News Item Analysis: Ben Thompson: Binge drinking warning after rugby fan dies in river (BBC Wales)

Course: Lecturer: Student:

Lang 802 British Culture Studies Miss Clare Fielder Jan J. Blankenburg B.Ed. (997146)

Ever since, alcohol consumption has been a constituent component in social life, especially to celebrate happy events like the birth of a child. Like an unwritten law, drinking alcohol is deeply embedded when it comes to having a good time and enjoying social conviviality. However, rare occasions to celebrate seem to have become an alcomarathon steady state. In recent years a growing number of alcohol-related incidences like fights, robberies and rapes called for enhancement of law enforcement. Tragically, for Ben Thompson, aged 34, it was to late to help. The athletic rugby fan not being a frequent drinker drowned in the River Ely in Cardiff after a whole day of binge drinking (BBC Wales). The NHS and Drinkaware have put much effort into preventive work to enlighten the society about massive alcohol consumption and its consequences. However, figures that describe accidents caused by alcohol consumption do slightly decrease at least in some age groups. But obviously the broad society does not seem to feel addressed. Smith and Foxcroft undertook a study in 2009 to display the drinking habits of UKs society. The study aimed inter alia[t]o describe and compare alcohol drinking trends in the general population in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales over the last 20 to 30 years (11: 2009) and to what degree youth culture influenced alcohol consumption in order to explain the trend. They found several conspicuous patterns that

attracted their attention. Generally, it is worth mentioning that Ben Thompsons fatal accident confirms Smith and Foxcrofts findings (2009), because beside the increase in drinking among women, they found out that drinking among middle and older age groups increased as well (7:2009). Smith and Foxcroft adopted figures from WHO that displayed the drinking trends of men and women in Wales between 2003 and 2007 (c.f. 41: 2009, figure 36). The bar chart shows that average 45% of men and 32% of women exceeded recommended guidelines for alcohol consumption. The term exceeding recommended guidelines is unfortunately rather vaguely phrased, however it basically means that these men who participated in this survey had more than 4 units and the women more than 3 units on any day in a week. An overall comparing bar chart of the drinking habits of men and women in Great Britain describes that between 1998 and 2006 approximately 20 to 25% of men and 10 to 15% of women had 8 respectively 6 units on any day in a week (c.f. 42: 2009, figure 39). In other words, one man in five exceeds 100% of the recommended guidelines at least on one day in a week. Although, one could anticipate that Ben Thompson was a typical victim of binge drinking, especially with the figures presented earlier in mind, he actually was a healthconscious sportsman whose drinking habits went against the trend (BBC Wales). According to his widowed wife, he was not used to alcohol and yet, he started drinking at 10.15am the day he died. Mr. Thompson became separated from his friends at around 18.15 that day. [] His last movements captured on CCTV showed him staggering down a dead end lane leading to wasteland and the river. (BBC Wales) When his body was found in March, he had nothing in his pockets but his Ireland v Wales Six Nations badge and change from the rounds of drink he had bought. (BBC Wales) Witnesses who saw him before he disappeared, described him as disorientated and vulnerable, yet, he lacked realizing his pathetic condition and must have been self -

assured and trusted his physical abilities as an athlete to walk the considerable distance of more than 1o miles back to the hotel. This assumption is enforced by his wifes assertion. She stated that he would rather walk miles than get a taxi. (BBC Wales) It is quite obvious that he who does not frequently drink alcoholic beverages was not experienced in being drunk and thus misjudged his abilities. According to Drinkaware, alcohol is the most common cause of accidents at home. (drinkaware.co.uk) Especially binge drinking leads to anti-social and aggressive behavior: 30% of sexual offences, 33% of burglaries and 50% of street crime is due to alcohol abuse. The NHS and Drinkaware provide very detailed information about excessive or binge drinking on their homepages, several to some extend shocking videos about both long-term as well as short-term effects of alcohol consumption are can be watched on YouTube and new TV commercials against binge drinking are periodically aired to create and promote a strong awareness among the society. How can these accidents like in Ben Thompsons case still happen then? Smith and Foxcroft found out in their survey, that these campaigns actually do clearly affect the society, because unconscious binge drinking and thus alcohol related incidents decreased amongst one group: Teenagers and young people between 16 and 24 actually seem to be positively influenced by educational work of the diverse institutions. The reason why enlightenment shows positive effects among young people is because this group is mainly aimed at by the campaigns. Smith and Foxcroft regard this circumstance amongst other factors as the crucial point: If this kind of educational work is likewise focused on middle and older age groups to create awareness about the recommended guidelines these groups would as well reconsider their attitudes towards alcohol consumption and reject the alleged beneficial effects of drinking on health (85: 2009). Nevertheless, Ben Thompson was not the typical binge victim. As a health-conscious

sportsman who did not frequently drink alcohol, it is likely to assume that he must have been aware of the consequences of alcohol consumption. Since alcohol has never been a intrinsic issue in his life, all these campaigns against massive alcohol consumption within a short period its sudden impact neither aimed his attention nor did he feel talked to. Binge drinking may be a phenomenon that predominantly occurs among young people and still Ben Thompson proved the rule that educational work against binge has to be provided for every social group likewise.

997 words

Sources:

Alcohol poisoning NHS Choice (30.07.13) http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alcoholpoisoning/pages/introduction.aspx

BBC News Ben Thompson: Binge drinking warning after rugby fan dies in river (30.07.13) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22612673

Drinkaware Binge Drinking (30.07.13) https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/understandyour-drinking/is-your-drinking-a-problem/binge-drinking

Smith, Lesley & Foxcroft, David. 2009. Drinking in the UK. An Exploration of Trends. School of Health and Social Care. Oxford Brookes University. York.