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&amp;quot;sbillings&amp;quot;:3645092x wrote: Has anyone seen any studies which define what a binge is from a medical standpoint?[/quote:3645092x]This[/url:3645092x] UK leaflet gives it as 8 units per session for men and 6 for women. On the BBC web site I found 10 and 7, respectively (journalists, eh? <!-- s:roll: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt="" title="Rolling Eyes" /><!-- s:roll: -->). I don't think it's really a medical issue so much as a social one.

&amp;quot;kenmc&amp;quot;:3645092x wrote: I heard somewhere (radio? hearsay?) that the whole "21 units a week" thing was made up in the 80s or 90s by some medical council (britain?) out of thin air - just seemed like a nice round number - 3 units a day.
Not sure if it's true or not though.[/quote:3645092x]It is. 'Twas in [i:3645092x]The Times[/i:3645092x][/url:3645092x]

8 units per session is certainly higher than the average figure that is bandied around. That's quite a number of pints of session ale, I would imagine.

Not having any better information to go on, I adopted the 2/3 unit a day concept and just shrugged my shoulders when it occurred to me that I was binge drinking just about every time I went to the pub because I invariably have 2 pints minimum on a night out.

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:3r3ps8l4 wrote: It is. 'Twas in [i:3r3ps8l4]The Times[/i:3r3ps8l4][/url:3r3ps8l4][/quote:3r3ps8l4]

Great article! Looks like I could stand to drink a bit more.

&amp;quot;sbillings&amp;quot;:jelhqtqq wrote: Great article! Looks like I could stand to drink a bit more.[/quote:jelhqtqq]
Woohoo!!!!! <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

&amp;quot;sbillings&amp;quot;:o7qxp671 wrote:
Great article! Looks like I could stand to drink a bit more.[/quote:o7qxp671]

...or move to Australia.

I'm all for radical solutions, but...

&amp;quot;The Irish Times&amp;quot;:2qr168ne wrote: Young people aged 18 to 25 should be issued with alcohol "credits" on an electronic card as a way of controlling binge and anti-social drinking, according to the group representing convenience stores.

The card would have to be produced every time a young person purchased alcohol in a shop or pub, the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA) says in a submission to the Government's advisory group on alcohol.

The number of credits allocated to a young person would depend on age, time elapsed since a previous purchase, behaviour ( [i:2qr168ne]- TBN[/i:2qr168ne]) and other criteria to be determined by a co-ordinating body, the association suggests.

"This would prevent overpurchasing, or overindulging within a timeframe.

"The bank debit card prevents withdrawal if funds are not present - perhaps the group should consider investigating a parallel system," CSNA chief executive Vincent Jennings said.

The association says the Garda age card should become mandatory for under-25s, and it could be withdrawn or suspended for defined periods where misuse occurs. Gardaí would be able to view card data to trace drinking behaviour, although this information would not be accessible for marketing purposes.[/quote:2qr168ne]

"I'll have a naggin of vodka, two scratchcards and, eh, an authoritarian assualt on my civil liberties. Oh, and some ageist discrimination, if you have it."