55% of 539 motorists questioned said they would not drink at all if they were driving.

John Apter, an experienced road policing officer and spokesman for the Police Federation, says: “The attitude of a lot of people appears to have gone backwards. More people seem to think, ‘What’s the problem?’ The traffic officers I speak to notice it out on the roads and it’s sad because we thought we’d moved on.”

The advent of 24-hour drinking looks likely to compound the problem. Of those interviewed by motorinsurance.co.uk, 94% believe changes in the licensing laws will lead to a rise in drink driving the morning after. More than 40% didn’t know the legal alcohol limit.

The official UK limit is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood (compared with 50mg in most of Europe). In the past that was usually equated to two pints — or four units — of regular strength lager. But what constitutes “regular strength” has changed.

Since 1998 the average alcohol content of lager/beer has risen from 3.99% to 4.19%. For wine, average alcohol content has increased from 10% in the mid-1960s to almost 12% today, and many have 14%. Pub measures have also grown to match the UK’s growing appetite for booze, with wine served in super-sized glasses and double measures of spirits increasingly the norm.

“A glass of wine does not mean the same in one pub as it does in another,” says Carole Whittingham of the Campaign Against Drink Driving, whose 27-year-old son Steven was killed by a drink driver in 1992.

“Drinking just half a pint of some of the very strong lagers would be enough to push some people over the legal limit. People are now regularly being caught with alcohol levels three or four times above the limit.”

Earlier this year Catherine Bickerdike, a 29-year-old mother of one from Warton, Lancashire, set an unenviable record for what was reported to be the highest ever breath test reading — almost six times over the legal limit (183mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath compared with a legal limit of 35mg). She received a six month prison sentence and was banned from driving for four years. Drivers who kill while over the limit face up to 14 years in prison.

In an attempt to reverse the disturbing new trend, the Department for Transport is spending £2m on an extended anti-drink-drive advertising campaign this Christmas. The seasonal police crackdown on drink drivers started at the beginning of December and will last until December 31, two weeks longer than usual. Senior police officers have also joined forces with their European counterparts in a Christmas initiative aimed at discovering better ways to deter drink drivers.

Meredydd Hughes, the recently appointed Association of Chief Police Officers’ head of road policing, says: “The great advances of anti-drink driving are beginning to wear off and it is time to refresh the campaign. It was a major cultural change for the better, it led to a great reduction in casualties, and we need to recapture that.”

But behind the retrogressive change in social attitudes is also a growing awareness that drink drivers today are much less likely to be caught. The number of motorists breath tested dropped by a third between 1998 and 2003 (from 815,500 to 534,300).

Traffic policemen have been replaced by speed and other traffic enforcement cameras. And cameras cannot tell if a driver has been drinking.

In the 1960s, between 15% and 20% of police constables were involved in road policing. By 1998 that figure had dropped to 7% and continues to fall.

“Some forces cope with less than 30 dedicated road policing officers,” says Jan Berry, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales. “This equates to just 2% of the total force. Road policing can no longer be described as a core police activity when many units are only deployed in reaction to road death investigations and automatic numberplate recognition initiatives.

“We have grave concerns about the declining number of road policing officers. Fear of being caught is still the most effective deterrent.”

Emboldened by drink, many drivers become convinced they can do things they’d never dream of attempting sober. Some even boast they can handle a car better after a couple of drinks. But Ford has devised a test to prove them wrong — and I agreed to play guinea pig.

While gradually increasing my alcohol intake, I was asked to perform a series of manoeuvres to test my dexterity, reaction times and judgment behind the wheel.

Driving a Ford Focus C-Max fitted with sensors I attempted an emergency stop from 50mph, a slalom course at 30mph, driving in a constant radius curve at 60mph (similar to driving along a motorway slip road), reversing through a line of cones, reverse parking and manoeuvring around a B-shaped course designed to mimic driving around a multi-storey carpark.

After just two pints (four units) of beer the effect on my driving was obvious. My steering was five times less precise. I needed more steering corrections to reverse down the line of cones and I hit more of them. After three more units I was close to the drink-driving limit — 35mg per 100ml of breath.

I was faster round the B-shaped course but paying scant regard to the number of cones I hit. I was driving far too fast on the constant radius curve and needed twice as many steering corrections to reverse down the lane of cones.

My performance continued to deteriorate, fuelled by overconfidence and dulled reactions. What was second nature while sober required greater and greater concentration.

The test was halted on safety grounds when I was approximately twice the limit. By this stage I was steering wildly and erratically, sending half the cones flying. It took me twice as long to reverse through the cones as when sober and I had to make 25 steering corrections and twice had to drive forwards and start again.

