Our Binge Drinking Culture
By Marina - COAP Mentor
Hi I'm 35 years old, however my mums addiction to alcohol haunts me still to this day. I don't think it matters what age you are, parents addiction stay with you for life.What is important is how you manage it on daily basis as a child and as an adult. I've had to learn a few things the hard way which has made me stronger person but I wish I'd had someone to guide me to avoid wasting life and time because of the effects of my parents addiction. I joined COAP because as I child I remember hoping I wasn't alone but also hoping someone else wasn't going through what I was. As a mum now, I feel I can no longer ignore the huge impact addiction has on children lives and it’s with utter horror that’s I read that addiction affects the lives of at least 3 million children right now at this present moment. I can no longer ignore this issue and I owe it to myself as a child and to today’s children that something has to be done and changes need to be made. So I plucked up the courage to go back and deal with issues I would rather forget and I joined COAP, where children know that they are not alone and advice is offered if needed on how to live with other people’s addiction. If at least one child can find comfort and support by logging on then its well worth it.
But we are only at the tip of the iceberg because after watching TV programmes and reading articles about women binge drinking, one issue which is never raised but that I simply can't ignore is the fact that these women are our future mothers....this really terrifies me. One show concluded that young women drink to gain confidence, which I can understand but why do they have to get so so intoxicated, how can being confident become so embarrassing...? Believe me I know as a working mum that our lives are really pressurised but I much prefer it this way and than the old way!!! I Sometimes I feel women get the raw deal in comparison to men, so I understand why on this particular show; one mum said wine equalled ME time. I don't have a problem with that; everyone has their weakness; mine is chocolate but I don't go bonkers on it and have to finish the whole huge bar. But its become the norm to have to finish a bottle once its opened and to drink to get drunk as opposed to just relaxing....This behaviour would be defined as extremist but in today’s society its become NORMAL when it most definitely is not!!!! We are producing a society where instant reward is also becoming the norm and nothing is worked for, is it ok to comfort eat or drink because we've had a hard day?
Everything in society is conceived to make our lives easier so why are we getting so stressed?
Have we lost the plot?
