Community | May 23, 2009 | 8 comments

Binge drinking is a male affliction

source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/jemima-lewis/5373768/Binge-drinking-is-a-male-...

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Though you might not know it from the photographs of girls in boob tubes vomiting onto the streets of Middle England, most commonplace drunkenness is the work of men. This is especially true after a certain age, says Jemima Lewis.

Another week, another study of British dipsomania. The NHS has just released its annual report on the nation's alcohol consumption, which was greeted with the usual gnashing of teeth and rending of clothes. There is, admittedly, much to be dismayed about. Ten million people – or one in four adults – are drinking enough to put their health at risk; 850,000 were admitted to hospital for drink-related problems in 2007; a further 6,541 died from excessive imbibing.

What you won't find among these statistics, however, is much evidence of that most reviled of modern inebriates: the female binge-drinker. Certainly, women drink more than they used to, and in some cases more than they should. Such are the perils of freedom and financial independence. But, at least compared to their menfolk, the women of Britain are remarkable for their restraint.

Two thirds of those drunks who ended up in hospital in 2007 were men. The NHS report claims that 6 per cent of men and 2 per cent of women are drinking enough to do serious physical or mental harm; in other words, women are less than half as likely to glug their way to premature senility or death.
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8 comments // Binge drinking is a male affliction

  • MirrorLake
    • 0
      MirrorLake  

    • I've met one girl and one guy who get drunk from one beer. In both cases, it seems they push themselves to act more drunk than they really are. After that, they both dissolve into nonhumans. Talking furniture.

    • 2 years ago
  • brad62
  • timetide
    • 0
      timetide  

    • In my drinking adventures girls let themselves go just as much as the dudes. In fact there are girls who can drink me under the table and thats a feet.

    • 2 years ago
  • malathion
    • 0
      malathion  

    • binge drinking is where males drink so much that they begin acting like drunk females right ? real men drink everyday , in moderation .

    • 2 years ago
  • randallr01
    • 0
      randallr01  
    • malathion:

      well said, malathion... I was actually grappling with indirectly claiming to binge drink in the above post (since I do not binge drink), but drink regularly.

      i do not believe that binge drinking, except for maybe a few times a year on the best of occasions, is a good idea for anyone. it makes you feel just icky!!

    • 2 years ago
  • maisry
    • 0
      maisry  

    • All of the binge drinkers I know are in my family. English/German/Swiss/Manx/Irish. Oh, both sexes equally prone.

    • 2 years ago
  • abipolarmind
    • 0
      abipolarmind  

    • As a regular heavy binge drinker I cannot say I disagree. As an American proud of his Irish and English heritage I would like know if binge drinking is more common amoungst those of British descent. It seems all the heavy drinkers I know of both sexes are either Irish, English, or Scottish.

    • 2 years ago
  • randallr01
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