This morning I had an irate friend call me. I'll paraphrase the conversation as best as I can.
"You know about things going on in politics and stupid people. Who are these people who say we can only drink a mouthful of wine?"
I replied I didn't have a clue but, because I'm slightly more au fait with computers than she was, I promised to do my best to find out.
Then I investigated and discovered It really has little to do with health whatsoever. Those of us over 65 are perfectly aware now much we can drink - after all we learned the skill back in the 60s and 70's when drink became available to those of us who worked for a living. "Good" alcohol wasn't cheap in those days but one negative was the hangovers. Us oldies don't like hangovers. We know our limit.
Back then few of my pals dabbled in drugs, we stuck to alcohol. Today's young will learn the same lessons eventually but it will take many years. Scotland's drug addiction needs to be addressed before sectarianism.
This afternoon I had an surprise visit from another friend. She was outraged because some 'medics' think 'oldies', after a lifetime of work and paying legal taxes to benefit the whole of the the UK, should curtain our drinking habits.
Why are politicians so focused upon keeping us 'baby boomers' alive? was her point. Is is to do with the taxes we pay on our pensions? I pointed her in the direction of this website, and I noticed her nod in agreement.
I'm off to have an other sherry.
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31 comments:
That's the ticket, SR. Forget taking the tablets and keep taking the alcohol!
I am doing my best so that when I go scientists may look at my liver with awe, wondering how the hell I lasted as long as I did!
There is hardly a day goes by when the BBC report things we shouldn't do. Radio 2 will have a warning on their news and radio 1 a different warning on their news.
If you drink you pay huge duties as you do if you smoke. If you fall ill with after affects of both you've paid for your treatment through the duty you paid and the NI you also paid.
Can these people who know, I don't think they do, please leave us all alone. We're adults we have long since earned the right to live our lives as we see fit as long as we don't impinge anyone elses rights.
Good post again Subrosa.
It has been my long-term ambition to spend my dying days permanently and completely plastered. To the extent that I'll have been dead at least three days before I even realise it, and it'll be six months before my corpse starts decomposing.
Looks like I'll have to brew my own when the time comes.
You note of course that this latest report was prepared by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, who are, in my view, not real medical doctors qualified to comment on the subject.
Not having these "experts" to order them about, my parents always had a decent sized sherry with their evening meal, and if my dad decided to have a beer during the course of the evening, mum would have another sherry! Both lived to their nineties, which I think will suit me.
However, I now have the advantage of drinking a nightly glass of wine on medical advice! About a year ago I couldn't sleep due to what my doctor called "inverse stress" - not having anything real to worry about, apparently quite common in people of my age, and was given some pills which were totally useless. So I went back to the doctors, and saw an Asian locum, who suggested that whilst the pills wouldn't do me any harm, he didn't think they would do much good either, and suggested a glass of a decent red wine about an hour or so before bedtime. He was right, it worked and I've stuck to it since, occasionally substituting a decent malt which seems just as effective! Its nice to be able to say that you are drinking on medical advice.
Hi SR,Good post and also the link at the end.As I was reading, I was thinking, who established the limits stated and how were they derived? Was this another case of "that's a good round number"we can confuse them with.Most of us who have got to this old age are well aware of how to handle drink or cant afford it any way!
But there is another menace in the pills handed out by your doctor.Its called side effects, usually passed over as "nothing to worry about".Any medicine has side effects,you may not be bothered on a particular medicine but it could kill the next person. As could the resultant of mixing two or more medicine, your doctor should tell you this, but he may just gloss over it. Always ask! I speak from experience, the reason you are on a drug may be because some "organization" thought it a "good idea" to lower the threshold for prescribing the drug, and apart from boosting profits, nothing more.There are worse things than alcohol, and you may get little or no warning of side effects till they hit you.This is a typical list of the type of information that should come with your medicine.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a692030.html#why
Read it and you will see there are wors things than booze !
Hi Leg-iron, can you get whisky drips in hospital? ;-)
As a still compos mentis sixty-something, I fully realise I have an inconvenient medical condition, and I appreciate greatly the considerable input and expertise from medical and nursing staff that controls my symptoms and makes it possible for me to keep going.
But to what end?
Are the medics sufficiently satisfied that they can manage a complex set of difficult symptoms, or do they strive to facilitate what I would define for myself as a reasonable quality of life?
If I consider the consumption of a glass or two of an evening to be an inclusive part of that ‘quality of life’, then who is there to disagree? The purchase and consumption of alcohol is still legal, I am committing no offence.
As I enter the later years of my life the last thing I need is a group of over enthusiastic psychiatrists acting as the nanny state and telling me what I should and should not be doing, the government already does that job far too well.
Apogee - there's no whisky in hospital. Don't go there.
Thanks for that link, Rosie. I would never have seen it otherwise.
While I was reading it, this stupendous thought occurred to me (although I may have seen it before):
THE ONE HORSE RACE!
I'm not sure that I need to say any more........But, being garrulous, I will.
This matter is a clear example of the 'one horse race'. Clearly, somewhere in the UK there will be an alcoholic pensioner. That person then become an example of ALL pensioners who enjoy a glass or two. In the 'one horse race' scenario that person becomes ALL pensioners.
