Binge Drinking
Do you often wake up the next morning and wonder what on earth happened the night before? Then quickly check your phone and your facebook for any embarrassing drunken messages? It’s probably safe to assume that almost everyone can relate to this, but is it really acceptable?
Today’s tabloids are constantly filled with tales of celebrities being admitted into rehab. Backstreet Boy A.J McLean is the latest in a string of celebrities to check themselves into rehab after admitting to a drink problem.
According to the Office of National Statistics the number of alcohol related deaths in the UK has risen consistently since the early 1990’s. With celebrities such as Mischa Barton being found behind the wheel rolling drunk, is it any wonder people follow in their footsteps?
The NHS definition of binge drinking is drinking heavily in a short space of time to get drunk or feel the effects of alcohol. So to you, two large glasses of wine might not seem like much, but drinking those six units in a short space of time is different to drinking them over a few hours with food. The NHS defines binge drinking as drinking eight units in one sitting for men, and six units for women In the UK, the proportion of young men and women aged 16 to 24 who binge drink is higher than among any other age group.
Possibly the most well-known case of a celebrity checking into rehab was Britney Spears in 2007 when she checked in and out of various facilities before famously shaving her head. However, even the most unlikely of stars such as actor Samuel L. Jackson, Mel Gibson, and Elton John have had stints in rehab in the not too distant past.
A report from the NHS earlier this year claimed that seven out of ten people taken to hospital on a Saturday night were taken as a result of alcohol. The cost of dealing with alcohol related incidents in the UK is currently £2.7 billion a year. One in four adults in Britain are binge drinkers and the UK recently topped a poll as Europe's heaviest alcohol consumers. Binge drinking can also have serious effects on your health, not only through drunken accidents but through damage to your liver, as well as making you more prone to conditions such as heart disease, strokes and damage to your nervous system.
So, as we’ve entered the new year maybe this is the perfect time to start thinking about how much we drink. The last thing we want is to spend 2011 in and out of rehab.
Female First- Rachael Patan
Tagged in Alcohol