Awards

• Commended for BMA Medical Book Competition: Mental Health Category 2007.
• Winner of Highly commended in the Mental Health category - BMA Medical Book Awards 2007.

Overview

Alcohol has played a major part in British life for centuries. It has led to the rise and fall of governments, financed wars, provoked civil disorder and even acts of terrorism. In many countries, alcohol consumption has been decreasing in recent years but in Britain we are drinking more and more, and from an earlier age. With the relaxation of licensing hours there is real concern that the current epidemic of binge drinking will get even worse. So why has this problem not arisen in most of the continent? Why are British adolescents drinking more now than ever? What will be the effect of the relaxation of licensing hours? Why have so many city centres become no-go zones - filled with social unrest and violence? Is it just that we can't hold our drink - or that we don't know when to stop? The authors of this book are two of the leading authorities on alcohol and its problems. In this highly topical book, the first ever on binge drinking, they take a look at the UK and its alcohol problem. They review the role of alcohol in Britain in the past 1500 years. Binge Britain looks at why our drinking culture is maintained and why politicians seem reluctant to act effectively to reduce the problem. The authors examine the power of the alcohol industry, and the huge amount of money it contributes in taxes. The book provides an informed overview of recent developments in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems, together with a commentary on and critique of the development of recent policy and the national response to this policy. Informative, authoritative, and accessibly written, Binge Britain provides a fascinating look at our need for intoxication.

Full Product Details

9780199299416

Table of Contents

Reviews

...if you are looking for a summary of Britain's obsession with alcohol over the ages, including more recent trends and political policies, Binge Britain is a worthwhile read. British Journal of Psychiatry, This book is an easy good read . It is up to date, informative and broad-based, indeed substantially more broad than the title Binge Britain suggests. The historical perspectives are particularly illuminating. BMA Medical Book Competition 2007 This book by two of our national experts on alcohol misuse provides a thoroughly good read that can be tackled cover to cover or dipped into for its wealth of data and references. It is certainly timely, as binge drinking is rarely out of the media spotlight. Clinical Medicine, Vol 7, No 1 ...a valuable resource for anyone intending to work in the [alcohol field]. The Psychologist The harm caused to individuals and to society by binge drinking is forcefully laid out in Binge Britain: Alcohol and the National Response. Moira and Martin Plant are clear about the way forward: health education messages are largely futile and often misinterpreted. They argue that we need to stem the cheap supply of alcohol and to increase taxes on alcoholic drinks. Lancet With our dependence on alcohol laid bare by this book, it is hard to feel optimistic that the future will bring any moderation of our habits. Drink impinges on the lives of almost all of us and for that reason nurses in all settings will learn something from these provocative pages. Cheers. Nursing Standard

...if you are looking for a summary of Britain's obsession with alcohol over the ages, including more recent trends and political policies, Binge Britain is a worthwhile read. British Journal of Psychiatry, This book is an easy good read . It is up to date, informative and broad-based, indeed substantially more broad than the title Binge Britain suggests. The historical perspectives are particularly illuminating. BMA Medical Book Competition 2007 This book by two of our national experts on alcohol misuse provides a thoroughly good read that can be tackled cover to cover or dipped into for its wealth of data and references. It is certainly timely, as binge drinking is rarely out of the media spotlight. Clinical Medicine, Vol 7, No 1 ...a valuable resource for anyone intending to work in the [alcohol field]. The Psychologist The harm caused to individuals and to society by binge drinking is forcefully laid out in Binge Britain: Alcohol and the National Response. Moira and Martin Plant are clear about the way forward: health education messages are largely futile and often misinterpreted. They argue that we need to stem the cheap supply of alcohol and to increase taxes on alcoholic drinks. Lancet With our dependence on alcohol laid bare by this book, it is hard to feel optimistic that the future will bring any moderation of our habits. Drink impinges on the lives of almost all of us and for that reason nurses in all settings will learn something from these provocative pages. Cheers. Nursing Standard

Author Information

Martin Plant, a social scientist, is Professor of Addiction Studies in the University of the West of England, Bristol. He is also Director of the Alcohol & Health Research Trust, a charity. His publications include the books Drugtakers in an English Town, Drugs in Perspective, Risktakers: Alcohol, Drugs, Sex and Youth, Alcohol: Minimising the Harm and the Alcohol Report. His work has focused on social, behavioural and policy aspects of alcohol and other psychoactive drugs as well as HIV/AIDS and risk taking behaviours. He is Director of the UK part of the 35 country European School Survey Project on Alcohol & other Drugs (ESPAD). Martin Plant is a frequent broadcaster and has served as a consultant to the World Health Organization. He has organised many scientific meetings related to alcohol, drugs and other topics. Moira Plant, a social scientist, is Professor of Alcohol Studies in the University of the West of England, Bristol. She is also Director of the Alcohol & Health Research Trust, a charity. Her publications include the books Women, Drinking and Pregnancy, Risktakers: Alcohol, Drugs, Sex and Youth and Women and Alcohol: Contemporary and Historical Perspectives. She has a longstanding interesting issues related to alcohol and gender and the effects of maternal drinking during pregnancy. She chaired the working group on drinking and pregnancy of the International Life Sciences Institute. She is Director of the UK and Isle of Man components of Gender, Alcohol & Culture: an International Study (GENACIS). The latter includes over 30 countries. Moira was recently President of the international Kettil Bruun Society for Social & Epidemiological Research on Alcohol. She is a frequent broadcaster and has served as a temporary advisor to the World Health Organization.

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