Drinking in Wales
Alcohol is associated with a wide range of concerns as well as health issues. The severity of the issues can to some extent depend on how frequently drinking occurs, how much is consumed and how long a period the drinking is continued. Alcohol causes at least 33,000 deaths each year in the United Kingdom. Some research refers to binge drinking as ‘risky single occasion drinking’.
Alcohol use is known to increase blood pressure and increase risk of stroke; it increases risk of heart failure. It increases risk of breast cancer and oral cancer as well as other cancers. Alcohol and binge drinking in particular is known to cause long term skeletal and muscle damage.
The concerns relating to binge drinking also include social and psychological problems. The link with crime was mentioned in the introduction but alcohol is also linked with behavioural problems. Alcohol can affect school work and relationships. Some pupils may miss school, fall behind with work, perhaps have unprotected sex, argue with friends and behaviour may change. Alcohol is also linked with increase in accidents. It is a factor in many of the drowning and fire deaths as well as suicides sometimes. Those who live and work in the areas where drinking occurs, especially older people, report feeling threatened, intimidated and disgusted when walking around the area. Many say they don’t go out after dark for fear of meeting drunken people.
Hospital admissions as sometimes alcohol related - the figures are increasing and again Pembrokeshire is above the Welsh average. Some of the drunken people end up in hospital accident and emergency departments and 70% of attendances in accident and emergency between midnight and 5am on weekends are linked alcohol related. Many assaults relate to the use of glasses and bottles and sometimes permanent and disfiguring injuries are often evident. Obviously this can be very distressing long term for those affected. Prosecutions are relatively low because many witnesses are unreliable as they are often intoxicated. Drinkers are known to reduce their ability to remember things and loose some reasoning skills and memory. This issue can affect the ability to learn in the longer term.
Binge drinking has also been linked to anxiety and psychological problems in young people. As well as this alcohol is known to be addictive. It is known young people who begin before 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who start at age 21. Heavy or prolonged drinking as well as binge drinking is linked with health issues including liver cirrhosis, anaemia, nutritional disease, pancreatitis, heart muscle damage, dementia and psychiatric disorders. Some effects are reversible but others are known to be long term.
Alcohol in large doses is a neurotoxic substance it causes lack of co-ordination, blurred or double vision, hypoglycaemia, fits, depressed reflexes, respiratory depression, coma and death can occur due to respiratory or circulatory failure or as a result to choking on stomach contents as there is no gag reflex.
Drinking in other areas
In Sweden, recent statistics that were published showed that in 2007, 30% of students aged 15-16 claimed they did not drink alcohol. This was up from 20% in 1997. In Finland, tax on alcohol was cut by 1/3 in March 2004, which led to a huge increase in alcohol related deaths and diseases. Christoffer Tigerstedt, a social researcher said "Among young people aged 16 to 17 years, binge drinking is more and more visible and definitely increasing." Spain’s alcohol problem is minor compared with that of the United Kingdom. This is said to be due to the children being brought up with alcohol from a young age, hence why they are far more sensible drinkers. In March 2009, a 16 year old German pupil died from consuming over 50 tequila shots. Following this, the government decided to ban "drink all you can" parties, where guests could pay a certain amount to drink until they literally drop. It was at such a party where the 16-year-old had died. Although there are minor binge drinking issues in other European countries.
In 2003, United Kingdom was ranked 6th out of all the countries in Europe and the United States for the prevalence of heavy drinking.
Binge drinking in young people
Binge drinking causes gastritis and the oesophagus can bleed. Deaths can occur in young people in particular because it is thought these young and inexperienced drinkers consume large amounts in short periods causing alcohol poisoning. Blood alcohol levels of more than 300-400mg % carry a high risk of death in the native drinker. This can be in those who drink 150-200g of alcohol. That is 6- 8 pints of lager, or two thirds a bottle of vodka.
The Welsh schools survey identified issues some issues are obvious but some things have I have found surprising. Binge drinking was more likely to occur in the older pupils and those with one parent and those from more affluent backgrounds. Frequent binge drinking was also associated with pupils who bullied others and those who had greatest involvement with their peers. Boys were more likely than girls and pupils with lowest attainment were also more likely to binge drink in Wales. The results identify the poorer attainment in school as a risk factor but also there is a clear link with criminal convictions. These issues are connected with a lesser chance of getting a good job. There is a further link to lower socio and economic status in society.
