You don’t need to get drunk to have a good time

It’s time we all admitted it: we have a drinking problem. Culturally, drinking alcohol is as ingrained as roast dinner on a Sunday. Unlike dinner though, it fails to offer any nutritional benefits and inflicts a pain far exceeding any family dispute over the last roastie.

The recommended daily intake of alcohol for men is a mere three-four units, for women it’s only two-three. These recommended allowances do not come remotely close to a socially acceptable amount. If you go for a few drinks, nine out of 10 times, you will end up out and exceeding this. The fact almost all of us exceed our supposed limits is something which is swept under the table more often than not. Hit the sauce three times a week and you can probably consider yourself a functioning alcoholic.

The pressure to drink is inescapable and beyond explanation. I certainly know I can’t meet up with someone I haven’t seen in a while and not drink, or go to a birthday and not drink. It’s socially unacceptable, and very boring. Is that because everyone else is pissed and my inclusion is expected?

Alcohol was an essential part of this social interaction

Why do people drink so much? “It’s fun”, is generally the answer, but how fun is it when you come off a four day bender, can’t remember a thing and are lying in your bed dripping with fear, guilt, sweat and have nothing to eat but the pizza on your bed sheets – I won’t even mention your horrifically dry tongue. Is that worth risking your health for? Is it worth even wasting your money on? It’s acceptable to drink all the time and routinely ignore medical guidelines and this is potentially the greatest threat to the population.

University is arguably the greatest time of our lives and drinking is part and parcel of that. Wherever there is fun, we think there must be alcohol and that’s something which must change.