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Thursday, December 17, 2009

Would You Like A Drink?

Of course like all substances too much of something can be bad for you. Some of us cannot handle certain substances on health grounds because each of us are different or some of us have addictive personalities.

We have had loads of campaigns and again just as with climate change many reports in the media about obesity, drug abuse, alcohol abuse and so on.

There is some evidence in recent months that for whatever reason things have been improving on the subject of people becoming overweight and that things may be changing and that's from charities and organisations that work in that field.

I keep hearing at present that the authorities are worried about people drinking too much. And they talk of increasing the price of booze to put it out of the reach of people who will be harmed but I do not drink much if at all and most of the time I might agree that one thing that probably discourages me the most is the cost. So that might work but you are also in doing that stopping or spoiling the enjoyment of those(the majority)that drink responsibly and that seems unfair to me.

In many cases drink divides people mainly for a number of reasons and often it is something that you either like or dislike. There is a little bit of hypocrisy on the Government's attitude to drink in that it raises a lot of tax revenue and if that was not available because people cut back on what they buy that would have to be found elsewhere.

If you are irresponsible and going to buy cheap booze and sit around in gangs in a local park that may have to be discouraged where possible and it's always gone on...alcohol abuse was far worse in times gone by there are many books written about what life was like in Victorian times for example.

I would be naive to believe that those considered as being middle or upper class are not capable of mishandling alcohol. But that is true of anything.

Many people socialise and drink on special occasions, Weddings, Anniversary's, Birthdays etc...perhaps with friends if you are having a meal in a restaurant.

Now the Government Medical advisor has decided to wade into the area of alcohol regarding when it is safe for young people to drink and I think that is set at around 18 years. That may be fair enough but in many countries children and teenagers are allowed a little(and it is a little)with their meal or it might be watered down but this attitude is seen as stopping alcohol as being seen as forbidden fruit. If handled correctly hopefully when you become an adult you will handle it responsibly. In countries around the Mediterranean drink is seen very much differently to some others. Just as their diet is too often using much more vegetables, spices, olive oil and so on. It should be seen as part of the whole experience.

Today, he is suggesting that parents should not allow any child under the age of 16 any access to any alcohol ever.

I think if you are a responsible household a little watered down booze only "Now and Again" does no harm whatsoever. I also think you'll will find that many children are curious and often if they are given a little sip, they often dislike it and it puts them off wanting any alcohol. They are probably more happy with a drink of pop, a fruit juice or a drink of squash or even water.

Opinion Piece From The Daily Telegraph

1 Comments:

Blogger Paul said...

I find the drinking alcohol debate very strange. In Europe, as you point out Gildy, children are allowed a small amount of wine and until recently there was very little heart disease or obesity in France, Italy or Spain. Twenty years ago we were told red wine was good for you (white wine has never been good for anybody due to the chemical constituents of most white wine) and every five minutes we seem to be getting conflicting advice.

Help!

18 December 2009 at 19:29  

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