The one area where my performance improved was in braking: the readout showed I was hitting the pedal faster and harder as the alcohol boosted my confidence. Given the rest of the results, however, this offered scant reassurance.

Times Newspapers ~ December 18, 2005

What is being drunk and incapable?

As the Christmas Party season gets into full swing, arrests for drunken behaviour are set to rise as well. But what constitutes being drunk and incapable?

Tonight is the biggest office party night of this year's festive season, according to Boots. Sales of aspirin have soared as people prepare for the inevitable hangover the next day.

Police are also bracing themselves for hordes of drunken revellers. The first high-profile casualty of the season is former health minister Stephen Twigg, who was arrested on Monday and fined £50 for being drunk and incapable.

The 38-year-old ex-MP had reportedly drunk too much red wine at a Christmas lunch and was on his way home when he was stopped by a policeman in central London.

Sober up

But with so many people taking advantage of Christmas hospitality, what constitutes being drunk and incapable and couldn't most of the nation be arrested for it?

The official definition of being drunk and incapable is when you are so drunk you are unable to stand or walk or unaware of what you are doing or unable to understand what is said to you.

If a person is arrested for the offence, and they have no previous record and are not disorderly, they will be taken to a police station and kept there until they are sober. This could mean a night in the cells, being woken every half hour to make sure they are ok.

The person will also be issued with a £50 fixed penalty notice. From January to August this year 22,667 notices were issued. If they are injured they will be taken to hospital instead.

Enforcing the law is down to the discretion of individual officers, says the Metropolitan Police.

"As with all laws, they are there for a police officer to use as they see appropriate," says a spokesman.

Ritual

For drinkers there is safety in numbers, as any attempt to round up rowdy revellers in Britain's town and cities - even on a quiet weeknight - would soon over-stretch police and fill their cells to bursting point.

"The police don't usually do anything unless a person was being a pest or if they were a risk to themselves," says Andrew McNeil of the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS).

The offence of being drunk and incapable is not a new one. It was first recognised in statute during the 18th and 19th centuries, according to the University of Dundee.

But statistics for drunkenness are on the decline, says the IAS - although not because we are drinking less, rather fewer people are being arrested.

"There has been a steady lack of enforcement of what are technically breaches of the laws," says Mr McNeil. "If you are being quietly drunk in a shop doorway the police will probably turn a blind eye. They are waiting for the serious offences."

If someone does come to police attention for fighting or rowdy behaviour they are usually arrested for being drunk and disorderly. They can be fined up to £1,000 or given a penalty notice for £80.

Under section 12 of the Licensing Act 1902 any person who has been convicted of offences related to drunkenness three times within the preceding 12 months can be banned by the courts from buying alcohol from any licensed premise for three years.

BBC ~ Thursday, 15 December 2005

Alcohol With Out Liquid hits the UK

A new social craze involving inhaling alcohol fumes at a Suffolk nightclub could spell disaster for the future well-being of drinkers, it has been warned. Alcohol With Out Liquid (AWOL), has sparked outrage among health officials and drugs experts in Bury St Edmunds, who believe the gimmick could have serious detrimental affects on its users.

The product, which has been launched at the town's Club NRG, allows customers to vaporise their favourite alcoholic drink with the use of pure oxygen.

Its manufacturers claim imbibing alcohol in this way reduces the likelihood of getting a hangover, and “leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling”.

But last night, Sally Hogg, health improvement manager for Suffolk West Primary Care Trust, said she had two major concerns about the product, which has not been seen anywhere in the whole of East Anglia until now.

“As far as I am aware, this is a new way of consuming alcohol and is therefore unknown and unproven,” she said.

“Nobody knows what the consequences are in terms of how it affects your body but it sounds very unsafe to me so, for example, I am worried that it may affect the lungs.

“I am also concerned that youngsters will not use AWOL as an alternative to drinking but will continue to consume alcohol in the usual way in addition to inhaling it.”

Consumers of AWOL load their chosen shot into a handset, which can then be inhaled for a maximum of 10 minutes, although no more than two “sessions” - which cost £7 a go - are recommended in a 24-hour period.

The device was first introduced to a bar in Bristol in 2004, when experts warned of everything from brain damage, to being able to pass police breath tests despite being too intoxicated to drive.

Chip Somers, who runs the Bury based drug and alcohol counselling service Focus, said the next step up from inhaling alcohol would be to inject it.

“AWOL is of great concern, and simply involves trying to find a new way of getting people to take more alcohol in what appears to be a very dangerous manner,” he said.

