Is it time to call time on current alcohol limits?
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Is it time to call time on current alcohol limits?
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The recommendations for alcohol consumption are well known by both professionals and the public - 21 units a week for men and 14 units a week for women. But where did these figures come fro
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Forums » Off duty » News & media » Is it time to call time on current alcohol limits?
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Is it time to call time on current alcohol limits?
posted at 3/1/2013 12:44 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1271
First: 13/4/2010 Last: 23/5/2013 |
The recommendations for alcohol consumption are well known by both professionals and the public - 21 units a week for men and 14 units a week for women. But where did these figures come from? Allegedly they were plucked almost from thin air with essentially no evidence basis according to one member of the panel who came up with them in 1987: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9774223/Alcohol-guidelines-too-high-say-doctors.html So is it time to review and revise them? There is a growing body of evidence that regular consumpion of alcohol below the current recommendations may be associated with increased health risks, morbidity and possibly mortality. The problem with stating a figure is that it may actually encourage people to see it as a target and drink towards that figure. It's a bit like speed limits. If the sign says 30mph that what people drive at (if not more). This inspite the fact that there is over-whelming evidence that simply by reducing speeds from 30mph to 20mph the risk of fatality for a child pedestrian who is knocked down fall from 25% to 2.5%. The current recommended limit for men "allows" or "legitimises" the consumption of 3 units of alcohol every single day. How can that be healthy? |
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Re: Is it time to call time on current alcohol limits?
posted at 3/1/2013 5:40 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 322
First: 12/11/2010 Last: 20/5/2013 |
Given that the in the study the 21 units came from, 21 units is the point where all causes mortality ceases to decline and begins to track the X-axis until increasing at 42 units to reach an all causes death rate having parity with a teetotaller at 63 units, you could argue that the insurance company interpretation of the figures should be: Do you drink 21 units a week - if not, why not? It comes down to perceptions of risk & pleasure. If you are happy to have an all-causes risk of death equivalenty to a teetotaller, you can actually drink either reasonably or up to a very large amount. Yes, the ALCOHOL-related death rate increases as you drink more, but other causes decrease to compensate, at least until 42 units/week. If you want no risk of an alcohol related death, then abstain. |
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Re: Is it time to call time on current alcohol limits?
posted at 3/1/2013 5:52 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 533
First: 6/9/2012 Last: 23/5/2013 |
Nice advice, Tim! How do you want to die...? I´m with Stephen Fry on this. "I want to die in my sleep like my grandfather, not screaming in terror like his passengers". So - alcohol ? But it´s not a pleasant death, either. |
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Re: Is it time to call time on current alcohol limits?
posted at 3/1/2013 6:38 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2059
First: 12/3/2010 Last: 23/5/2013 |
Carolin, It's always dangerous to attribute oneliners. Stephen Fry may have used it, and the most appropriate use was in "Airplane", when Leslie Neilsen, playing a pilot, was given the line, but I'm sure it probably has some words missing, like "my grandfather, the coach driver, ..." And you could insert "chariot" instead. In fact, I'll bet several denarii that "Mori volo somno meo quasi avi mei, non in ululatu in terrore suo similis custumarii" went down a bomb at the Colosseum. St.Paul was a wise man, and said, "No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments." 1 Timothy 5:23 It's the "little" wine that makes all the difference. John |
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Re: Is it time to call time on current alcohol limits?
posted at 3/1/2013 7:04 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 533
First: 6/9/2012 Last: 23/5/2013 |
Hi John, i didn´t know this line went back to the Romans, of course.... and I don´t remember it from airplane ( the only thing I remember is when sb shouted " is there a doctor on board?", and sb said "I think my seat-meighbour is a doctor" , and pointed to a man who was asleep with a stehoscope in his ears - I liked that). Stephen Fry used that line, like I quoted, without any additions, on a remarkable night at the Royal Albert Hall, after waving up to us, greeting us with " morituri te salutant" - no his words were " hello, poverty row!" ...I didn´t know he took it from sb else, like Pontius Pilate. I like your comment though, and of course you are right. About St.Paul, he was sensible about the wine, but I don´t like his attitude on women. Yours C. PS: I put your Xmas book on my amazon wishlist after doing some research on it - sounds very promising! In Response to Re: Is it time to call time on current alcohol limits?: Carolin, It's always dangerous to attribute oneliners. Stephen Fry may have used it, and the most appropriate use was in "Airplane", when Leslie Neilsen, playing a pilot, was given the line, but I'm sure it probably has some words missing, like "my grandfather, the coach driver, ..." And you could insert "chariot" instead. In fact, I'll bet several denarii that " Mori volo somno meo quasi avi mei, non in ululatu in terrore suo similis custumarii " went down a bomb at the Colosseum. St.Paul was a wise man, and said, "No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments." 1 Timothy 5:23 It's the "little" wine that makes all the difference. John Posted by John D |
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