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CDC on expensive booze
- Thread starter SFJoe
- Start date
Oswaldo Costa
Oswaldo Costa
I'm currently reading Robert Hughes's superbly written The Fatal Shore, about the settling of Australia, and the percentage of people addicted to rum (standing for any hard liquor) was quite astonishing back in the day. In comparison, I suspect that the per capita social cost of drinking in the more developed societies has probably never been as low as it is today. Thanks, in part, to the slow drift away from whiskey, gin and vodka towards wine, beer, and cider, due to our unflagging efforts. But to the relatives of any DUI victims they remain, of course, unacceptably high.
Jeff Grossman
Jeff Grossman
"expensive" or "excessive" ?
Michael Lewis
Michael Lewis
originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
I'm currently reading Robert Hughes's superbly written The Fatal Shore, about the settling of Australia, and the percentage of people addicted to rum (standing for any hard liquor) was quite astonishing back in the day. In comparison, I suspect that the per capita social cost of drinking in the more developed societies has probably never been as low as it is today. Thanks, in part, to the slow drift away from whiskey, gin and vodka towards wine, beer, and cider, due to our unflagging efforts. But to the relatives of any DUI victims they remain, of course, unacceptably high.
Recently, I have been watching Ken Burns' documentary series "Prohibiton" (worth a look if you get a chance) and from that I think it is fair to say that the social costs of drinking in the United States used to be drastically higher than they are now. That said, I also agree that the previous statement is little consolation to those whose lives have been directly and adversely affected by an identifiable social cost of drinking, such as DUI.
Jeff Grossman
Jeff Grossman
Speaking of "Prohibition", anybody want to ban foie gras? Seems to be all the rage in some places....
kirk wallace
kirk wallace
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
"expensive" or "excessive" ?
NB: From the article: "Binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more alcoholic beverages per occasion for women or five or more drinks per occasion for men, and is the most common form of excessive alcohol consumption in the United States."
I guess the jeebus could be renamed Bing-o.
originally posted by kirk wallace:
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
"expensive" or "excessive" ?
NB: From the article: "Binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more alcoholic beverages per occasion for women or five or more drinks per occasion for men, and is the most common form of excessive alcohol consumption in the United States."
I guess the jeebus could be renamed Bing-o.
The problem with that classification is that it neglects the time involved. Is a dinner in which 8 wines are served over the course of a 4 hour meal to be considered binge drinking? If 8 people are present at that dinner, individual consumption amounts to 750 ml per person, which would amount to 5.25 standard drinks.
Mark Lipton
kirk wallace
kirk wallace
originally posted by MLipton:
originally posted by kirk wallace:
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
"expensive" or "excessive" ?
NB: From the article: "Binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more alcoholic beverages per occasion for women or five or more drinks per occasion for men, and is the most common form of excessive alcohol consumption in the United States."
I guess the jeebus could be renamed Bing-o.
The problem with that classification is that it neglects the time involved. Is a dinner in which 8 wines are served over the course of a 4 hour meal to be considered binge drinking? If 8 people are present at that dinner, individual consumption amounts to 750 ml per person, which would amount to 5.25 standard drinks.
Mark Lipton
And with the fun dinners, if 8 people are present, there'd be more like 16-24 wines served (even if not all are completely polished off) ....