Is Britain beset by binge boozers? Will wine help you lose weight? Could six
cans of lager help you live longer? The media pose questions like these on an
almost daily basis, often using and abusing the findings of medical research to
back up their headlines.In this special report, Behind the Headlines analyses the media's relationship with research on alcohol, the science behind it, and what all this means for us when we consider raising a glass.
What's your poison: A sober analysis of alcohol and health in the media (PDF, 3Mb) is a must-read for anyone who wants the facts on whether the headlines are true.
Comments
fadeinout said on 26 October 2011
Alcohol and mental health are completely over looked in most media articles and studies. Many millions of people are self medicating depression and other conditions with daily drinking which is seen as fully socially acceptable. Especially in places such as university, excessive drinking is encouraged and looked upon as a good thing by the majority of people and can be the perfect place to either hide or develop a drinking problem. People who do not drink are increasingly seen as 'weird'. Britain is drinking itself to death and no study (of which most of even the most sensational headlines are aimed at the cheeky glass of wine crowd) will change this factor. the sad fact is that very few people who drink too much or binge drink care about their health until it is far too late. Alcohol in Britain is like obesity, it is obvious and in your face and a definite problem, but until stronger action is taken it will continue to grow as a problem until we are beyond help.
Cirrhosis: Phil's story
Many of us enjoy a drink in the pub after work without realising how social drinking can damage health. Phil didn't realise the harm his alcohol intake was doing until he was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver. He talks about his experience and the shock he felt at being diagnosed.
