The Big Drink Debate

Date published: 12/05/2008

Today, Monday 12 May, the NHS in the North West launched 'the Big Drink Debate' - the largest survey of its kind ever to be undertaken in the region.

The anonymous questionnaire asks 650,000 people about the role alcohol plays in their lives.

According to Professor Mark Bellis from Liverpool John Moores University: "We're not having an honest debate about alcohol. There's a lot of misunderstanding about what's happening. A lot of people think alcohol's doing them some good. But it's much more likely to shorten your life than lengthen it.

"Young people are seeing sexy images of alcohol on billboards and on television. We have to balance that with better education about the effects of alcohol.

"People don't recognise their own alcohol habits. They tend to think of it as someone else's problem.

"We need to be more honest with ourselves about our drinking habits."

Margo Grimshaw has been a landlady in Blackburn for over 30 years and thinks that the 24 hour licensing laws introduced in 2005 are killing off traditional British pub culture.

She says that with the old licensing laws, old and young were in pub's drinking together.

The young would learn not only what to drink, but how to behave in social situations.

But now pubs are empty until very late - the older ones find them quiet and boring and decide to stay at home, instead buying cheap booze from supermarkets.

The young ones come and late and are fiercely targeted with cheap drinks, leading to all sorts of problems.

A study by academics at Lancaster University backs up what Margo is saying. Their study suggests that inter-generational drinking and socialising has been virtually wiped out.

They say the traditional "spit and sawdust" British pub has been forced to give way to chrome cocktail bars where the seating has been removed and music booms out.

This has put an end to any socializing and instead the emphasis is on getting as drunk as you can with special offers and shots.