School pressure was identified by students themselves as the major cause of binge drinking. It seems strong parental guidance and having two parents make binge drinking less likely. Pupils who are bullied are also less likely to binge drink. The survey highlighted the need for school policies and for these to be evaluated.
Teenage years are a difficult time in terms of hormones, peer pressure and school and there is perhaps many ways young people can get hold of alcohol. There are lots of clubs pubs and shops where alcohol is sold. Some types of alcohol are relatively cheap. Binge drinking and drinking behaviour can become a pattern. There are lots of new alcohol products around and bars and clubs designed for younger people, for example, shots are offered where the aim is rapid intoxication. Some 33% of drinkers in Wales report their aim is to get drunk with a 59% of the drinkers in Wales in the 18 to 24 year old age group saying getting drunk is their aim.
The evidence is that 40% of 13 and 14 year olds were drunk when they first had intercourse. Many students admit to unprotected sex after binge drinking and there are important implications here in terms of health risks from sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. There is more chance of being raped or sexually assaulted when drunk. There is more chance of being in a car accident when drunk. There is some evidence that binge drinkers are also more likely to take illegal drugs. There is an additional risk that drinks may be spiked. Alcohol may be a cry for help that something is wrong and it is relevant that alcohol is a depressant.
The influences of family peers and school are mentioned in the survey findings. The survey found alcohol use is linked to pupils who dislike school with binge drinking less evident in those who liked school had good relationships with peers and parents. It seems likely that if binge drinking is started that it may continue into adult life as alcohol dependence occurs.
Hangovers resulting from binge drinking will impair memory and functioning for quite some time. Some students might become too exhausted and sick to function, and there might be problems due to a general decline in discipline at home and or at school or college.
Some claim drinking is because there is little to do few facilities other than pubs. Others say there is peer pressure. Many students report frequently seeing their own parents drinking to excess. Drinking is becoming part of the teenage social scene, and although some pubs serve alcohol to those under age in my experience the pupils sometimes bring their alcohol to private parties and places – Many students enjoy drinking and don’t see it as a problem at all. Many use drinking as a means to show off. It perhaps creates a means to escape and some ‘Dutch courage’ and confidence to deal with difficult social situations and the pressures of being a teenager. Teenagers do experiment and are curious. The Joseph Rowtree Foundation found boredom is one of main reason for binge drinking in the young. Many students have part time jobs, which allow them to spend more money on alcohol.
Benefits of alcohol
Despite the highly negative portrayal of alcohol, there are some benefits. Appropriate ‘little and often’ drinking has been associated with improved health. Binge drinking in young people does not have the same benefits. It is unrealistic to think that most teenagers won’t experiment with alcohol. Drinking alcohol in moderation can be fun.
What can be done?
Motivating young people to change is difficult. Binge drinking has become a cultural norm and is expected almost a rite of passage for young people. There is a lack of research into why young people drink and into what can be done to reduce teenage binge drinking. Perhaps there should be more interventions for those who engage in alcohol misuse at an early age. Alcohol is addressed on the school curriculum and students as well as parents need to be aware of the facts and risks. The importance of the media and pricing and licensing laws is evident. Television, alcoholic drinks sports sponsorship and all contribute in some way.
The police web site has some advice to reduce risks when drinking such as eating before drinking, not drinking quickly, sticking to one type of drink, soft drinks in between, and looking out for friends. It points out factors that some of the negative effects of drinking such as feeling ill afterwards and looking stupid. The publicity around Paul Gascoigne and George Best has perhaps done little to reduce incidence .Things that are important to young people might be more of a deteriant than the cancer and the health risks. Examples of side effects that might influence teenagers include weight gain, poor skin, making a fool of themselves and hangovers.
It is helpful if young people have places to go such as youth clubs and places to go - rather than pubs or hanging around the streets. There needs to be realistic alternatives to pubs for young people. My local youth club was excellent and also did a lot of good work to raise awareness of alcohol related issues. The government has tried to introduce measures to help and tackle the issue and the resulting violence and anti social behaviour. The licensing laws have been changed to try and tackle the issue.
Bibliography
I used a variety of different sources for my essay.
I obtained many of my statistics from and . I also borrowed two books from my local library – ‘Binge Britain: Alcohol and the national response’ by Martin Plant and ‘Binge Drinking (vol. 7 Issues today) by Lisa Firth. I carried out a survey on my fellow piers, although I decided not to include the results in my essay as I felt they were unjust.
