A new report out claims that by increasing the minimum level of price for alcohol will save 800 lives per year.
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/feb/10/minimum-alcohol-pricing-save-860-lives-study
As usual the usual suspects come out of their academic woodwork to wave around how important their findings are. However how really do we know this. The same newspaper The Guardian carried another discussion about how people die in the UK
http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2011/oct/28/mortality-statistics-causes-death-england-wales-2010
In this piece we see that just short of 700 people died from alcohol related causes so where does this figure of 860 come from are we inventing deaths? Well no but it does highlight one major inconsistency in the idea of causal effects and death.
What is placed on the death certificate may be the cause of death but what caused the cause of death is far more important.
Some 150,000 people almost died of neoplasms and carcinoma and the same again for cardiovascular diseases so how many of these people would a minimum level of alcohol pricing actually save. That is because aren't these the people that Governments don't really want you to know about. In reality if only 860 deaths are to be saved from a total death count of half a million people what are we in reality talking about?
Yes you've guessed it George's coffers getting swelled again.
The reality of a minimum price is the reality of another stealth tax being placed upon the public and quite frankly the public have seen through it I think. Or at least I hope.
If any money raised from minimum cost per unit was used wisely and channelled into a solid education project then I for one would be a happy man. You see the billions raised from the alcohol industry in tax of one form or another just disappears into that murky pot at the Treasury ensuring that Uncle George doesn't have to put up direct taxation on all of us. If we seek to educate our children about the true cost of alcohol how many of those with chronic and debilitating illnesses could be prevented from getting those illnesses? Quite a substantial more than 860 I would guess. I would add maybe 50 times more than the 860.
Education does not need to be boring or painful to achieve this. With the thousands of people I have worked with on education projects I have seen people change habits sufficiently in a short time to make a difference. That is through powerful education.
My father would still have died had minimum pricing been around in the 1980s or 90s. He managed to, and forgive me this, piss £60,000 against a wall in less than six months which is quite a feat given that his staple diet was a mere three bottles of scotch or vodka per night.
So all in all I have this to say to those who would study booze and it's ill effects.
Come and see what it's like in the trenches because as usual the Generals are looking the wrong way as we deal with the mess that is made by half baked twits in suits looking to make a name.
Monday 10 February 2014
Thursday 3 October 2013
When the blind drunk lead those who would turn a blind eye
I listened today to am interesting and passionate interview that played out on the BBC where an alcoholic gentleman in recovery talked about not really knowing why he didn't stop.
On the same interview he stated that the local branch of Alcoholics Anonymous were about to teach the local Police Commissioner, Police Officers, Social Workers and Council Workers about alcoholism and alcohol so that there would be greater knowledge about the subject and they could pass this on.
I'm afraid this is a case of the blind drunk leading those who would rather ignore real solutions to the problems.
I am an adult child of an alcoholic. I know exactly what alcoholism does to families and individuals. I have discussed this on radio and television in the past. I have also spent almost thirty six years studying the subject that blighted what should have been the best years of my life. However there is one thing for certain. No matter how much I learn or seek to understand
I am not my father and unless I have walked in his shoes then I can never truly understand what he felt or why his compulsion to drink overcame all obstacles.
But yet the strange thing is that through all the groups and therapy sessions he went to including more AA meetings than I care to count not once did any of the so called supporters seek to educate him about alcohol and how it works and why it works. This includes organisations whom I have tremendous respect for such as Clouds and The Salvation Army.
And so when a group of alcoholics come together to educate a group of officials then I have real fear in my eyes.
Sure they can describe their feelings and outline the consequences that occurred for them in their journey but they will never truly raise the knowledge of the substance that has caused the damage. There will be a lot of hand wringing and head shaking and I would have thought tears and emotion too. Maybe some shock and probably a lot of faux shock too, but in reality no education and no real learning.
Most alcoholics probably don't care about the neurophysiology and associated psychology of alcohol. They are interested in two things:
1. Where is my next drink
2. Where is my drink after my next drink
If we are going to deal with alcoholism we have to look at the root cause and no that is not alcohol interestingly enough.