“This product could lead to people conning themselves into thinking they are not consuming alcohol because they are not actually drinking it, and would consume larger amounts as a result.

“There is already a problem with young people drinking more alcohol than they should, and I think AWOL is a completely irresponsible product.

Nicky Crang, owner of Club NRG, said AWOL gives you a “chilled out buzz like never before”, but added that if anything it would make you consume less alcohol than if you were drinking it.

“The idea of it is not to get you really drunk, but is about trying something completely new and different,” she said.

“I have used it a few times during the trial period and I was merry, but not drunk. It is only natural that it will raise a few objections and I can understand why people might be concerned about the product, but I think it is no more dangerous than drinking, and I think it will stand the test of time in Bury.”

Hard Dance London ~ Thursday, December 15

What drinking does to your body

The annual party season finds many of us indulging to excess. But what are we doing to our bodies? Maxine Frith finds that the health effects of alcohol go far beyond a nasty headache the morning after

BREAST

A woman's risk of breast cancer rises by six per cent for each extra alcoholic drink she has, on average, every day. Cancer
Research UK estimates that alcohol accounts for around four per cent of breast cancers in the developed world. Overall, 5,000
cancer deaths a year are attributed to alcohol, although red wine in moderation is believed by some scientists to help protect against some forms of the disease, such as cancer of the bowel.

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

It's a familiar sight on any high street at this time of year - the drinker who has had one too many and is disgorging their night's intake. The chemicals in alcohol can irritate the lining of the stomach, prompting the body to expel them by vomiting. Most alcoholic drinks are high in sugar, calories and carbohydrates, so that you may not want to eat because you feel full, even though your body is not getting any nutrients. The sugar also triggers the production of insulin, which in turn reduces blood sugar levels. This explains those hungover feelings of trembling and hunger the next morning.
In the long term, regular, heavy drinking can lead to peptic ulcers, inflammation of the pancreas and cancer, while alcohol
impairs the small intestine's ability to process nutrients and vitamins. Continued disruption of insulin production can lead to diabetes.

REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

First there's the "beer goggles" effect - when you end up in bed with someone you wouldn't normally touch with a bargepole
because your emotional and behavioural barriers are down.
Reduced inhibitions can lead to unsafe sex, with abortion clinics reporting a rise in appointments in January. On the other hand, drinking depresses the nerve impulses that cause erections and can lead to so-called "brewer's droop". Heavy intake causes a drop in testosterone levels in men, leading to shrinkage of the penis and, in some cases, long-term impotence and problems. Alcohol can also damage sperm and egg production and the ability of a fertilised egg to implant in the womb.

LIVER

Alcohol is absorbed into the blood from the stomach and intestines and passes through the liver before circulating around the
body. Thus it is the liver that has to deal with the highest concentrations of damaging chemicals.
As the liver breaks down alcohol, a by-product called acetaldehyde is formed, which is almost as toxic as the original product itself. If large amounts of alcohol are constantly being processed, acetaldehyde can cause scarring of the liver which leads to cirrhosis, damaging its ability to function and restricting the blood flow to cells. A night of heavy drinking can upset the balance of enzymes and disrupt fat metabolism, which over time can build up and engorge the liver. Excess drinking can also causehepatitis, which can be fatal. Both hepatitis and cirrhosis can cause the skin to become jaundiced, as well as causing anaemia, lower back pain and severe swelling of the abdomen. One in ten heavy drinkers will develop cirrhosis, and a transplant is the only cure.

THE UNBORN CHILD

The accepted wisdom is that a moderate intake of around two units per week during pregnancy will not affect the unborn child.
But scientists now believe that even one glass of wine a week during pregnancy can make the foetus "jump" in the womb and
slow its development. Excessive drinking while pregnant can cause Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, where babies have a low birthweight, reduced intelligence and facial deformities.

BRAIN

Alcohol boosts production the "feel-good" neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, but when you stop drinking, these
levels plummet. Alcohol can also cause brain cells to swell. Permanent disruption of dopamine levels can cause depression and
increases the risk of stroke by 42 per cent, according to research. Cognitive functions learned later in life, such as decorum, are the first to be affected by alcohol, and are followed by disruption to the brain cells associated with attention, sleep, co-ordination and memory. If someone drinks until they pass out, the parts of the brain that control breathing are affected. In extreme cases, the brain shuts down and the drinker lapses into a coma. Excessive alcohol intake is the most common cause of sudden fits in young men and up to 50 per cent of weekend A&E department admissions are alcohol related.

