What is it with the Government and the binge-drinking issue?
It seems that they want a cause-celebre, something to beat the drum about and sell lots of newspapers. Binge drinking has become almost a criminal offence now, and no-one really knows exactly what binge drinking means.
The new scare about increases in Oral cancer are totally out of proportion to the risks.
To quote Kings College London on the issue:
'The total cancer burden is totally dominated by colorectal cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer, which combined account for about 50% of the total number of cases. Most other individual diseases are quite rare, occurring in less than 20 cases per 100,000 population per year'
-- Henrik Moeller
-- Director and Professor of Cancer Epidemiology.
So lets apply this to Oral cancer , and a population of 70 million. This would mean around 700x20 = 14000 cases a year. In fact, Mouth Cancer Awareness Week is quoting a figure of 4,400 new cases a year.
Whilst alcohol is a social problem, it also has a tremendous role to play in society. It provides an escape, a means to unwind, a way to continue in a highly stressful world. Letting alcohol take charge of one's life is not so good, but enjoying its pleasures in moderation is actually quite beneficial.
Forced to choose between boredom and alcoholism, I would always pick the drink.
