Lib Dem MPs Christine Jardine and Layla Moran are facing their third weekend without any booze. They are doing Go Sober for October to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
So far, they have raised nearly £650 between them.
It’s not always been easy. Last week, poor Christine had to serve whisky to guests at Edinburgh West’s whisky tasting. Her face says it all.
So why not give them a bit of encouragement, all for an excellent cause. You can donate to Christine here and Layla here.
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3 Comments
Can we please stop all these’ Staying off the Booze stunts’. How is this helping the poor pub owner struggling with business rates and high beer duty. Talking of which I will be in the Star Tavern off Belgrave Square on Saturday prior to the March. It opens at 10.30 am and is a short walk from Wellington Arch. See you there.
Christine and Layla, if you turn up and have an early morning livener I promise I won’t tell anyone.
@ James Young “Can we please stop all these’ Staying off the Booze stunts’.” I agree with that bit. As for the rest :
1. In the UK, in 2015 there were 8,758 alcohol-related deaths (around 14 per 100,000 people). The mortality rates are highest among people aged 55-64.
2, In England, there are an estimated 595,131 dependent drinkers, of whom only 108,696 are currently accessing treatment.
3.Alcohol misuse is the biggest risk factor for death, ill-health and disability among 15-49 year-olds in the UK, and the fifth biggest risk factor across all ages.
4. Alcohol harms are estimated to cost the NHS around £3.5 billion annually.
5. While the price of alcohol has increased by 36% since 2005, it remains 60% more affordable than it was in 1980.
And just in passing… the Liberal Party and the Liberal Democrats have had three Party Leaders who died much earlier than they should have from alcohol related illness….. one was a Prime Minister of great talent but began to fail… one had to be replaced in 1955… and most people sadly will know who the last one was. It’s not a joke.
I haven’t looked up the medical evidence but actually I suspect that having a period in the year when you forswear booze is a good idea – it allows the liver to clean itself and regenerate and I suspect it (partially) resets the tolerance to alcohol.
I suspect that it is no coincidence that the major religions and traditions of many societies have periods of moderation such as Lent as well as feast days – both are important to people’s health and well-being. To have get-togethers, “break bread” and have a drink with one’s family and friends is extremely life affirming.
But lent, things like “going sober for October” can provide a good excuse for not drinking when pressurised by friends.
I was surprised when looking it up that suicide is as big a “killer” as the rates quoted above for alcohol. With 10.1 deaths per 100,000. 15.5 per 100,000 in males, and 24.8 in males aged 45-49. Of course alcohol may be contributing factor to suicide. But a good antidote is having a drink/meal with mates.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/suicidesintheunitedkingdom/2017registrations
We can support pubs even if not drinking – by having a soft drink (where I suspect margins are higher), a pub meal and drinking less but drinking higher quality, more expensive drinks.