John McMahon

Binge drinking behaviour, attitudes and beliefs in a UK community sample: An analysis by gender, age and deprivation

Binge drinking has sparked considerable interest and concern. However, despite this interest little is known about the lay understanding of binge drinking and whether there are differences in understanding by gender, age and level of deprivation. Aims: This study investigated the beliefs and attitudes to binge drinking of a sample in the Inverclyde area. Methods: Using both cluster and quota sampling, 586 subjects completed a structured interview, using open questions about their beliefs on binge drinking and whether it was a problem generally and locally. Findings: Definitions of binge drinking tended to concentrate on intoxication and some described a dependent drinking pattern. Causes and solutions offered were varied but pointed-up levels of deprivation in respect of jobs and entertainment. More subjects regarded binge drinking as a problem in society than locally, which is consistent with research suggesting that misperceptions of others’ drinking increases with social distance. Differences in beliefs were found by age and level of deprivation but not gender. It was marked that no subject offered the ‘official’ definition of bingeing or even an approximation of it. Conclusions: Further research is required if future mass-media campaigns and interventions are to be relevant to the population.

Is it Time for a Change of Direction in Treatment Research

The editor of this journal opened a lecture on addiction to my students by stating that the longer he worked in the addiction field the less certain he was about anything (John B. Davies 1998). An enigmatic, although somewhat hackneyed, start, I thought at the time. However, I find myself more and more echoing these sentiments (although not in public and certainly not in front of my students, at least not yet).