h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Is this NHS question about you alcohol consumption odd?

How often do you drink alcohol?
1. Never
2. Once a month or less
3. Up to 3 times a week
4. More than 3 times a week

I'd have thought the difference between complete abstinence and drinking once a month was very slight, whereas there's scope for more variations in the "more than 3 times a week" category. The options seem to deliberately cast a moderate drinker, who statistically has the highest life expectancy, as being second only to the top group, which includes very heavy drinkers.

The Health and Safety people in the UK recently stated new guidelines for drinking, in which they said that there is no "safe" level for drinking and that the less you drink the better for your health.

This is completely contrary to scientific studies, which have consistently shown that a small amount of drinking is good for you, and if you drink two units a day you will on average be healthier than someone who drinks no alcohol at all.

This question seems to be designed to hide this fact and support the official stance by lumping all drinkers in together and not distinguishing between people who drink the healthy amount and people who drink to excess, while still seeming like they're interested in the answers.

I recently had an operation and the guy that went in before me got questioned on whether he'd had anything to eat or drink in the last 24 hours (so did I of course).

His answer, rather hilariously, was that he'd had a spliff but nothing else.

The nurse sighed and told him that a few years back they'd have sent him home as taking drugs like that can react with the aesthetic and potentially kill you. However, they then found that people simply lied to them as a result and so they'd rather have honesty and deal with it now.

That makes sense.

The trouble with the above, and as Gnomon says, lumping almost everyone into a category so they can then presumably treat you like a leper when you actually need some medical assistance, is that they will start to get people lying to them as a result. Aside from anything else - who wants a condescending lecture? Which is the least thing you will get I think if you put yourself in the top 3 of those categories.

Counterproductive stuff and lacks credibility to anyone with a knowledge of the subject.

The trouble I had with those options is that on first reading I thought there was a middle category they'd missed - people who drink between once a week and once a month.

I now think their intention is to include that group in the "up to 3 times a week" category, but they could have made it a lot clearer.

I find those questions weird. And not really a reflection of real life. For eg I have just had a full weekend involving a gig, football and meeting friends. I probably drank enough beer to float a battleship.

Most likely I won't drink any alcohol again for a few months.

But. If I'm having an operation surely what they want to know, especially of irregular drinkers like me, is: what was your alcohol consumption over the last week/month?

I also think it's an odd question, yes.

I drink alcohol more than 3 times a week these days, but I likely drink less than 3 units a week because 1 pint lasts me several days!

It is interesting statistic about alcohol and life expectancy - I guess people who are not well so are on medication that means they are not allowed to have alcohol are more likely to have a lower life expectancy, but then again there are other reasons for people to not drink at all...

"taking drugs like that can react with the aesthetic" [Orcus]

Typos like that bring smiles to my face. Thank you.

"if you drink two units a day you will on average be healthier than someone who drinks no alcohol at all." [Gnomon]

The averages can hide a lot, though. Your heart will be in better shape, but your risk for cancer will go up. At least that's what my doctor told me. And if you have to go easy on carbs, that's going to hurt you as well.

But. Heart treatments seem to get better all the time, likewise cancer treatments. Change is constant, so who knows where this will end up?

What, some people actually drink less alcohol when they're on medications that say don't take with alcohol?

these questions always look odd... afterall what does teh number of times per week, or month one consums alcohol tell them about the level of consumption per occasion ? I know people who drink every day who drink less than someone who drinks once a week as surely its the total alcohol consumed that is the problem lifestyle factors are only a small part in general risk of a given medical problem, genetics in my experience tend to suggst a stronger connection with likelyhood of hear disease, cancer etc...

"Its the total alcohol consumed that is the problem." [2Legs]

Some would counter that unconsumed alcohol is a greater problem.

"Lifestyle factors are only a small part in general risk of a given medical problem, genetics in my experience tend to suggest a stronger connection with likelihood of heart disease, cancer etc."

Your personal genetics have a lot to answer for, I imagine. But hang in there just the same. Some day you will crack the barrier, and we will all follow you through the gateway into another dement...er, I mean dimension. -)

I've always considered myself an occasional drinker. Recently I decided to go teetotal after not enjoying a glass of wine. I find fruit smoothies more to my taste. Who knows what it will do to my health?

I agree about the wording of those options. I had a health check last year to assess my risk of heart problems. I was asked the same question, but I was able to elaborate on my drinking habits so that the nurse got a better picture of any risks they might pose. The question of how often you drink alcohol should be supplemented with one asking how much you drink per week (or each time you drink, if you're an occasional drinker). Otherwise the question looks pretty meaningless, IMO.

>>"taking drugs like that can react with the aesthetic" [Orcus]

Typos like that bring smiles to my face. Thank you. smiley <<

I'd love to take credit but one should acknowledge the contribution of ing autocorrect on this darn browser.

It's an old adage here but an edit button is sooo overdue

(My personal favourite of mine here is Hey Presto! becoming Hey Preston!)

all my medication says it reacts with alcohol; its written on the boxes the drugs come in. Luckily I came up with a solution; I tkae the drugs out of the packets, and just have the strips of drugs loose, so then there isn't any warnin g..

Alcohol is not my problem. Food is..I drink much less than once a month but I still drink.I do however eat all the time.

Yeah, food issues are challenging, because you can't just avoid food altogether and have to keep fighting the battles...




Government messages about that don't help either... I'm just about getting over the sugar advert that had a terrifying picture of sugar threatening to burst out of the cartoon character's stomach, complete with a soundtrack of screams... I can still feel the food moving inside me when I eat, but I'm trying to eat a more balanced diet so it doesn't feel the need to burst out...

Demonizing food seems like a cruel thing to do, given that it is, after all, a necessity.

Yay! Someone who understands the real battle..

Sometimes the powers that be make things harder than they need to be.

Take eggs. They're very good at keeping you from feeling hungry after you eat them. But the anti-cholesterol police are so shrill that many people avoid eggs.

Everyone ticks option 1 or 2 anyway so its a pointless question

Quite - see what I said about lying.