MOUTH AND THROAT

Alcohol is the main reason behind a recent steep rise in cases of mouth cancers, the charity Cancer Research warned last week. Mouth cancer now kills 1,600 people in the UK every year, more than cervical and testicular cancer combined. The chance of surviving for five years with mouth cancer is just 50 per cent. Doctors believe that three quarters of cases of the disease could be prevented by more moderate consumption of alcohol. Alcohol contains chemicals called nitrosamines that can cause cancer in the mouth, voicebox, pharynx and oesophagus.

LEGS, ARMS AND BONES

Alcohol acts like an anaesthetic in the bloodstream, so that after a drink or three, your limbs become more relaxed and you are less likely to feel pain. More worryingly, alcohol interferes with the body's ability to absorb calcium, resulting in the softening and weakening of bones that can lead to osteoporosis. Drinking can also weaken muscles and cause pain and spasms in the arms and legs. The damage to the body's central nervous system by alcohol can cause permanent tingling or numbness in the fingers and toes.

COMPLEXION

Drinking causes the small blood vessels in the skin to widen, allowing more blood to flow to the surface and causing that flushed, rosy-cheeked look that dominates so many Christmas party photographs. Alcohol causes temporary disruption to the body's antidiuretic mechanism, which is why there are always long queues outside the toilets of pubs and clubs.
This disruption also means that people who are drinking a lot are likely to sweat more, as their bodies try to absorb the alcohol and adjust to the dehydrating affect it causes. You may look shiny and full of colour the night before, but the morning after your body will struggle to re-hydrate and draws fluid from the top layers of skin, leaving the surface of your face dry and flaky. Long term drinking can cause the skin capillaries to break up, leading to a permanently flushed and puffy look with bloodshot eyes. More seriously, alcohol is linked to the painful skin complaint psoriasis, particularly in men, as well as eczema.

HEART

It's not all bad news of course. Numerous studies have shown that moderate intake of red wine can protect against colds,
Alzheimer's and heart disease. Scientists believe that red wine contains chemicals called polyphenols that interfere with the formation of endothelin-1 - the substance in the body that causes arteries to clog and raises the risk of heart attacks.
However, the latest study on the subject, published in The Lancet last week, rubbished that theory and said that the risks far outweigh the benefits. Alcohol is a vasodilator, which means it makes the peripheral blood vessels relax in order to allow more blood to flow through tothe skin and tissues. Even one unit quickens your pulse rate, as your heart begins to work harder in order to pump enough blood to your organs. In the short term, this just makes you breathe slightly faster and contributes to that "high" feeling while you drink. But in the long term, alcohol weakens the heart muscle and its ability to pump blood through the body. It causes high blood pressure, thereby increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Heavy drinking can cause atrial fibrillation - a rapid, irregular heartbeat that is brought about when the heart's chambers contract too quickly.

Independent News ~ 13 December 2005

After facing down alcoholism, Art Van Elslander sets ambitious goals for company

Van Elslander forced himself to face the fact that he is an alcoholic and sought treatment so that he could quit.

“I am not at all ashamed. I have come to realize that it is a disease, and with proper treatment — like diabetes, or other diseases — it can be treated,” Van Elslander said in an interview on Wednesday.

Van Elslander spoke about his battle with alcohol for the first time Nov. 13 on Jack Krasula’s “Anything is Possible” show on WJR 760 AM. Last week, Van Elslander told Crain’s that he thought carefully about his decision to discuss it in public.

“First of all, I asked all of my children — you know I have 10 — if I would cause any embarrassment to them or to my grandchildren, and they said ‘absolutely not, Dad,’ ” Van Elslander said.

He also said that he came forward because he is hoping that he will influence others to seek help. In fact, he said several business colleagues have sought treatment after finding out about his problems.

“Alcoholics drink because they like to drink,” Van Elslander said. “And you can always make excuses to drink — business is bad, business is good. Life is bad, life is good — there are a million excuses.”

Van Elslander said AA’s 12 steps that he has lived by for the past four years have worked well for him. He says the principles are good for virtually everyone and said they also complement his religious beliefs.

The steps require alcoholics to acknowledge their alcoholism, make amends to those they’ve harmed and turn their lives over to “the care of God as we understood him.”

Dr. Garrett O’Connor, chief psychiatrist for the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif., applauded Van Elslander’s decision to talk publicly.

“We really love to have people who have had good recovery speak about it, because that gives confidence to other people,” O’Connor said. “There is a saying among alcoholics: ‘We are only as sick as our secrets.’ ”

O’Connor, who does not know Van Elslander, said it is often difficult to get executives to admit their alcoholism because the people around them are unwilling to push the issue.