It is human nature!
Alcohol is merely a substance of abuse or addiction. It is not the substance that matters but the person who uses the substance. You can be addicted to anything from alcohol to drugs to sex to football or gardening! And when the power of the mind takes over then then it needs a serious mind mechanic to help out.
Yet if we teach this from an early age then there is a greater chance that we can get to people before they fall into the trap. And once they have fallen into the trap, just like an engine that runs out of oil that we have to make sure that we stop before it blows up, we have to haul the person out of the pit before the serious damage is done.
We can not do that by talking about what happens at the end. We have to start at the beginning. Start with our children and educate them. Allow their creative minds to look in alternate directions by showing them kindness and respect and truth about human nature. We have to remember to nurture our children in a positive way but being totally honest about them and with them. Don't make alcohol special or different, Just make it part of life like electricity or gas. Both after all do tremendous damage if abused or treated with lack of care. We teach our children of the dangers of these substances but not of alcohol.
The industry has a it's part to play in this as well. Stop making drinks that are super sweet. These drinks are not something that adults generally like due to the nature of the adult taste bud. Fifty years ago a child would take a sip of their mum or dad's drink and almost spit it out, their faces becoming like a bulldog chewing a wasp! Now the alcopop generation loves the sweet mess that they get into!
Maybe, just maybe then we will give children enough courage to recognise when their parents have got themselves into trouble and do something about it. Also it may help some children realise that their parents are not bad people but someone with a misfiring engine!
And then maybe we will not be talking about officials who got it wrong such as in the case of Hamza Khan but of children who have shown tremendous courage to help their siblings and their parents who have fallen into despair.
On the same interview he stated that the local branch of Alcoholics Anonymous were about to teach the local Police Commissioner, Police Officers, Social Workers and Council Workers about alcoholism and alcohol so that there would be greater knowledge about the subject and they could pass this on.
I'm afraid this is a case of the blind drunk leading those who would rather ignore real solutions to the problems.
I am an adult child of an alcoholic. I know exactly what alcoholism does to families and individuals. I have discussed this on radio and television in the past. I have also spent almost thirty six years studying the subject that blighted what should have been the best years of my life. However there is one thing for certain. No matter how much I learn or seek to understand
I am not my father and unless I have walked in his shoes then I can never truly understand what he felt or why his compulsion to drink overcame all obstacles.
But yet the strange thing is that through all the groups and therapy sessions he went to including more AA meetings than I care to count not once did any of the so called supporters seek to educate him about alcohol and how it works and why it works. This includes organisations whom I have tremendous respect for such as Clouds and The Salvation Army.
And so when a group of alcoholics come together to educate a group of officials then I have real fear in my eyes.
Sure they can describe their feelings and outline the consequences that occurred for them in their journey but they will never truly raise the knowledge of the substance that has caused the damage. There will be a lot of hand wringing and head shaking and I would have thought tears and emotion too. Maybe some shock and probably a lot of faux shock too, but in reality no education and no real learning.
Most alcoholics probably don't care about the neurophysiology and associated psychology of alcohol. They are interested in two things:
1. Where is my next drink
2. Where is my drink after my next drink
If we are going to deal with alcoholism we have to look at the root cause and no that is not alcohol interestingly enough.
It is human nature!
Alcohol is merely a substance of abuse or addiction. It is not the substance that matters but the person who uses the substance. You can be addicted to anything from alcohol to drugs to sex to football or gardening! And when the power of the mind takes over then then it needs a serious mind mechanic to help out.
Yet if we teach this from an early age then there is a greater chance that we can get to people before they fall into the trap. And once they have fallen into the trap, just like an engine that runs out of oil that we have to make sure that we stop before it blows up, we have to haul the person out of the pit before the serious damage is done.
