Binge drinking

kerjam · 13-02-2008, 11:14 PM

Does binge drinking exist in Aus or do they have more of a continental approach to alcohol?
What's the culture like in Adelaide?

Edinburger · 13-02-2008, 11:40 PM

Binge drinking exists everywhere. In the UK we seem to have this mythical view of continental drinking as sophisticated and strictly in moderation, and yet France has the highest rate of alcoholism on the planet. When I lived in Paris it was like living in any other big city - you have drunks stumbling about on ocassion, bars were jammed at the weekend as people got as much alcohol as possible down their necks and kids congregated wherever they could and passed around bottles of cheap red wine (better than cider I suppose). Everywhere has it, we just seemed to enjoy glamorising it it in the UK and making really awful tv programmes about it to show on Sky One and Bravo.

Dead cheery me, eh? :D

kerjam · 14-02-2008, 10:18 AM

Of course you are absolutely right. Problems like binge drinking exist everywhere. I guess the exposure it gets in the UK makes you think it is worse than in other countries. It really is down to parents to protect their children whatever country they are in.
I think that over the years I have become so disillusioned by the UK I tend to think that other countries cannot possibly as bad.
Personally the things that really do appeal to me about Aus is the outdoor lifestyle and the better leisure opportunities . Am I dreaming or do they exist?
Is there really a better lifestyle for our children and us in Aus? So many questions; definitely more investigation required.

kdal · 14-02-2008, 10:23 AM

HI, You are quite right and there are problems everywhere. We are still here in the UK and my son is 16 at the moment he doesnt have much of a life here as for the past 2 years his old school buddies have been over the park getting wrecked on alcohol and I am so lucky that so far this does not appeal to him at all.
We are hoping that the move to Australia will give him a better life, as he loves sport and more daytime type activities, so hopefully he will find some good friendships there. Here there isnt anything to do during the day really so the kids hang out in the evening, so just hoping that he will be preoccupied during the day in Australia with things he likes to do.
You got to give it ago!!

FamFive · 14-02-2008, 11:22 AM

Hi

We think the same as yourself, we have a 16 (17 in april) old daughter and god knows what i would have done if staying here in UK.

I would have to lock her up, she is very dainty for her age which im glad as her friends who arent already are out drinking round the wine bars.

Ellie