Van Elslander said he knew for a long time that he had a drinking problem, but, like many alcoholics, lived in denial for years.

“I think I probably crossed the line — and none of us ever really knows — maybe about 10 years before,” seeking treatment, he said.

Van Elslander said he became an alcoholic by drinking frequently at social and business events and eventually began drinking at home and at work.

“I never went to bars. My bar was either my conference room or my bar at home,” he said.

While it often takes an intervention by friends, family or loved ones for an alcoholic to realize treatment is needed, Van Elslander said he came to the conclusion on his own. He researched treatment and checked into a 30-day program called Sierra Tucson Inc. in Arizona. Afterwards, he attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings every morning except Sundays at 7 a.m. for three years, and continues to go frequently.

“First of all, it’s a wonderful way to start the day out,” Van Elslander said. “What you find (is that) there are people who have the very same problem, and regardless of the walk of life, regardless of color, you find people are really friendly, very open.”

Looking back, Van Elslander says he now believes that there were alcoholics on his father’s side of the family. In part, Van Elslander said, he decided to seek treatment because he recognized that alcoholism can be genetic and he wanted to set a good example for his children.

“I think it’s not the hand that you get dealt in life, I think it’s the way you play the hand, and I’ve said that for many, many, years. And I think doing it by example is certainly better than talking about it.”

Crain's Detroit Business~ December 12, 2005

'My Car Knows the Way Home'

While talk about responsible drinking and the effects of alcohol in your body is usually Dr Frank Njenga's field, today I think it behoves us all to put in our two cents' worth, especially with the festive season approaching.

Last Friday's launch by the Kenya Police of the Alcoblow, was quite a landmark in the policing of drink driving in this country. It was also an event that had the effect of immediately striking fear into the hearts of all those who drink and drive. Rightly so I may add, as anyone who has seen the mayhem that can be caused by a drunk driver would agree.

Of course there are already those who are putting it about that there are only six breathalysers in Kenya and no spares and so the chance of getting caught is minimal.

In the UK where they use a similar device, more than half a million breath tests are carried out each year and on average 100,000 are found to be positive. Do you want to chance those odds?

For far too long people in this country have assumed that it was their right to drink as much as they liked and then get behind the wheel of their cars and drive on the road putting other road users at risk.

Many is the time the boast "my car knows the way home" has been heard and treated as a joke when said by a person who is narrating how they got home after a night on the tiles when they were so drunk they could barely walk.

Indeed, I must admit, I have thoughtlessly said similar things a fair few times myself only to think later in the clear cold light of a hung-over morning, "what was I thinking? Why did I not just take a cab home?"

Hopefully now there will be more talk of designated drivers (the fellow who remains booze free to make sure he drops the rest of the gang home in one piece) and more use of taxis from bars and clubs.

Life would be wonderful if such a situation were to come about, but I think I am enough of a cynic to know that such a nirvana could never come to pass. The best we can hope for is that enough people take the advice and eventually, our roads become safer, especially at night and on holidays and weekends in particular.

Statistics in Britain have it that people who drive at twice the current legal alcohol level are at least 50 times more likely to be involved in a fatal car crash. Scary stuff eh?

That said, we must examine the other side of the coin.

What are the rules about safe or legal limits of alcohol use in Kenya? Is there a legal alcohol limit?

As far as I can detect, and even the Police Commissioner Maj-Gen Hussein Ali could only say "the law forbids drunk driving".

Does the law tell you how much is considered enough? Does the law in Kenya tell you how much is more than enough?

No! However, this is too lame and irresponsible an excuse for everyone to go about drinking and driving with abandon, just because our lawmakers have been too lax (or maybe they just don't care) to come up with laws on the legal limits of alcohol allowed.

We can take the lead from other countries and adopt their standards, at least until we can come up with our own.

For instance, the legal limit in the UK is 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

In the US, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have laws defining it as a crime to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above a proscribed level, usually 0.08 per cent, basically the same as the UK.

Now, if like me mathematics is not your forte and these figures, are just that, simply figures, let me put it another way. Even better, let South Africa's National Road Safety Council, explain.

One metric tot is 8.4 grams of ethyl alcohol. The average beer contains between 13 and 16 grams of ethyl alcohol. One beer is therefore equivalent of a double tot of whiskey, vodka or brandy, for example.

In South Africa, the legal limit which is 0.05grams per hundred millilitres. This is reached after two beers.

As far as wine is concerned: It would depend on whether you are referring to fortified wine or not. (Fortified implying that alcohol had been added to the wine)

Usually on any bottle the percentage of alcohol is indicated. Ten percent would imply 10 grams/alcohol per 100 ml of wine.