We can not do that by talking about what happens at the end. We have to start at the beginning. Start with our children and educate them. Allow their creative minds to look in alternate directions by showing them kindness and respect and truth about human nature. We have to remember to nurture our children in a positive way but being totally honest about them and with them. Don't make alcohol special or different, Just make it part of life like electricity or gas. Both after all do tremendous damage if abused or treated with lack of care. We teach our children of the dangers of these substances but not of alcohol.
The industry has a it's part to play in this as well. Stop making drinks that are super sweet. These drinks are not something that adults generally like due to the nature of the adult taste bud. Fifty years ago a child would take a sip of their mum or dad's drink and almost spit it out, their faces becoming like a bulldog chewing a wasp! Now the alcopop generation loves the sweet mess that they get into!
Maybe, just maybe then we will give children enough courage to recognise when their parents have got themselves into trouble and do something about it. Also it may help some children realise that their parents are not bad people but someone with a misfiring engine!
And then maybe we will not be talking about officials who got it wrong such as in the case of Hamza Khan but of children who have shown tremendous courage to help their siblings and their parents who have fallen into despair.
Wednesday 18 September 2013
Back to the Drunk Tank ? or why not take the King's Shilling?
Oh how we have moved on from the days of the press gang coming around the taverns and popping the King's Shilling into the bottom of some poor unsuspecting wretch's glass.
But wait we may be seeing history repeat itself!
This week ACPO have decided to go on a crusade to get rid of a problem their officers suffer on a daily basis......The Drunk!
And their solution, the drunk tank.
They want to hand over responsibility for drunk people to private companies to look after who will charge the offender for the service.
Please let's get real here
Well one thing I agree with is that the Police are not trained to deal with drunken people. Firstly they are not medics and they do not possess the medical knowledge required to look after seriously intoxicated people. Secondly their communication skills are not good enough to deal with intoxicated people so they are most likely to inflame situations just as been shown with those people arrested and suffering from mental health challenges. I would also imagine a situation where people would start to host home parties more often or friends would take responsibility for people to keep them out of the hands of the police. And finally they have not got the ability to offer the constant care that a seriously intoxicated person requires.
So yes I agree the police are not the right people to deal with the seriously intoxicated person.
But neither are private companies.
The first thought that crosses my mind is that private companies are beholden to shareholders so it is about profit. Profiting out of stupidity is not immoral but it is sailing close to the wind especially when working at the behest of the public purse.
My second thought is how well are these private companies equipped to deal with all the consequences of a seriously intoxicated person? They may know how to fill out the boxes that will be without doubt designed by management consultants who have no idea about the root of the challenge but will they be seriously be able to cope with copious amounts of vomit and urine served with a smattering of battering!
Thirdly, and call me an old cynic here, how much per head is the government going to charge as a levy on each person treated? Is this a little money making exercise?
Now don't get me wrong I am not against taking the treating of intoxication out of the police's hands however I would favour some kind of booze bus, fully equipped with all necessary medical kit and staffed with professionals hand picked from the NHS.
These busses would be escorted by police officers to prevent or deal with any potential violence threat and the funding of these could come from a levy on the alcohol industry who would of course be invited to take a full part in this. The price of one of these busses is a lot less than funding a single MP in parliament. And the cost to society is minimal compared to the havoc caused by those intoxicated people running free on the streets.
Yet time and time again I have said what I about to repeat here again,
Education is key to solving our society's challenges with alcohol!
Sir Ken Robinson talks about divergent thinking in education an states that one of the greatest failures of our society is it's failure to grasp opportunities for change. But change is what we need. A change of attitude towards alcohol and a change to our hedonistic ways.
This can not be achieved by locking people in drunk tank and charging them for their follies. It can only be done by cooperative and inclusive learning about alcohol. From child to adult, we need a consistent message about the nature of alcohol. It should not be postured by any organisation that stands to gain by the legislation but it needs to forced through by those who are neutral in political stance but realise the need for a massive change.
Be strong, challenge norms......... CHANGE THE PARADIGMS.
But wait we may be seeing history repeat itself!
