BBC2 - Am I drinking too much? WARNING especially for teenagers!

far2812

Did anyone watch this last night? I recorded it and have just watched it!

Absolutely fascinating.

One of the main topics was children drinkers. They did a test 10 years ago in USA (they won't do it now) on boys aged 10-12. The injected them with pure ethanol and followed all the body and brain reactions.

The result was unbelievable - basically none of the boys were showing any signs of intoxification,

So because they can't use kids, they are now testing on rats (sorry if you don't agree with it!).

They fed teenage mice and adult mice with the exact same amount of alcohol. Basically the teenage mice carried on as normal whereas the adults were clearly highly intoxicated.

Deep breath.....

The message really was "IF YOUR CHILD COMES HOME DRUNK, THEY HAVE DEFINITELY DRANK MORE THAN YOU THINK THEY HAVE".

It takes a lot more alcohol to effect teenagers than it does in adults (something to do with the body breaking it down). So be aware if your kids come home drunk.

If they seem really drunk then they have consumed a "massive" amount of alcohol and are at serious danger of overdosing as their blood alcohol level will be excessive.

Just a warning to alll......................

maybebaby80

That is interesting, I would have thought the other way around because adults would be more tolerant.

Missed this last night, might watch on the iplayer.

far2812

That's what I thought - but clearly not!

This American researcher/scientist was putting out a serious warning.

They can also now test you to see if you have an "addicts" brain.

vixarooni

When i was 14 i had about 3 barcardi breezers at my brothers wedding and i remember sitting on the loo thinking woa. I suppose on reflection it may be correct, but then i would have put that down to my first experience of more than a sip of alcohol!

squirrelchops

Hey vixarooni.....

As part of our presentation we are looking at types of drinks adolescents drink......we have been discussing alcopops....why did you drink Bacardi Breezers over say lager????

We have our own theories but wondered what you reasoning was ..if you can remember!! LOL

maybebaby80

squirrelchops wrote: »

Hey vixarooni.....

As part of our presentation we are looking at types of drinks adolescents drink......we have been discussing alcopops....why did you drink Bacardi Breezers over say lager????

We have our own theories but wondered what you reasoning was ..if you can remember!! LOL

I used to drink hooch (remember that?!) - purely because it tasted like lemonade, whereas beer, wine, cider tasted horrible to me back then!

sarymclary

I saw it last night, and watched it with great interest. My husband died from the effects of alcohol addiction, so I was hoping to find out about the addictive qualities, and what drinkers actually 'got' out of drinking, apart from just getting drunk. It was interesting to see that the elements found in alcohol create the effects of a variety of drugs, including:

diazepam (tranquiliser) - calms you down
cocaine (euphoria) - gives you a high/buzz/energizes makes you feel good
prozac (anti-depressant) - makes you extrovert
heroin - makes you feel you can take on the world
barbituates (anaesthetic) - make you sleepy/not remember & depresses the system and takes away self-awareness

I liked the fact that the presenter, who seemed reluctant to reduce his own alcohol consumption, despite being a doctor, and having a father who had a drink problem, did describe alcohol as a drug.

I am just glad I fall into the 25% of people who aren't really interested in drinking. It seems like such a ridiculous thing to spend so much money on to me, but then I don't have a desire to feel the effects listed above either.

Jo_R_2

I watched some of this. I do distinctly remember something that interested me generally which was about the theory of people falling into one of three groups - (something like) those who drink alcohol, those who avoid alcohol and those who aren't interested.

I can't stand people being drunk - I find it hard to explain how I feel when I see people like that but it really drives me crazy when I hear people saying about how they can't imagine a night out without a drink and basically what the presenter was explaining in saying about the possibility of never having a drink again - ie he found the thought of that very difficult.

sarymclary much like you I have really no desire to have a drink. My reasoning I know is nothing like what has happened in your life but my ex favoured alcohol to the exclusion of work and with no regard to money or our children. I never realised how much his attitude to drinking affected me until a while after he left. The parts of the programme I saw were really interesting - I don't know what it would take though to change attitudes to drinking, in young and older alike

tiamai_d

I wonder if I avoid it or am not interested? Don't drink, never have done, never will now. But at the same time as I just don't get the attraction, both my parents were alcoholics while I was growing up and some of the stuff I saw... well part of me is too scared of drinking alcohol incase I turn into them.

The thing about teenagers not being affected by alcohol as adults is interesting. How many adults do you know who could drink 2 bottles of cheap cider and still be standing? Never mind be in any fit state to then go on a wild rampage? Most adults would be floored!

squirrelchops

Thanks maybebaby.....that is pretty much what we.....and the research says!!

I used to have a pechant for the apple Hooch myself!!!

littlepinky84

sounds intresting may try catch this on iplayer,