When does Alcohol become a problem?

Often, alcohol abuse is associated with intoxication or dependence on alcohol. But this attitude towards the drug can stigmatize certain behaviors while also giving excuses for it’s consumption. However, alcohol becomes a problem even before it’s intended resulting intoxication.
Alcohol consumption in England has increased significantly along with alcohol related deaths. In 2007 there were 8274 deaths related to alcohol and there has been a repid increase since 1990. Britain is among the largest consumers in the world with an average of 15.6 liters of pure alcohol per year per capita, or about 173 bottles of wine or 1 180 cans of beer. Although Britain is among the countries that consume the most they are not at the top. The top three spots are taken by Luxembourg, Ireland and Hungary

Who drinks the most - It's probably not who you think!

Vision reducing hazards

Cultural heritage, family tradition, attachment to the land or “manly”meetings  are often called upon to justify consumption that is deemed reasonable. “It can not be bad, I only drink good wine” or “I never drink too much because I’m not drunk” … This minimization of hazards makes it difficult to purvey prevention messages, but now most admit the truth that no doubt alcohol is dangerous even if you do not feel the effects, even if you’re not drunk or addicted.

The direct health consequences from excessive alcohol consumption are amongst others cancer, cardiovascular diseases, cirrhosis and mental illness. A regular and excessive consumption of alcohol accounts for more deaths than those caused by road accidents and yet the majority of British are still ignorant of the dangers of excessive consumption of alcohol. More than half under-estimate the thresholds of consumption and think more people die of road accidents caused by intoxication that regular consumption of more than 4 drinks per day.

Lunches, meals with friends, family dinners … Often alcohol is daily indulgence and the drinker thinks that this is “the norm”. It is thus important to define the limits of moderate consumption:

In men: 3 drinks or units a day maximum.
In women: 2 drinks per day maximum.
Pregnant women and children: zero consumption.

Whether one opts for a flute of champagne, a pint of beer or glass of wine, we consume roughly the same amount of alcohol: 10 g per glass. Thus, the reference unit of alcohol is a glass.
See other articles in this category for a more detailed look at the different strengths of alcoholic drinks and how to measure your intake more accurately