26 July 09 Alcohol

[Aled]

This week's Surgery: Alcohol

82% of 16-17 yr olds have had an alcoholic drink and 71% drink once a week or more (source: Drinkaware)

I'm joined by Dr Stuart on Sunday to talk about alcohol.

Gilly from Hollyoaks will also be on the phone talking about his storyline on binge drinking.

The Surgery from 10pm Sunday on BBC Radio 1.

How many days of the week do you drink and how old are you?

[Yudster]

My first husband started drinking when he was about 11. We got married when he was 24 and I had no idea that he was an alcoholic, which he clearly was. I realised after we had been married for just over a year, and I often wonder now if it would have been better if I'd left at that point, because life was never stable really after that, and at that point we hadn't had the kids. But I didn't, and I can't pretend I'm sorry because it was the right thing to do.

He died when he was 33 years old, I won't go into detail but he killed himself. Our kids were 6 and 3 at the time. The younger one seems fine, although I know its been hard for her in some ways, but my son's life has been blighted by what happened and he is now 20, and struggling - not with alcohol or anything like that, but just with life in general.

Please people, be careful. Some scars just never heal up. I've now been happily married for nearly 9 years (after five years on my own with the kids) but I still miss him every day and there are just so many regrets. Its not just one wasted life you see.

[Mitchell]

I'm 21 and right now, I drink very rarely (once every couple of weeks, although I went about six months where I was limited to about once a month). Come September, that will probably increase to once or twice a week at University ONLY because I'll be able to afford it more than I can now. At that point, I'll be 22.

[Chongster]

Yudster, that's truly awful. I'm so sorry.

Personally, I've got this rather annoying thing where I'm allergic to alcohol. Whenever I drink I get a horrible rash on my face, and my chest and arms, a few people from the forum have seen it I think. It's becuase I'm a quarter Malaysian, they have what's called Alcoholic Flush Reaction, and it's the only goddamn thing I inherrited from my dad.

Anyway, because of this, I don't drink very often at all. And when I do, it's on special occasions. I also get wasted off one pint, which is lame.

So, to answer the quesion, I'm 24 (TODAY) and I drink once every couple of months or so.

[bbb]

*hugs yudster tightly* thats awful *hugs*

to the question im 22 now and I used to drink once or twice a week but from about 2008 its been more like one every two or three months

[Yudster]

Aw bless, thanks - but I only posted that really so that i could just ask you all to be aware, and be careful what you're doing. Its an easy path to get on, easier than you think, and almost impossible to get off.

[bbb]

Aw bless, thanks - but I only posted that really so that i could just ask you all to be aware, and be careful what you're doing. Its an easy path to get on, easier than you think, and almost impossible to get off.

that is very ture and one of the reasons i cut way back on what I drink now if I do drink its about one or two jd and coke and thats all

[Andrew80]

My dad was an alcoholic - it was a nightmare - but he has been off the drink now for years which is great (13 years or so which is fab).

I do like a drink, anything at all, however I only started drinking when I was 21 as I was a Pioneer (www.pioneertotal.ie) donations of wine will be accepted :)

I havent drunk this month but I do this every now and again ...

[Ajayrious]

This week's Surgery: Alcohol

82% of 16-17 yr olds have had an alcoholic drink and 71% drink once a week or more (source: Drinkaware)

To be honest i dont think these figures matter that much. I personally think the first value should be 100%. At parties its always the ones that have been protected from drink, that end up drowning in their own vomit.

I think kids, well teenagers really, should be allowed drinks by their parents in a responsible manner so that it can prepare them for when they go out and drink excessively. Its no good a kid going to a party and never having had a drink before because they will not know how to handle it.

The problem with teen drinking comes when they do it outside the home in a park with a bottle of cider with no adult supervision and those stats youve provided dont really focus on that.

How many days of the week do you drink and how old are you?

I'm 24 (tomorrow) I dont drink regularly maybe once or twice a year. When i do drink, I drink purely for the purpose of getting as drunk as possible. I really dont understand how people can drink alcohol and not get drunk, its vile stuff and there seems no point if your not getting drunk.

[Andrew80]

I'm 24 (tomorrow) I dont drink regularly maybe once or twice a year. When i do drink, I drink purely for the purpose of getting as drunk as possible. I really dont understand how people can drink alcohol and not get drunk, its vile stuff and there seems no point if your not getting drunk.

I enjoy a glass of wine to unwind after a day at work, I love drinking but not to get drunk. Just to relax.

[Ezza]

I'm 19, and at uni as most of you know. I tend to drink 2 maybe 3 days of the week, but only 1 or 2. I very rarely go out and drink more than 4 drinks, and I never ever drink with the intention of getting drunk. I just like the taste of some alcoholic drinks. I refuse to allow myself to ever be drunk, mainly due to personal reasons.

In regards (that sounds posh!) to the statistics about 16 -- 17 year olds drinking, I'm fairly sure that Coventry would be worse. At the school I used to go to, Friday is the day of the week where pretty much every kid will be out on the streets drinking their cheap alcohol. I know of clubs you can get into from the age of 15, and so this is where most teenagers go. I used to go there when I was 17, cause it's so easy to get in, and I have a few experiences of my friends binge drinking so much that we've had to call ambulances and have their stomach pumped, or been put to bed and having them throw up in my room, both very unpleasant things to happen. I personally hate the idea of binge drinking, but there's not much I myself can do I don't think.

[Aimee]

Im 23 and have been drinking alcohol since i was 16 when i first started clubbing. I only drink when i go out, which is probably two or three times a month, but when i do go out i tend to drink a lot....lots of shots, a few cocktails and spirits and mixers. Im not one of these to drink at home, like my friends when they finish work they have a glass of wine etc but i just save it till im on a night out. My family aren't big drinkers but some people i know cant get through the day without a few drinks which is find a bit sad :(

[postie]

i find it worrying i can drink half a bottle of vodka in 1 night

[Andrew80]

Im not going to tell you what I have drunk in 1 night!

[bbb]

nor me lol i adimit to binge drinking in the past it takes a hell of a lot of drink to get me drunk so ive only ever been really that drunk were i cant rember half the night around two times since then ive wised up and only drink one or two drinks that and the tablests im on dont mix well with a lot of alco


chat room tonight then?