Of course there is no fail-safe guide as to how much you can drink and stay under the limit.

It can depend on many factors such as the amount and type of alcoholic drink, your weight, sex, age, food intake and metabolism.

By the way, it does not end when you are home and safely tucked up in bed.

For drivers, the morning after can still be a dangerous time behind the wheel.

Sure, you may feel ok, but physically you may still be unfit to drive or over the legal alcohol limit.

There are all the theories and old wives tales about having a shower or having a cup of coffee to "sober up". Sadly, according to medical researchers, that is all they are, theories and old wives tales. Purging alcohol from the body takes time and there is nothing you can do about it.

The Nation (Nairobi) ~ December 9, 2005

Telling an alcoholic to stop drinking is pointless

The last thing that Paul Gascoigne needs right now is people preaching to him about his problems. Understanding and help are what he needs most of all, but he still has the ability to do a great job for somebody in football.

I realised many years ago that preaching to George or trying to lecture him about his problems was pointless. You cannot tell an alcoholic to stop drinking because alcoholics will always be alcoholics and they will always fancy a drink. Paul has a problem and he has faced up to it in the past and I'm sure he will face up to it again. What people have to understand is that men like George and Paul don't just drink in order to let people down. Alcoholism is a medical problem and I don't think that the comments of Imraan Ladak, the Kettering chairman, regarding Paul's drinking were helpful. They only seem to have magnified Paul's problems.

I can understand why people are making comparisons between the problems that afflicted George and what is now happening to Paul. They were both great footballers with drink problems, but it is unfair to compare them. George was shy and reserved, but Paul is more outgoing, so their issues are different.

Paul has been sensible enough to seek help in the past, though, and that shows that he accepts he has a problem. I know Paul through George and he is a nice guy, but people don't really know him, just like people in general didn't really know George and why he had his problems.

I do think that being in football is something that will help Paul, though.

Maybe this job at Kettering was too much too soon for him because managing a football club brings a lot of pressure and that may have contributed to what has happened. However, it would be criminal if nobody out there was willing to give him another chance. He has so much to offer and being involved with a team, perhaps as a coach, will give Paul something to focus on and show him that people have trust in him.

Before, during and after George's illness, Paul spent a lot of time speaking to George's son, Calum, and I know he was terribly disappointed not to be able to be at George's funeral at Stormont on Saturday.

Paul is a good guy and I wish him all the best in his efforts to overcome his problems. I'm sure he will.

Telegraph ~ 07/12/2005

Britain urged to test cocaine addict vaccine

The government wants to harness an anti-addiction vaccine designed to cancel out the high experienced by users of cocaine and other drugs.

The medicine, invented by a Cambridge company, was discussed at a Whitehall meeting last month and officials hope UK trials can begin soon.

It is one of a new generation of treatments that could prove vital in fighting cocaine, heroin and other illicit drugs whose use is blamed for a £16 billion-a-year crime wave in Britain. The medicines may eventually be used to treat smokers and alcoholics as well.

TA-CD, the vaccine now drawing government interest, is already under trial in America, where the National Institute on Drug Abuse is pumping millions of dollars into its development. It is expected to be ready for use in treating cocaine addicts within three years.

Xenova, the company that invented the medicine, gave a presentation to officials from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Health and the Home Office. It is understood senior Downing Street advisers are taking a close interest in the American trials.

A DTI source said: “Xenova were invited to tell us about their US experience, but the real reason for the meeting was to find out why the vaccine wasn’t being trialled in the UK and work out what we could do about it.”

Professor Thomas Kosten, of the institute of psychiatry at Yale University, outlined his research into the medicine’s effect on 130 volunteers. Professor Anthony David of the Mental Health Research Network was also present. He said: “[We are] keen to faciliate high quality large scale clinical trials in this area.”

In addition to TA-CD, other drugs under trial for use against addiction include Rimonabant, a drug that is expected to be licensed soon for use against obesity in both America and Britain. Some experts believe that its method of stopping cravings for food could also be used to stop cravings for drugs.

Anti-addiction medicines would offer a novel approach to treating drug users, who usually rely on counselling and rehabilitation clinics. In future addicts could be ordered to take the vaccine by courts, or parents could give it to their children.

The most obvious benefit, however, would be for cocaine users who wish to break the habit — such as the model Kate Moss. Moss completed a 30-day detoxification programme in October and since then her rehabilitation in the public eye has been rapid. She is guest editor of the latest issue of French Vogue.