This week ACPO have decided to go on a crusade to get rid of a problem their officers suffer on a daily basis......The Drunk!
And their solution, the drunk tank.
They want to hand over responsibility for drunk people to private companies to look after who will charge the offender for the service.
Please let's get real here
Well one thing I agree with is that the Police are not trained to deal with drunken people. Firstly they are not medics and they do not possess the medical knowledge required to look after seriously intoxicated people. Secondly their communication skills are not good enough to deal with intoxicated people so they are most likely to inflame situations just as been shown with those people arrested and suffering from mental health challenges. I would also imagine a situation where people would start to host home parties more often or friends would take responsibility for people to keep them out of the hands of the police. And finally they have not got the ability to offer the constant care that a seriously intoxicated person requires.
So yes I agree the police are not the right people to deal with the seriously intoxicated person.
But neither are private companies.
The first thought that crosses my mind is that private companies are beholden to shareholders so it is about profit. Profiting out of stupidity is not immoral but it is sailing close to the wind especially when working at the behest of the public purse.
My second thought is how well are these private companies equipped to deal with all the consequences of a seriously intoxicated person? They may know how to fill out the boxes that will be without doubt designed by management consultants who have no idea about the root of the challenge but will they be seriously be able to cope with copious amounts of vomit and urine served with a smattering of battering!
Thirdly, and call me an old cynic here, how much per head is the government going to charge as a levy on each person treated? Is this a little money making exercise?
Now don't get me wrong I am not against taking the treating of intoxication out of the police's hands however I would favour some kind of booze bus, fully equipped with all necessary medical kit and staffed with professionals hand picked from the NHS.
These busses would be escorted by police officers to prevent or deal with any potential violence threat and the funding of these could come from a levy on the alcohol industry who would of course be invited to take a full part in this. The price of one of these busses is a lot less than funding a single MP in parliament. And the cost to society is minimal compared to the havoc caused by those intoxicated people running free on the streets.
Yet time and time again I have said what I about to repeat here again,
Education is key to solving our society's challenges with alcohol!
Sir Ken Robinson talks about divergent thinking in education an states that one of the greatest failures of our society is it's failure to grasp opportunities for change. But change is what we need. A change of attitude towards alcohol and a change to our hedonistic ways.
This can not be achieved by locking people in drunk tank and charging them for their follies. It can only be done by cooperative and inclusive learning about alcohol. From child to adult, we need a consistent message about the nature of alcohol. It should not be postured by any organisation that stands to gain by the legislation but it needs to forced through by those who are neutral in political stance but realise the need for a massive change.
Be strong, challenge norms......... CHANGE THE PARADIGMS.
Thursday 28 February 2013
So we drink too much ?
Yesterday results were published by academics suggesting that 80 percent of women and 75 percent of men drink more than the Government's recommended guidelines.
Here is an academic review of those findings
No shit Sherlock
For the past 30 years I have been hammering on about how much we drink in this country and how government recommended guidelines are about as useful as unicorn horn.
Why?
Well put simply the guidelines are based on too many false assumptions based on too many poor questions asked by too many people who have little or no interest in really solving the problems of over consumption of alcohol in the UK.
We know 1 in 20 people have a serious addiction to alcohol in the UK. Now this will skew figures of consumption as these people will drink far more than the average person. However it is clear that people must be drinking far more than government guidelines simply based on consumption figures. Either that or there is a massive wine lake under the UK.
If we really want to get to grips about the challenges facing this country and it's relationship with alcohol then we have to start from a position of a no blame culture.
It is fine to have a drink in moderation, however if we are to find out what that moderation is then we need to do massive research and stop hiding behind small scale simple studies by the people in the ivory towers.
Once again this commentator calls for a total rethink around the education of alcohol in the United Kingdom. If we are to stop a tidal wave of health devastation then we really need to have a different view on how we look at things.
Here is an academic review of those findings
No shit Sherlock
For the past 30 years I have been hammering on about how much we drink in this country and how government recommended guidelines are about as useful as unicorn horn.
