Two Tins Of Beer And A Half Bottle Of Wine...

[sandyRoe]

A man who'd experienced serious liver problems was interviewed on television yesterday. He said that the two tins and the half bottle of wine was all that he drank. Was he unlucky in having a liver more susceptible to damage by alcohol than most other people or would regularly drinking that modest amount be enough to harm anyone?

[Old_Geezer]

Half a bottle every day ? No expert but I'd have thought that was risky. Even without topping up with tinnies. Sounds like the alcohol intake quantity of past generations who paid no heed to the consequences.

[woofgang]

I suspect why chose those two particular people because they had bad consequences from what most would consider not a problem. the fatty liver bloke said he had weighed 15 stone at his heaviest which isn't anywhere near bariatric for his height and build. Because I am a nasty cynical type, I suspect that whoever chose those men, chose them to make the rest of us go "OMG I didn't realise that the level that is dangerous was so low, i'd better reform immediately"

[emmie]

as i keep saying everyone is different, but generally bad eating, smoking, drinking habits tend to catch up in the end, these two were just examples, but sure they could find loads more. And seeing others who have these problems doesn't deter people from those habits, some may quit smoking after being advised that it's having an adverse affect on the persons health, but i have also known those with serious smoking related problems continue on doing it

[woofgang]

emmie, so long as I am 90 when they catch up with me :-)

[Old_Geezer]

When I visited a hospital a few times about a year ago, they had 'made me' fill in a form on alcohol intake, (nosey .... so & sos) so I honestly put down my very modest level. The next time I visited they had the £"$^$%&$^%*£% cheek to give me a leaflet about drinking problems and cutting down, apparently because of what I'd told them !!!!!.

I was majorly offended and swore I'd never be honest with them ever again. Next time they ask it'll be six bottles of wine a day, a bottle of scotch, plus a barrel of ale. The leaflet got ripped and stuck in the bin as soon as I got back home. So beware of you have a couple of pints every other weekend and share a bottle of wine a fortnight with your partner; apparently that makes you a problem drinker.

[emmie]

one of my work colleagues dropped dead age 48, from a massive heart attack, bad diet, stress over work all contributing factors, lovely man who left a wife and young sons, A good friend was younger than that he had a lifetime of hardline drinking, smoking, who suffered same fate. others i have known the same, some are plain lucky who get to a ripe old age.

[woofgang]

I went to the GP many years back because I had a suspect tick bite. She arranged for a blood test for Lyme disease but unbeknownst to me, got a liver function test as well and when i went back I got the "problem drinker" speech. I gave it to her hot and strong about minding her own business. She actually apologised!

[emmie]

i have the same speech every time i go to the surgery, even though i rarely drink these days.

[sandyRoe]

This 'problem drinker' speil, why did she start on it if she hadn't seen something to cause concern?

[anneasquith]

I agree sandy, even on a daily basis , I thought it a modest amount to cause such damage, but, two factors , 1) how long has he been consuming that amount of alcohol, 2) hes not telling the truth ?

[emmie]

i would suggest yes to both -

[sandyRoe]

My first thought was that it's a strange mixture of drinks for a light drinker. It looks to me to be the mix an alcoholic might choose. When I drank I'd sometimes buy 4 tins of beer and a bottle of wine for a quiet night in.

[LazyGun]

If you read the report that prompted the article, it makes for sobering ( pun intended) reading.

http://appghep.org.uk.dedi452.your-server.de/liver-inquiry-2014/

I am absolutely certain that those selected in the BBC report were selected with the intent to shock - Most people when they think about liver disease and liver damage and liver transplantation at all will probably have in mind some hopeless alcoholic or hapless drug addict. Those guys - whether one was minimising his alcohol intake or not - came across as not too different from the herd.

As to whether he was minimising his alcohol intake- he might be I suppose, but why should he? He has already had his liver transplant, has already been through the stages of diagnosis and judgement where he might be expected to downplay his consumption. Why should he lie or minimise it now?

The overwhelming majority of cases of severe enough liver damage to prompt a surgical intervention or transplant can be linked to just 3 main causes - alcohol, obesity and viral hepatitis. The sad news is that liver disease is largely preventable, if you moderate your lifestyle.

[emmie]

the bad news is that you don't know you have it until its serious, or probably fatal

[EdmundD]

I saw the news item and thought the two tins might be full strength ciders at 8% or so and the wine - who knows - fortified wine? If not it doesn't sound such a lethal combination.

I did think there was a "political" element to it. My GPs always seem to be quick to point to alcohol as the source of all evils - pains etc. from statins - don't drink. Blood pressure a bit on the high side - don't drink. Problems sleeping - don't drink.

How effective do you think a proposed minimum price of 50p a unit would be?

[sandyRoe]

It would deprive drinkers in the poorest section of society of one of their few pleasures in life while leaving the slightly better off unaffected. It's not much of an idea.

[LazyGun]

The group principally responsible for determining how effect a minimum price policy would be is the Sheffield Alcohol Research Group, and it is their work that appears the most authoritative.

This is from the Scottish Govt, who have (I think) already implemented the 50p/unit min.pricing policy
"The Chief Medical Officer believes that - like the smoking ban - minimum price would save lives within a year. Research by the University of Sheffield estimated that the proposed minimum price of 50p per unit would result in the following benefits:

Alcohol related deaths would fall by about 60 in the first year and 318 by year ten of the policy
A fall in hospital admission of 1,600 in year 1, and 6,500 per year by year ten of the policy
A fall in crime volumes by around 3,500 offences per year
A financial saving from harm reduction (health, employment, crime etc) of £942m over ten years
Some people may not feel that they are part of Scotland's alcohol problem, but through the introduction of minimum pricing, everyone will feel the economic and social benefits of the solution through healthier, happier, safer families and communities."

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/Services/Alcohol/minimum-pricing

And I guess we will see what if any impact it has over time.

Its all about education and lifestyle; Live a life where you drink moderately, eat a balanced diet and exercise a bit and this will protect you against the most common harms, including liver disease.

[sandyRoe]

I agree. ^ Moderation in all things is the sensible way.

[Booldawg]

I also saw the news piece and even though its not a ridiculous amount of alcohol, he's not giving his liver a chance to recover.

[sandyRoe]

Surely he has stopped and it was that seemingly low amount that caused his problems?