Cocaine, like heroin and nicotine, is a tiny molecule that, when in the bloodstream, is able to penetrate the brain’s protective layers. Inside the brain it interferes with the junctions between nerve cells, producing a high.

Xenova’s vaccine works by altering a user’s immune system so that it can recognise cocaine in the blood. The production of antibodies is stimulated that envelop the cocaine molecules, making them too large to cross into the brain.

However, before the vaccine can be licensed it will need to go through much bigger trials that will take at least two years to complete. Xenova said it had been encouraged by the initial results at Yale, which showed that 58% of patients given the vaccine had stopped using cocaine during the 12-week test period, while 42% of those taking the vaccine had stayed off the drug for more than six months.

If the trials of TA-CD are successful, Xenova hopes to win rapid approval for the drug from the US Food and Drug Administration. A spokesman for the company said: “This is a very powerful approach because once someone has been vaccinated they could have long-term immunity to the effects of such drugs.”

He speculated that if such treatments worked, the first target would be long-term addicts who wanted to be weaned off drugs, but after that there would be great interest from parents and the courts.

“In theory, a parent could have their children vaccinated so that they would never be tempted to start smoking or to take drugs,” he said. “It’s an interesting idea but it raises lots of ethical questions.”

However, a tendency to addiction is a personality trait and the vaccine may not be a panacea. Barry Everitt, professor of behavioural neuroscience at Cambridge University, believes just pre-empting the effects of cocaine will not always lead to a cure for addiction.

“A vaccine is a mechanism to stop the action of cocaine,” said Everitt. “It is not a cure for addiction in itself.”

The Sunday Times ~ December 04, 2005

Drink-drive campaign urges total abstinence

The Christmas campaign against drink-driving was launched yesterday with the toughest message yet: drivers should not consume a single drop of alcohol.

Alistair Darling, the Transport Secretary, said drivers should steer clear of it completely.

Mr Darling said: "It's great to go out to a pub and have a drink, but people have got to remember if they are planning on doing that they should leave their car keys at home."

Mr Darling unveiled the zero-tolerance message on drinking and driving at one of the country's most famous pubs - Coronation Street's Rovers Return.

He was joined by the Rovers' barmaid Shelly Unwin, played by Sally Lindsay, who helped hammer home the message.

The new campaign is part of a £2 million promotion this year and will run throughout December.

It will feature TV adverts underlining the fact that many drivers cannot calculate their own drink-drive limits.

The government's message will also be spread with a series of radio adverts calling on motorists to avoid alcohol over the festive period.

Mr Darling said: "The reason we wanted to use the Rovers Return is because everyone in the country is aware of this pub.

"As far as I'm concerned the most important thing is to get our message across to the public and anything that does that is a great idea."

Last year, 509 people were killed across the UK in drink-driving accidents, the highest figure since 1992.

And Mr Darling warned that anyone who chose to disregard the Christmas drink-driving message should realise the chances of being caught.

Mr Darling said: "Drink-drivers need to remember that the police are out there and they will be caught.

"Britain has one of the best road safety records in the world and we are determined to improve that.

"We will continue to come down heavily on those who endanger us all by drink-driving."

Mr Darling was served a soft drink by the actress, who backed the zero alcohol campaign.

Lindsay said: "Many of us enjoy a drink or two as we head towards Christmas. But we must always remember that drinking and driving is dangerous and kills and injures too many people each year.

"It's not possible to calculate how much you can drink before driving so it's best to stay off alcohol if you're going to be driving."

Mr Darling stood at the Rovers' bar joking with the soap star. He sipped an orange juice on the set of the highly popular ITV1 soap.

The minister and the actress then braved the cold to stand outside on the famous cobbles beneath the pub's sign for a photocall.

Alcohol watchdogs yesterday praised the campaign and also backed the zero-tolerance message.

Geethika Jayatilaka, the director of policy and public affairs at Alcohol Concern, said: "We welcome the government's drink-drive warning, which comes at a crucial time of year when, inevitably, people will be going out drinking more than usual.

"Previous campaigns to reduce drink-drive offences at Christmas have been successful - however, we must all guard against complacency.

"The last few years have seen a small rise in the death toll caused by drink-driving, each of which, of course, is a tragedy for an individual, their families and friends, and which must act as a reminder of the need to remain vigilant on this issue.

"It's impossible to work out if you're over or under the limit, so the safest bet for anyone driving is not to drink at all."

The Scotsman ~ Fri 2 Dec 2005

Binge drinking in middle age tied to dementia risk

New York (Reuters Health) - Middle-age adults who go on periodic drinking binges may face a heightened risk of dementia later in life, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that even among adults who usually drank moderately, those who occasionally binged were more likely than their peers to develop dementia over the next 25 years.

