The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread! Part 5

shaggydoo

graemecarter wrote: »

While it is an unsavoury thought, some of us will die through drink.

But most of us are probably at more danger from chocolate cake and our sedantry life styles?

barshamhillbilly

barshamhillbilly wrote: »

I think what I was trying to say is that the 'In your face' approach doesn't work with a lot of the posters on here.

From what I read the majority of the posters on here take it as a light hearted, social thing where they can rant when they need to and get encouragement if they need it.

I personally think that it is this light hearted approach , often combined with a bit of banter and the occasional joke that works well for a lot of people on here.

I'm not sure the big stick approach works with most of the people here, unless of course Mollypolly is waving it :D

nettttie

My dad had a post mortum after his death. I spoke with the coroner who confirmed that he was a very fit man with nothing wrong with any of his organs; I had to ask him to repeat it - "liver? did you check his liver?" yes fit and normal!!! my dad drank over rda all his life and the last 7 years he lived in spain and drank more than usual. He was fanatical about his diet and ate about 10 of his 5 a day, nuts, seeds and fish and was a healthy man who walked the 3 peaks on retirement.
I really couldn't believe alcohol had no effect on his organs, however, that was the case!

I should be so lucky!!!

kittiej

I think it's the knowledge people like RA and GC have that makes them so straight talking.

I suppose until any one of us has truly been to the edge we don't really know how bad it is.

To say that I can drink and might live to be really old just like my great grandmother, or I can smoke a pipe and live to an old age just like her would be a get out clause so I didn't have to face up to the reality of my fate.

I think everyone can only try their best, and it's only yourself who will know if you're being true to yourself.

Each person that posts or just reads this thread must know that drinking is something they need to address. I don't really think RDA's are helpful either and I don't feel that many people even bother to see what the daily allowance is, and what might be OK for one person might not be OK for another.

The one thing I would like to see is a ban on being able to drink at all if you are then going to drive, but that's my personal stance on the issue.

It's turning out to be a bit of a confessional this Sunday me thinks, which isn't a bad thing as it can give any troublesome thoughts an airing.

graemecarter

barshamhillbilly wrote: »

I think what I was trying to say is that the 'In your face' approach doesn't work with a lot of the posters on here.

I do not believe there is one person on here that is unable to control his / her drinking levels that DOESN'T honestly believe that they have an alcohol problem. By the very nature of not being able to control it MAKES it a problem. Whether they are able to admit that to someone else, is another thing.

I openly admit I am finding it difficult to control, and don't mind admitting on here that I have a problem. Whether I go and tell my work colleagues is another thing.

I also don't think you can lump all people together and say that perhaps moderate drinking levels will kill you. Surely it all depends on you and the people around you. My grandfather lived to a ripe old age and never missed his guinness in the pub every night of the week until the distance to the pub was to great for his age. He never missed a night and always has more than what is now called the RDA from the NHS.

I know I have a problem, as I can't just stop at one beer. I know the dangers and I don't believe anyone else on here doesn't ... whether they are drinking to excess or not.

Sorry - just my opinion

I never said all people on this thread were alcoholics and will die of this disease. I said many were. Not the majority, but many people.
Many people are suffering in Haiti because of the earthquake, not the majority, but many. That's the distinction.

I think some people read things in my post that were not there. However, I obviously wasn't as clear as I could have been, so here is my position
There are both alcoholics and non-alcoholics on this thread.
There will be many people that will die (or have their life spans reduced) from drink. That will not happen to everyone, but it will happen to many people.
I have not singled anyone out in particular - I cannot see how someone who is drinking sensibly could have taken what I said to heart as it obviously cannot apply to them.
Alcoholism is usually a progressive disease - and for many it will get worse.
It won't get worse for everyone on here as not everyone is alcoholic

I don't want to scare people, or be deliberately in your face, but my truth is that people and their families will suffer from the consequences of drink, and that can include death.

Never apologise for your opinion - I like to hear it (though not sure everyone likes mine!:o)

graemecarter

shaggydoo wrote: »

I have a cousin who is in his mid 40's. He has been TT all his life and has never smoked. He's one of the most unhealthy people I know. A drink has never passed his lips. However, he has always been overweight because he eats too much fat and has never exercised enough.

I had a friend whose father was a chronic alcoholic. The sort that drinks every penny the family have. He lived until he was nearly 80. My mother drank very little and never smoked and died at 68.

Health is about many things not just alcohol.

I agree 100% - I never said otherwise. I think you are reading things into my thread that were not there.

I do say that excessive alcohol consumption will be responsible for the ill health and death of many people on this thread. Not all people, not the majority of people, but many people.

graemecarter

shaggydoo wrote: »

Some posters say they drink X amount and therefore from that you can generalise and make sweeping statements abot the the rest of us?

Yes - however I made generalisations, and the thing is that generalisations by their very nature do not apply to everyone. Otherwise they would be absolutes.

graemecarter

shaggydoo wrote: »

But most of us are probably at more danger from chocolate cake and our sedantry life styles?

Quite possibly, however there will be some consequences of excessive alcohol consumption that will result in many people dying before their time.
Chocolate cake and our sedentary lifestyles may well be more dangerous, but I don't know much about that, and this is a thread about alcohol. Both are dangerous

graemecarter

barshamhillbilly wrote: »

From what I read the majority of the posters on here take it as a light hearted, social thing where they can rant when they need to and get encouragement if they need it.

I personally think that it is this light hearted approach , often combined with a bit of banter and the occasional joke that works well for a lot of people on here.

I'm not sure the big stick approach works, with most of the people here, unless of course Mollypolly is waving it :D

I am not telling anyone what to do, or telling anyone off. I am just saying that drink will cause ill health and death for many people.
I hope it isn't big stick, as I don't feel I am beating anyone.
I am not singling anyone out either

graemecarter

nettttie wrote: »

My dad had a post mortum after his death. I spoke with the coroner who confirmed that he was a very fit man with nothing wrong with any of his organs; I had to ask him to repeat it - "liver? did you check his liver?" yes fit and normal!!! my dad drank over rda all his life and the last 7 years he lived in spain and drank more than usual. He was fanatical about his diet and ate about 10 of his 5 a day, nuts, seeds and fish and was a healthy man who walked the 3 peaks on retirement.
I really couldn't believe alcohol had no effect on his organs, however, that was the case!

I should be so lucky!!!

Some people can drink loads and live to a ripe old age.
That will be the case for some of us, but not all of us.
Sometimes excessive alcohol consumption will have a negative effect on health. Not always (like your dad), but it is by no means abnormal.