And so we saw exactly the same scenario in the debate in the Commons today about smoking in cars with children present. In fact, Cunningham MP specifically quoted one special case of a woman, Sharron, who has an asthmatic son. SHE believes that 'just the one [fag]' caused the asthma - or maybe not. In fact, his whole speech, every word of it, was 'a one horse race' scenario. The one horse? "THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!" In reality, of course, there is no known incident of any child suffering anything at all as a result of a parent smoking in a car in their presence.
But are not all of these scares 'one horse races'? Isn't the salt scare one such? It must be true that if one eats salt by the mouthful, hour after hour, day after day, then one will die. But is that not also true of drinking water? The 'one horse race' here is 'eating salt hour after hour...' The reality is that no one ever does so.
And SHS? The same thing. Alcohol? The same thing. Global warming? The same thing.
Why are our MPs suckered by the 'one horse race' scenario? I suspect that it is because they themselves are short term entities.
I´m glad I´m not the only one that has been driven to drink on occasion by that clueless lot we call "the nanny state".
As elders of the community, we should be considered the wisest. I love a lager in the evening but I can´t remember the last time I was drunk. I just don´t have the constitution for it anymore.
I will just do what I always do. Ignore the bastards. There´s nothing they can teach me. Their opinions are irrelevant.
That's it WfW. Why anyone would want to live a life under such control beats me.
Aye Petem, older folk want a quality of life and that's gradually being eroded. Was talking to someone yesterday who was on her way to her aunt's residential home. 'They'd better not be stopping or watering down her nightly three ports and lemon' was her farewell remark.
Aye LI, I'll have to dig out the demi-johns I think. I used to produce quite an acceptable vermouth once upon a time.
EP, the RCP must be looking for publicity for something.
My own doctor encourages a nightly tipple. She knows she will only see me if my self-medication of sherry and a nice cheese doesn't work.
As you know Apogee, I'm suspicious of any medication prescribed by doctors.
Jings, that link would have anyone turn to the bottle. :)
Exactly John and in your situation you know better than anyone what detrimental effect alcohol or medication has for you.
Careful though, it could become illegal, although, like tobacco, they'll not be brave enough to take that step. Some say the taxes from both entirely fund the NHS.
Junican, I live in an area called 'Pensioners Paradise' and I've yet to see anyone staggering around the streets at any time of day or night. Maybe they're all flat out on their living room floors. :)
The one horse right enough. Why aren't folk protesting about all this nonsense or do we just sit quietly chuckling into our glass?
Well said Sue and I'll do exactly the same.
Talking heads are wheeled on whenever the MSM have nothing to say that involves news or truth.
There's always a breakthrough that'll take ten years to appear or some fatuous reference to lifestyle restraint.
This they consider as the 'compassionate' side of their doctrine.
In all probability its more toxic than the habits they prescribe.
Hi Leg-iron, And thanks for the information.What is the world coming to?
I will do my best to stay clear of hospitals!
Hi SR, the link was just to show that there are worse things than alcohol you can take. Prescribed by the medical profession. Usually with minimal information. And minimal backup if anything goes wrong. Ever notice that most prescribed drugs say do not take with alcohol. They don't tell you what the effects of the combination of drugs you are swallowing will be, just that they don't know !At least you know the effects of the alcohol !
Well, my old in law is in his nineties and takes a couple of BIG drams every day. So what? If you can you can, if you can't - don't.
PS when he was up the jungle the army made him drink a big mug of rum - unfortunately this was followed by close encounters of the nasty type with lot's of irritated Japanese. The only free drink he ever got from them and there was a snag!!
Taking heads indeed Crinkly but it's further indoctrination. In another few generations time it will be expected for all over 65s (if retired) to go into a home and stop clogging up with housing needs. Fortunately I won't be around to see 'progress' such as that.
Strangely you mention that Apogee. My doc was just saying this week that there's only one antibiotic which has serious side effects with alcohol -in moderation of course. :)
Good for him Dram. Why the over 65s are of any interest to these folk beats me. Why can't they just leave us alone to wile away our days - and nights - as we wish.
Fiona McLeod MSP, Scottish Parliament, 09/06/11
"When I was outside Parliament, I was pleased to be part of the getting it right for every child programme. Perhaps we now need to look at getting it right for every older person in Scotland."
I'm sure she means well...
Jings Sheila, she possibly does, but it could be interpreted as very patronising...
Hi SR,here is another link to worry all us old codgers.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8594677/Fatal-cocktail-of-common-drugs-putting-elderly-at-risk.html
Happy dreams.
Nightmares more like Apogee.
This reminds me of the old jokes: 'Don't drink and drive - you will spill your beer'! Or: 'I have a drink problem - I can't afford it'!
The biggest joke of all is the nanny state and the twits that actually think someone is going to take notice of their drivel and make half a pint of beer last all night in the pub.
I think I could do with a beer after that rant.
It's something more to add onto our death certificates Derek. Mine will read 'nicotine addict, drunk and died laughing' - hopefully.
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