I am becoming more and more fed up by attempts to make me feel guilty about the odd glass of top-fermented ale and now the miserable beggars at 'The Global Burden of Diseases Study' are insiting that all governements should be aiming for zero alcohol consumption and raising taxes to ensure it. No healthy level of alcohol consumption, says major study If I ever find myself in the same room as Prof Emmanuela Gakidou then I shall be sorely tempted to give her a slap (especially if I've had a few). Apparently "Denmark has the most drinkers (95.3% of women, and 97.1% of men). Pakistan has the fewest male drinkers (0.8%) and Bangladesh the fewest women (0.3%)" Reference to The World Happiness Report shows Denmark at No.3, Pakistan at 75 and Bangladesh at 115...I rest my case.
I propose that alcohol consumers should be aiming for zero government and reducing taxes to ensure it.
Sorry Rich - along with not drinking, theres no slapping either - they really are taking the fun out of life TD
Life is too short fill your boots mate all the studies salt bad salt good fat bad fat good 2036 is when the asteroid hits so no worries I used to love sniffing the old diesel fumes from London buses and taxis (new stuff not nice) never done me any harm
Well, I also hypothesised that a cultural acceptance of lady-slapping improves happiness but that clearly doesn't track with the data. I suspect it's due to slap-back in the context of a higher incidence of polygamy.
I really do think that Governments should take the new recommendations to heart. They have five minutes to tell me that it's bad for me and then they can forever hold their peace.
This reminded me of a clip form Woody Allen's film, Sleeper. The premise is that he has been unwittingly cryogenically frozen and awoken 200 years later. He has been asked what he wants for breakfast:
Part of the issue is the way alcohol is drunk. In many European cultures wine forms a major part even in children's lives, but they drink at a much more sedate pace, so the alcohol is absorbed at a steady rate and everyone stays cheery but not sozzled. Here, there is a feeling that alcohol should be chugged down quickly and get the next round in, so the effect is more concentrated and faster to take effect, resulting in drunken and yobbish behaviour. Anything taken in excess can be harmful, even Government advice but sitting by the Med with a glass for an afternoon of sun and conversation with friends is a great pleasure
It's a nice fresh mug of non-decaff tea here! With blue milk!! I suppose they will be next on the hit list...
Ah well thats a problem, as blue milk in France is not the same as blue milk in the UK, and similarily red milk in France is not the same as red milk in UK Maybe we need a new thread on European milk colour codes TD
I see what you're getting at... But perhaps we'd benefit if they upped it - in vino veritas and all that (excuse my Latin)