Why?
Well put simply the guidelines are based on too many false assumptions based on too many poor questions asked by too many people who have little or no interest in really solving the problems of over consumption of alcohol in the UK.
We know 1 in 20 people have a serious addiction to alcohol in the UK. Now this will skew figures of consumption as these people will drink far more than the average person. However it is clear that people must be drinking far more than government guidelines simply based on consumption figures. Either that or there is a massive wine lake under the UK.
If we really want to get to grips about the challenges facing this country and it's relationship with alcohol then we have to start from a position of a no blame culture.
It is fine to have a drink in moderation, however if we are to find out what that moderation is then we need to do massive research and stop hiding behind small scale simple studies by the people in the ivory towers.
Once again this commentator calls for a total rethink around the education of alcohol in the United Kingdom. If we are to stop a tidal wave of health devastation then we really need to have a different view on how we look at things.
Tuesday 5 February 2013
And the story rolls on! A letter for Paul
I have just seen that Chris Evans and Piers Morgan have paid for Gazza to get treatment in America. This is a well meaning and well motivated thing to do. However will it be successful as this is not the first time that the loveable Geordie has entered an American based rehab programme.
I'm going to come clean now and say that I have drunk with Gazza, or should I say I have accepted his hospitality and spoken for a short time with him on several occasions. He will not remember me and I don't expect him to yet for several weeks many years ago in the 80's we shared the same hotel on the M25 North of London. Also present at times were Paul Stewart and the now infamous Frank McAvennie along with several of my work colleagues at the time. I found young Paul very friendly, and as the late great Sir Bobby Robson described him "as daft as a brush". I saw no malice in him but I did see a child trapped in a young man's body. Now I mean no bad things by that but a reflective view with a professional eye. Here was a young man doing manly things, earning large amounts of money and vested with the trappings of football celebrity.
I saw a wonderful talent that was being used as a commodity without the support that a wonderful talent needs.
I was still fighting my own demons at the time. My father was still in my life, still loving the booze more than his family and although I thought I'd escaped by living and working in London I knew there was only partial relief for me. For Gazza all I saw was a long and winding road that would lead the same way of George Best. And sadly I see that has happened.
A lot has been written about the footballer, the man, the husband and the celebrity by far greater commentators than I so I will not presume to enter their revered territory. What I will say though is that in creating this leviathan that is the tainted talent story they have in many ways made things worse for him. He is not his own worse enemy, although like all of us he has his gremlin hiding away at the back of his psyche, he is a product of a society that allows such monsters to be created. Paul the man I suspect is still Paul the boy desperately wanting to be loved hoping that he can still kick a ball around with his mates down the park on a Saturday afternoon. Gazza the image is still an out of control roller coaster of emotional platitudes heading downhill faster than any rocket propelled jet ski.
I was asked the other day on twitter by a friend could I help him?
Yes I probably could but only if the whole circus goes away. For it is Paul I am interested in saving, not Gazza.
Paul if you are listening take my thoughts and love.Know that I have seen the very worst ravages that alcohol bestows upon human beings. Find strength in who you are not your image and believe that you can come out on the other side of this thing.
And if you need my help, I will gladly give it. Not for money, not for fame but because you need to know that support will be there in the most unlikeliest of places and that in the quietness of our soul we discover who we are and how strong we can be. And it will be returning a favour for you in a way have helped me understand my father a little better!
I'm going to come clean now and say that I have drunk with Gazza, or should I say I have accepted his hospitality and spoken for a short time with him on several occasions. He will not remember me and I don't expect him to yet for several weeks many years ago in the 80's we shared the same hotel on the M25 North of London. Also present at times were Paul Stewart and the now infamous Frank McAvennie along with several of my work colleagues at the time. I found young Paul very friendly, and as the late great Sir Bobby Robson described him "as daft as a brush". I saw no malice in him but I did see a child trapped in a young man's body. Now I mean no bad things by that but a reflective view with a professional eye. Here was a young man doing manly things, earning large amounts of money and vested with the trappings of football celebrity.