Overall, middle-age adults who binged at least once a month -- downing, for instance, five bottles of beer or a bottle of wine in one sitting -- had a three-times greater risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.

The findings are published in the medical journal Epidemiology.

It's not surprising that binge drinking was related to a higher dementia risk, study co-author Dr. Jaakko Kaprio of the University of Helsinki, in Finland, told Reuters Health. However, the risk had not been well documented before, he said.

The study included 554 Finnish adults who provided information on their health and lifestyle, including drinking habits, in 1975, when they were 40 years of age or older. Twenty-five years later, they took a standard test of mental functioning used to diagnose dementia.

Kaprio's team found that those who reported binge drinking at least once a month in 1975 were at greater risk of dementia later in life -- even if they drank only lightly to moderately between binges.

In a follow-up to the original survey, conducted in 1981, the researchers additionally asked respondents whether they had ever imbibed to the point of passing out. Those who said they'd done so at least twice were 10 times more likely than their peers to be diagnosed with dementia later in life.

Chronic heavy drinking has been linked to dementia risk in past studies, and alcoholism can sometimes lead to dementia due to toxic effects on brain cells or to deficiency in the B vitamin thiamine.

Periodic binge drinking may contribute to dementia by directly killing off brain cells, Kaprio explained, or possibly by raising the odds of falls and head injuries, which can predispose a person to dementia.

Studies have found binge drinking to be common among college students and other young adults, and research suggests that short-term problems with memory and attention are among the consequences.

Coupled with the current findings on middle-age adults, Kaprio said, this raises the possibility that binge drinking at a young age may also contribute to dementia later on. On the other hand, he noted, the brain's "plasticity" may allow it to better recover from alcohol damage inflicted in young adulthood.

More research, according to Kaprio, is needed to answer that question.

Reuters ~ Wed Nov 30, 2005

Health warning to women over bigger wine glasses

Women were warned yesterday that they could be drinking too much because many bars and restaurants have doubled the size of their wine glasses.

In a survey, 96 per cent of bars and clubs said they had replaced the traditional small glasses with ones that hold 250ml - or a third of a bottle.

Many restaurants and hotels have also phased out the small glasses, which hold only 125ml.

Meanwhile, there has also been a marked increase in the number of customers ordering wine by the bottle rather than the glass as Britons seek to emulate the Mediterranean lifestyle.

Health experts say that because of this wine lovers risk drinking more than they anticipated.

Safe weekly levels

They could exceed the safe weekly levels which the Government has set of 21 units for women - or two to three drinks a day - and 28 units for men.

A unit is the equivalent of a traditional small glass of wine, so women who order just one drink in one of the larger glasses are already pushing their daily amount up towards the recommended limit.

Britain has the highest levels of female binge-drinking in Europe after the antics of "ladettes" such as radio DJs Zoe Ball and Sara Cox were blamed for encouraging women to drink to excess.

The average young woman here drinks the equivalent of five bottles of wine - or 30 units - a week and the larger glasses can only make the situation worse, it is feared.

Death rates from heart disease are seven times higher among women who drink every day compared to those who have an occasional drink.

Excessive drinking is implicated in 33,000 deaths a year.

Prevalence of heavy drinking

Professor Sir Michael Marmot, who in January published a report for the Academy of Medical Services on drinking, warned: "The higher the average consumption, the higher the prevalence of heavy drinking.

"If you want to reduce cases of heavy drinking you have to reduce average drinking levels."

The influx of large wine glasses was revealed in a survey of 1,000 hoteliers, restaurateurs and publicans by wholesaler King UK and published in trade magazine Caterer & Hotelkeeper.

Only 4 per cent of pubs questioned used the regular 125ml glass compared with 50 per cent two years ago.

The number of restaurants using 250ml glasses doubled in the same time, while the proportion of hotels favouring bigger glasses trebled from 19 per cent in 2001 to 58 per cent in 2003.

Expenditure on alcohol

The report also reveals that Britain's expenditure on alcohol is £39.5billion a year.

The increasing popularity of ordering a bottle of wine in pubs and restaurants has been fuelled by decades of package holidays abroad.

Flying off to the sunshine of Spain or Greece and its islands has led to a taste for easy-going afternoons and evenings spent socialising with friends.

In addition many drinkers - especially women - prefer to order wine instead of lager or beer when they meet up with friends.

Pitchers of beer and cocktails are also becoming more popular, while the number of double measures of spirits sold continues to rise.

Daily Mail ~ 15/06/04