University of Vaasa - Vaasan yliopisto

261) suggested that they had some impact, especially to 'offset an overall trend
towards lower public concern about health risks of alcohol'.
866
Paton et al (1981 p. 1319) noted that 'estimates of the number of alcoholics are
unsatisfactory because of lack of a suitable definition, difficulties of establishing
danger levels of alcohol intake, and, above all, the formidable problems of carrying
out surveys'. The Office of National Statistics (2001) has stated that 50 units of
alcohol a week for men and 35 for women should be regarded as 'very heavy
drinking'.
Ten men who consumed twice this quantity were used for research purposes. Each
continued to work, and none found any problems with their intake. All confessed that,
very occasionally, they had been unable to go to work because of their drinking.
However, all denied that they had a problem. They drank because they enjoyed so
doing, and saw no reason to stop, or even to reduce the quantity they took. All were
aware of the medical problems which could occur to them, but all rejected the
possibility. As one said 'it is my life style choice'.
Five men who no longer worked were also interviewed. Each was regarded as
medically unfit for work as the result of their drinking. None of these felt guilty, and
none regarded themselves as alcoholics, but rather people 'who liked a good drink'.
Thus, the survey of heavy drinkers and alcoholics who continued to consume
provided no worthwhile information regarding the allocation of responsibility. Four
men and one woman who were recovering alcoholics were also interviewed. None
had taken a drink for over a year, and two had given up alcohol over ten years ago.
Each gave an honest and daunting account of their days of drink, with each, quite
independently, maintaining that they were well aware of their dependency but chose
to deny it. They, too, would have regarded themselves as heavy drinkers, or people
who enjoyed a drink, but they convinced themselves and others that they were in
control. Each described how they lost control of their lives, but eventually something
happened that made them realise that the only solution was to give up drinking. Four
did this by starting to attend Alcoholics Anonymous, and the other, with help from
the family, also succeeded. None of these had any ideas about how they could have
received been discouraged from drinking.
They all maintained that they had been told by family and friends, and all simply
ignored what they were told. The only way in which they stopped was by realising
themselves that it was necessary. This group was concerned about others, and all
were prepared to offer personal help to anyone who needed advice about drinking or
encouragement to stop. None blamed the alcohol manufacturers or retailers for the
state to which they had been reduced, and none felt that punitive increases in the
price of alcoholic drinks would have deterred them from their actions. They felt that
it was something inside them - one described it as a devil, insisting that another drink
would be a good idea when all common sense dictated otherwise, but the devil
always won - that caused the excessive drinking. Thus, all arrived at the idea that
education, not just on the problems of drink, but how to address them, might, and just
might assist some people. They agreed that much more research on the causes of
alcoholism and the ways in which it could be addressed was by far the most helpful
way forward. The prohibition of alcohol advertising and health warnings on bottles