'One in five' in Staffordshire drink too much alcohol

“What's the matter with everyone? The article refers to people who drink too much for their good health. Warren is right. Education will be the tool which has most success. And an increase in duty will not stop heavy drinking: though it might put even more pubs out of business. Please accept simple attempts to treat the problem, Exstokie. We can deal with the fatties next week. Meanwhile, let me continue to be able to afford the odd nip of good old Scottish Breath of Life! Good Health to one and all!”

“Okay, so it's reckoned to be 'one in five' drinking too much in Stoke-on-Trent is it.

How many in Stoke-on-Trent are using too much heroin? One in a thousand?”

“I think its the Labour council that have caused people to turn to the bottle !”

“It's the only time stoke on trent looks nice ! through beer goggles , only joking ! lived here all of my life.”

“exstokie, where does it mention fat people either? But you chose to drag them in. Incidentally, gastric bypass operations are not so common as you seem to think and do not get priority over other surgeries, so it is more likely patients wanting those operations who will be waiting (and I have been waiting for many years for knee surgery which I am denied not because of fatties in the way but because our PCT doesn't allow it to be done on those who are 'too young' i.e., under 55).”

“Ok BucknallMel where does this article mention drunks attacking other members of the public ?.

What does education do Warren ? people know that drinking is bad for them, so what does that tell you ?. As for fat people not hurting others well the next time you need treatment or and operation and spend months waiting, just think about why you are waiting. Do people really need gastric bypasses ? they just need to stop eating simple.

My point is that there are many health issues to be addressed in s-o-t, not just drink. As for figures on people needing hospital care after being attacked by drunks I could not agree more. Nobody should suffer at the hands of someone who is drunk. But increasing the price will not help, or will education. The law needs to stop letting people use drink as an excuse for their actions.”

“Warren and bucknallmel if you read the report it is "the middle-aged and often middle-class drinker, regularly drinking above recommended limits, who are actually requiring this complex and expensive NHS care."

20% of the population arent out fighting in the streets or drinkin on park benches, the 20% the report highlight probly dont even consider they have a problem.

Warren your first post was spot on its education. Education that anyone can have a alochol problem and not just those on a park bench. This can perception can prevent people asking for help. So please stop with the sterotypes”

“Surprise surprise.”

“Exstokinoz, what are you on. As Mel says, the overall problem of drinking is the damage a few drinkers do not to themselves, that's up to them, but to others and our communities. If the only thing you have to offer is to highlight something that is out in the report, and is a lesser problem as its in no way hurting others, your views are not needed.”

“Dear me, exstokieinoz, I wasn't aware that fat people made a habit of attacking other people in their food binges (that woman who flipped over not being able to get her favourite cupcake was thin, actually), or that takeaway food triggered violence, vandalism and other anti-social behaviour. The people I've seen kicking off at takeaways have all been thin, and off their heads on drink and drugs. And that's the bigger problem for me - the harm they do to others, not themselves. How about some figures for the numbers of people needing hospital care because some drunk decided to assault them?”