Britons among the best binge-drinkers in Europe

From The Telegraph:

The study of drinkers in European countries excluded those whose intake was deemed a cause for concern, leaving a sample of 6,500 ‘normal’ drinkers.

Overall, 4.5 per cent were considered binge drinkers, meaning they down six or more drinks at one sitting at least once a month – with a drink being a pint of beer, a large glass of wine or a measure of spirits.

The highest rate in Europe was in Netherlands, where 8.4 per cent of people binge drink, followed by Britain at 8.1 per cent.

But the rate of British women binge drinking was 7.7 per cent, compared with 8.9 per cent of men. By comparison, in Spain binge drinking was nine times more prevalent amongst men.

Areas to think about:

• How much do alcohol-related problems cause the NHS, and the country in general?
• What are some possible ways to reduce binge-drinking?
• Where is the boundary between the state’s responsibility to act, and an individual’s responsibility to choose to limit their intake?