General Chat

"Young people in the UK are more likely to have been drunk by the age of 13 than those in almost any other country.

A report has also found that 15 and 16-year-olds are more likely to have been drunk in the last month than their foreign counterparts.

The survey carried out for the charity Alcohol Concern found only youngsters in Estonia, Malta and the Isle of Man drink more than young people in the UK."

I thought the UK must be top. Certainly Pontypandy does its best to win us top spot. :-( ;-)

I thought I read somewhere that the situation was improving and that it was we 'oldies' abusing alcohol more these days. But certainly Gloucester seems to be helping keep the numbers up.

I wonder why the Isle of Man is so high?

Ann I wondered if that was why they had 3 legs in Man. So that they can be legless and still walk ;-) :-D

When bitter was 1/5d in UK (7p a pint) it was only 10d in Man (4p a pint). Is it same today? Is that a factor? I know as a young holidaymaker in Douglas in 1960's that I got completely rat-bottomed and still had chage from a ten shilling note for my chips:-D

I was surprised to see the Isle of Man up there, so went to google to see what the unemployment statistics were. 2,4% in Oct , so that's pretty good. had a look at cost of living for the price of beer lolo, don't know how it compares as I don't drink , perhaps someone who does could compare?

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Isle+Of+Man

But it's an Island and unless it has changed vastly since I was there as a child, in the country villages there was generally a pub or two and not much else to do in the evening. I wonder though if the figures include all the numbers of tourists that go to Douglas and for the TT? if so it would skew the figures for actual population??

Yes, that could be the case, could be the case for Malta too if it includes tourists.

I was certain UK would be top. IOM is very surprising, as the survey does seem to be referring to young Manx people. If unemployment is so low, they may have a lot of money and pubbing may be the fashionable place to go to meet your friends.

Malta is also a big surprise as 60% go to church - mostly Roman Catholic. And difficult to get off your face on communion wine.

Not at all shocked about UK being up there. :-( :-(

and there was me thinking the Isle of Man was part of the UK - hey ho

Ann G I read that report too. Just like back in the days when "It was all sex drugs and rock and roll", it seems I have missed out yet again. :- ;-)

"Under British law, the Isle of Man is not part of the United Kingdom." ref Wikipedia)

I was surprised too, Ann :-D

I think the Isle of Man is an internally self-governing dependency of the British Crown and its people are British citizens. in . Her Majesty the Queen as Lord of Mann is Head of State. The Isle of Man, although part of the British Islands, is not part of the United Kingdom.

I think that there used to be something on motor insurance certificatesreferring to the IOM as not being part of the UK

Fascinating history of independence. They were real fighters. Fletcher Christian only sailed round the world because he was too soft to remain on Man :-D

Nb Everything I write tonight seems to have been plucked from Fifty Shades of Grey :-( :-(

Not in my case John. I have not read the book :-D

don't bother Paula - a load of over-hyped tripe - I bought the trilogy but only got about a third through the first one - so utterly unbelievable to the point of ridiculousness - don't get me wrong, I like a bit of "steamy substance" to a book, but this was daft in the extreme

I read a sample on my Kindle, I thought it was imature and very poorly written so I did not bother to buy it. Bring back Mills & Boon, I used to love it where the steamy bits always had ......................... leaving so much to the imaginatiion ;-)