JFKvsNixon Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any of these involved in the new guidelines. I understood that new guidelines came about after a review of the current evidence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewheeldave Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 Whilst the research might be sound, although presenting it just after the new-year makes me suspicious, I think it was presented (as it always is) rather poorly. Alcohol is a carcinogen, so the fact that there is no safe level is simple common sense. But there are many common known and unknown carcinogens that we live with and have no safe levels; infections, meat, exhaust particles, food additives, chemicals, radiation even seminal fluid. So we could say that there is no safe level of driving, eating or having sex. If the research is sound, they'll have adjusted for things like driving etc. Research like this isn't trying to show that a thing is harmful, because every thing has some harmfull components. It's showing that alcohol consumption is harmfull over and above the base level of risk that always accompanies any activity. Driving for example does indeed come with risks/harm (health issues due to the inactivity, exposure to fuel particles etc), but so do all the alternatives (walking, trains etc). Whereas, with alcohol, the alternatives (not drinking, drinking fruit juice etc) are either no, or, much lower risk. And, the advice issued by the medicals seems to be that equivalent to six pints of beer or seven glasses of wine is pretty much as high as anyone should go. Doesn't seem that restrictive- are there really many people around these days who would drink six pints beer/7 glasses wine every week, and, not expect it to have a adverse affect on their health? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waldo Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 Did anyone ever follow the previous guidelines, and will anyone be changing their drinking habits in light of this new advice? Wasn't aware of any advice; but have not had any alcohol at all in the past year. I like being sober, aware and capable. I always found (when I used to drink) that alcohol reduces the effectiveness with which I can deal with the world around me. I do not understand why people willingly choose to incapacitate themselves. It doesn't make any sense to me; though it clearly is a popular indulgence. For wome, it's just a glass of wine with a meal, once in a while... I'm interested though... What are the ways in which alcohol incapacitates a person? Why do people drink? Do people feel it takes the edge of things, enables them to socialise better, or is it about escaping aomething (life's problems maybe)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLASGOWOODS Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 Wasn't aware of any advice; but have not had any alcohol at all in the past year. I like being sober, aware and capable. I always found (when I used to drink) that alcohol reduces the effectiveness with which I can deal with the world around me. I do not understand why people willingly choose to incapacitate themselves. It doesn't make any sense to me; though it clearly is a popular indulgence. For wome, it's just a glass of wine with a meal, once in a while... I'm interested though... What are the ways in which alcohol incapacitates a person? Why do people drink? Do people feel it takes the edge of things, enables them to socialise better, or is it about escaping aomething (life's problems maybe)? You don't say Sherlock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milquetoast1 Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 have not had any alcohol at all in the past year It doesn't make any sense to me; though it clearly is a popular indulgence. Why do people drink? You've not had any alcohol in the last year, yet you seem so puzzled why people drink? I'm puzzled why you started in the first place. I know plenty of people who don't like alcohol and so don't drink, and I know plenty of people who can't drink in moderation and so don't drink. I've never met anybody who doesn't understand why people drink, and I've never met anybody who doesn't understand the point of drinking and yet have done so for most of their adult life. You appear to fit both categories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclone Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 I understood that new guidelines came about after a review of the current evidence. They reviewed the evidence and then made up a number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JarvisS8 Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 Walking outside increases the risk of cancer just as much has drinking alcohol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFKvsNixon Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 They reviewed the evidence and then made up a number. They'd say that a thorough review of the evidence over a protracted period of time led them to their recommendations. So what number of drinks does a quick google tell you that we should be drinking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waldo Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 You've not had any alcohol in the last year, yet you seem so puzzled why people drink? I'm puzzled why you started in the first place. People's tastes, inclinations and priorities change. I know plenty of people who don't like alcohol and so don't drink, and I know plenty of people who can't drink in moderation and so don't drink. I've never met anybody who doesn't understand why people drink, and I've never met anybody who doesn't understand the point of drinking and yet have done so for most of their adult life. You appear to fit both categories. Just trying to understand. Not sorry, if that offends you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milquetoast1 Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 They'd say that a thorough review of the evidence over a protracted period of time led them to their recommendations. So what number of drinks does a quick google tell you that we should be drinking? They said they came up with 14 units to rank it alongside driving. So Cyclone is pretty much right when he says they made up a number. They could have chosen any number of other activities to compare it against and recommended a totally different number, but I suspect they wanted to suggest a slightly smaller number than the existing number so chose driving as their magic comparison. Besides, driving is a totally rubbish comparison. Most of us don't choose to do it, and the average driver (8,000 miles pa) is probably even rarer than the average drinker. If they'd decided to compare it to travelling on public transport they'd be recommending zero units per week, or if they'd decided to compare it to cycling they'd be recommending 100 units per week, but I suspect they wanted to recommend about 14 which was already the average consumption. It's just the recommendation to do everything in moderation, dressed up in statistics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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