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Okie Boarder
Ladies Man
Joined: 03 Mar 2008
Posts: 10056
City: Edmond
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 Posted: Jan 09, 2012 9:39 am Post subject: Aren't you glad you don't live in the UK? |
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If it becomes some sort of law, I wonder if we'll see more immigration? LOL!
| Quote: | UK drinkers urged to shun booze two days a week
The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee also called for a review of safe drinking guidelines but ruled out any increase in drinking limits.
"Alcohol guidelines are a crucial tool for government in its effort to combat excessive and problematic drinking:" committee chair Andrew Miller said.
"Unfortunately, public understanding of how to use the guidelines and what an alcohol unit looks like is poor, although improving.
"While we urge the UK health departments to re-evaluate the guidelines more thoroughly, the evidence we received suggests that the guidelines should not be increased and that people should be advised to take at least two drink-free days a week," he said.
In 1987, the "sensible limits" for drinking were defined as 21 units of alcohol a week for men and 14 for women. By the early 1990s, scientific evidence had emerged suggesting that alcohol consumption might reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, prompting a review of the guidelines.
The government then recommended that drinking guidelines should be couched in daily terms: men should not regularly drink more than three to four units a day and women no more than two to three units a day.
The committee's report said members found a lack of expert consensus over the health benefits of alcohol and are therefore sceptical about using the purported health benefits as a basis for daily guidelines for the adult population.
"It is clear that any protective effects would only apply to men over 40 years and post-menopausal women, yet the guidelines apply to all adults," the report said.
The committee also found that while public awareness of the existence of guidelines was high, a deeper understanding of what the guidelines were and what a unit of alcohol looked like was lacking.
The government has set the drinks industry a target of ensuring that by 2013 at least 80 percent of alcoholic products on sale will have labels showing alcohol unit content.
But the committee warned: "The government should remain mindful that sensible drinking messages may conflict with the business objectives of drinks companies and exercise proper scrutiny and oversight."
The Royal College of Physicians' special adviser on alcohol, Sir Ian Gilmore, echoed calls for a review of guidelines and demanded a minimum price for alcohol.
He said: "The RCP believes that in addition to quantity, safe alcohol limits must also take into account frequency.
"There is an increased risk of liver disease for those who drink daily or near-daily compared with those who drink periodically or intermittently."
Andrew Langford, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said: "The Trust supports the recommendation that the guidelines should not be increased and that people should be advised to take at least two consecutive alcohol-free days a week."
Langford added: "However, we would like bolder steps taken and believe it would support public understanding if the health warnings that were included are similar to that on tobacco products, clearly stating the potential harm, providing immediate and easy-to-understand awareness." |
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If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular? |
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b_girl
Wakeboarder.Commie
Joined: 10 Jul 2006
Posts: 1423
City: Toronto
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| Posted: Jan 09, 2012 10:18 am Post subject: |
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| I lived in the UK for a couple years and also married into a scottish family... they drink SO MUCH there, that I honestly think it would be good for them to encourage people to go 2 days/week without drinking. Drinking is, in a sense, a part of the british culture. |
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Okie Boarder
Ladies Man
Joined: 03 Mar 2008
Posts: 10056
City: Edmond
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| Posted: Jan 09, 2012 10:45 am Post subject: |
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I don't disagree people should drink in moderation. I just look at it as a personal choice that doesn't need government intervention.
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b_girl
Wakeboarder.Commie
Joined: 10 Jul 2006
Posts: 1423
City: Toronto
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| Posted: Jan 09, 2012 10:55 am Post subject: |
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| It is a personal choice for sure... but it's the governments responsibility to keep people informed/educated. These guidelines they're discussing are just that... guidelines to help people make educated choices, they don't become hard laws or anything. |
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Okie Boarder
Ladies Man
Joined: 03 Mar 2008
Posts: 10056
City: Edmond
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| Posted: Jan 09, 2012 11:10 am Post subject: |
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I think it is the individual's responsibility to be infromed and educated about the choices they make in their lives, not the government. That's my whole point. Also, many times these things start off as a guideline and end up as something that turns into a banning of the item or some sort of law. Nanny state mentality.
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chavez
Ladies Man
Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Posts: 27375
City: Roseville
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| Posted: Jan 09, 2012 11:11 am Post subject: |
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b_girl, have you learned the Scottish Martial Art of FA-QUE! yet?
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| Quote: | | That's Mr. Gingermex to you a$$hole. |
RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006 |
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b_girl
Wakeboarder.Commie
Joined: 10 Jul 2006
Posts: 1423
City: Toronto
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| Posted: Jan 09, 2012 11:46 am Post subject: |
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Britian would never ban alcohol!! It's way too integrated into their lifestyle. I suppose it is the individual's responsibility, but the government recognized an issue and decided to inform the general public and provide them with guidelines... I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
chavez,  I have heard of it, but not very well practiced in it I'm afraid... my husband tried to teach me how to give a Glasgow Kiss too, but that didn't go over well (his family is from the Glasgow area) |
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