I saw a wonderful talent that was being used as a commodity without the support that a wonderful talent needs.
I was still fighting my own demons at the time. My father was still in my life, still loving the booze more than his family and although I thought I'd escaped by living and working in London I knew there was only partial relief for me. For Gazza all I saw was a long and winding road that would lead the same way of George Best. And sadly I see that has happened.
A lot has been written about the footballer, the man, the husband and the celebrity by far greater commentators than I so I will not presume to enter their revered territory. What I will say though is that in creating this leviathan that is the tainted talent story they have in many ways made things worse for him. He is not his own worse enemy, although like all of us he has his gremlin hiding away at the back of his psyche, he is a product of a society that allows such monsters to be created. Paul the man I suspect is still Paul the boy desperately wanting to be loved hoping that he can still kick a ball around with his mates down the park on a Saturday afternoon. Gazza the image is still an out of control roller coaster of emotional platitudes heading downhill faster than any rocket propelled jet ski.
I was asked the other day on twitter by a friend could I help him?
Yes I probably could but only if the whole circus goes away. For it is Paul I am interested in saving, not Gazza.
Paul if you are listening take my thoughts and love.Know that I have seen the very worst ravages that alcohol bestows upon human beings. Find strength in who you are not your image and believe that you can come out on the other side of this thing.
And if you need my help, I will gladly give it. Not for money, not for fame but because you need to know that support will be there in the most unlikeliest of places and that in the quietness of our soul we discover who we are and how strong we can be. And it will be returning a favour for you in a way have helped me understand my father a little better!
Sunday 14 October 2012
Play your cards right
Now Mr Duncan-Smith has come up with another great idea. Alcoholics (and drug addicts) on benefits will be given a credit card that will only allow them to spend their benefits on essential items.
I have some news for you: for addicts of any persuasion essential items include the substance of abuse
Mr Duncan-Smith and his Government have planned on cutting millions of pounds from vital treatment programmes in favour of a pay by success scheme run by private enterprise. He genuinely believes that by restricting money supply you will prevent addiction.
Quite frankly Mr Duncan-Smith you are a fool. An addict will do whatever it takes to get to their addiction unless some kind of intervention helps them change their behaviour
And that intervention does not mean remove their money supply.
If you remove the money supply then without psychological and physiological support all you do is drive the person to seek an alternate source of money, legally or illegally. The addict will not care where the money comes from they will simply seek to source the money.
In the 6 months following my mother's death my father pissed £60000 against a wall to feed his habit!
I am open and frank about the destruction that addiction brought to my family. It has cost me many things in my life that I hold dear but in the cold stark light of the morning sun it cost my family everything.
You cannot dictate to people how they spend their benefits unless you are prepared to incarcerate those people and force them into treatment programmes. As far as I am aware addiction is not a sectionable illness under the Mental Health Act and unless you change that law and bring back the asylum mentality of the Victorians it never will be.
Mind you Mr Duncan-Smith if you play your cards right then the addicts will break into farmers homes. Farmers who have shotguns who will be able to shoot the intruders. Two problems solved at once then!
I have some news for you: for addicts of any persuasion essential items include the substance of abuse
Mr Duncan-Smith and his Government have planned on cutting millions of pounds from vital treatment programmes in favour of a pay by success scheme run by private enterprise. He genuinely believes that by restricting money supply you will prevent addiction.
Quite frankly Mr Duncan-Smith you are a fool. An addict will do whatever it takes to get to their addiction unless some kind of intervention helps them change their behaviour
And that intervention does not mean remove their money supply.
If you remove the money supply then without psychological and physiological support all you do is drive the person to seek an alternate source of money, legally or illegally. The addict will not care where the money comes from they will simply seek to source the money.
In the 6 months following my mother's death my father pissed £60000 against a wall to feed his habit!
I am open and frank about the destruction that addiction brought to my family. It has cost me many things in my life that I hold dear but in the cold stark light of the morning sun it cost my family everything.
