Issue 150

Waterfront debate: Against Binge Drinking

04th December 2006

As students, we have first hand knowledge of the effects and dangers of binge drinking. Many evenings over the course of the time spent at university will be spent by many consuming vast quantities of alcohol in a bid to have a fun night out.

But medical guidelines limit healthy consumption by women to 3 units a night or 4 for men. Joe Barry of the department of public health at Trinity College, Dublin, commented that drinking "will impair academic performance. Getting drunk regularly is not good for your brain."

Following the revelation of the UK being at the top of a poll of European's heaviest alcohol consumers; the Home Office has revealed findings that show that young "binge drinkers" often get into fights and cause trouble purely as part of a good night out.

Figures show that four out of ten young people in the UK were classed as binge drinkers, and were far more likely to commit a violent crime of theft. They are also three times more likely to misbehave than "regular drinkers" who get drunk less than once a month.

New research shows that out of six European countries, the UK had the highest consumption rate at an average intake of 6.3 units on a single occasion, compared to Germany's 5.5, and France's 4.9. Sweden had an average consumption of just 3.1 units, which is less than half the UK total. Heavy drinking has long been associated with liver problems, such as cirrhosis, and now research has linked heavy drinking to the development of liver cancer.

Alongside obvious health issues, there is also the risk of increased injury. Students in particular are well known for their drinking and several have been found dead as a result of alcohol overdose. Students have also been discovered clinging to life with blood alcohol levels sky high.

Binge drinking runs the risk of alcohol poisoning, judgement impairment, mental health problems and the increased risk of alcoholism. Accidents become far more frequent as increased levels of alcohol are consumed. Other risks include unprotected sex, use of unlicensed mini-cabs, and getting into the cars of strangers.

Recently MPs have fought over the issue of 24 hour licensing laws, and have debated over the possibility of changing the minimum age that a person can buy alcohol. The US only allows people to drink from the age of 21 but this has not stopped students and other youngsters from getting hold of alcohol to fuel their binges. With children in the UK abusing alcohol at a very young age, it is questionable whether moving the age limit will work.

If alcohol was easier to get hold of due a lowered age limit, children and teenagers might get less of a thrill out of drinking, but with students still getting paralytic legally, this is controversial. What is obvious, however, is that binge drinking causes a lot of social and health problems and that something needs to be done.

Melissa Cathcart