You cannot dictate to people how they spend their benefits unless you are prepared to incarcerate those people and force them into treatment programmes. As far as I am aware addiction is not a sectionable illness under the Mental Health Act and unless you change that law and bring back the asylum mentality of the Victorians it never will be.
Mind you Mr Duncan-Smith if you play your cards right then the addicts will break into farmers homes. Farmers who have shotguns who will be able to shoot the intruders. Two problems solved at once then!
Tuesday 11 September 2012
And should these lands in Ancient Times....
Interesting title scary subject.
None of us like talking about old age, everyone has a secret fear of death because we don't know what is going to happen. Even those who have absolute faith will at this time of life harbour some doubt and this is perfectly normal. Some however find dealing with the passing years more difficult, particularly those who are either long term single without children or those who have lost a dearly loved, possibly life long companion.
And unfortunately it means that some of us drink too much as we live out our daily lives.
The real question is does it really matter if you enjoy a tipple in these twilight times?
Professor Ian Gilmore commented about chronic disease in the elderly caused by alcohol on BBC Breakfast last Friday. I did radio interviews yesterday on the same subject. Yet we differ on one important factor. The chronic illnesses will not start generally in elder years they are a legacy of heavy or inappropriate drinking in those younger and middle years!
Stopping the elderly will stop acute drinking problems however the long term history is the real and present danger for not just our present generation of elderly but generations to come,
If someone wants to have a little tipple in their sixties onwards then we should not berate them for it. What we should do if we are worried about them is talk to them.
One of the most difficult things that children and grandchildren face is discussing a delicate subject with elders particularly if the younger generations exhibit the same behaviour. In my family as a student at university coming home and talking to my father about his alcoholism was a non starter. Talking to my mother was even worse. After all he was Scottish Protestant she was Irish Catholic.
It was only after mum was dead and dad had disappeared that my grandmother and I discussed the situation. It was enlightening and yet tragic how we as families do not really talk about those problems.
My take on the subject is quite simple.
If you are worried, if you think it's a problem, if you don't know what to do then open your mouth and talk about it. If not with the person then with someone else you trust. Don't hide it and don't brush it under the carpet because I can assure you from bitter experience it will destroy your family ............and may be your life.
None of us like talking about old age, everyone has a secret fear of death because we don't know what is going to happen. Even those who have absolute faith will at this time of life harbour some doubt and this is perfectly normal. Some however find dealing with the passing years more difficult, particularly those who are either long term single without children or those who have lost a dearly loved, possibly life long companion.
And unfortunately it means that some of us drink too much as we live out our daily lives.
The real question is does it really matter if you enjoy a tipple in these twilight times?
Professor Ian Gilmore commented about chronic disease in the elderly caused by alcohol on BBC Breakfast last Friday. I did radio interviews yesterday on the same subject. Yet we differ on one important factor. The chronic illnesses will not start generally in elder years they are a legacy of heavy or inappropriate drinking in those younger and middle years!
Stopping the elderly will stop acute drinking problems however the long term history is the real and present danger for not just our present generation of elderly but generations to come,
If someone wants to have a little tipple in their sixties onwards then we should not berate them for it. What we should do if we are worried about them is talk to them.
One of the most difficult things that children and grandchildren face is discussing a delicate subject with elders particularly if the younger generations exhibit the same behaviour. In my family as a student at university coming home and talking to my father about his alcoholism was a non starter. Talking to my mother was even worse. After all he was Scottish Protestant she was Irish Catholic.
It was only after mum was dead and dad had disappeared that my grandmother and I discussed the situation. It was enlightening and yet tragic how we as families do not really talk about those problems.
My take on the subject is quite simple.
If you are worried, if you think it's a problem, if you don't know what to do then open your mouth and talk about it. If not with the person then with someone else you trust. Don't hide it and don't brush it under the carpet because I can assure you from bitter experience it will destroy your family ............and may be your life.
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