When I read that British women are the biggest binge drinkers in the world, next to the Danes, my first thought was: hurrah, that’s a topic I could write about. There are many topics where I don’t feel like I have anything to contribute, but when it comes to alcohol consumption, I do have a role.
But as I thought about it further, I realized that I actually know very little about binge drinking, which is a relatively new phenomenon despite our national prowess in this area. Binge sessions have never been a part of my life.
I don’t remember anyone binge drinking when I was growing up; people just drank. Everyone did it. Drinking was a normal activity that was regularly indulged in, whether it was a pint in the pub or a Moscow Mule in a cocktail bar, or more likely a bottle splash in the evening.
As a child, I grew up in a household where my parents drank. Rarely too much, but consistently.
Occasionally the apple-shaped, green metal ice bucket would be placed on a tray next to the Gordon’s and Schweppes tonic water when someone came over for a ‘drink’.
That would have been for a special occasion, but every evening there was always a bottle of red wine on the table. I still remember my father coming home in the evening, waving the bottle from the store.
I realized that I actually know very little about binge drinking, which is a relatively new phenomenon despite our national prowess in this area (Stock Image)
By definition, binge drinking requires a contrast between overindulgence and abstinence – so by that criterion I have never had too much to drink.
It’s not just women who binge. It is most common among those aged 30 to 50 (according to a US National Institutes of Health survey) who, using false reasoning, consider not drinking during the week – or on any day with a T into it – and then cane it. the weekend is a healthier modus vivendi. Those of us in older age know better and consider drinking a glass or two as part of the rich, everyday life.
Most of us are aware of the uncomfortable truth that alcohol is not healthy. But if I had to choose between half a bottle of Chianti or a bowl full of tequila once a week, I know which I would choose.
Why women don’t get top jobs in fashion
Phoebe Philo made a huge success of her tenure as creative director of Celine, mass-popularizing masculine overcoats, Stan Smith sneakers and oversized funnel-neck sweaters.
Often praised as the designer who designs for women, she has now launched her own line, Phoebe Philo.
There’s no doubt that she has great ideas, but when it comes to designing for women, it would be fair to say that she has limited competition in this area, as curiously almost no major luxury brands are run by women.
The arena has become slightly more feminine with Maria Grazia Chiuri at Dior and Virginie Viard succeeding Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel, but most major houses are still headed by men. For example, there has never been a female creative director at Burberry.
Phoebe Philo made a huge success of her tenure as creative director of Celine
The way clothes feel on a body is an essential part of it and while there have been many amazing and influential male designers over the decades – Giorgio Armani, Yves Saint Laurent, Cristobal Balenciaga – their input will always be different from that of a woman who understands what it means to actually wear the clothes.
So it’s extraordinary that so few women still land the big roles. But of course, most of these decisions are made at the board level and are made by guess what…men.
It’s a bit rich to confess now, Monty
Monty Don leaves BBC2’s Gardeners’ World after 17 years, declaring that the Corporation must hire as his replacement someone who is not, like him, a white, Oxford-educated man. He adds that he now feels that he has had an unfairly privileged career – a statement that reflects the atmosphere of the time, but is oh so boringly right.
The desire for more diversity in both gardening and broadcasting is understandable, but it is a bit rich to make this announcement after decades of success and fame, where he has pulled up the ladder firmly behind him and can remain from his ivory tower to write.
Monty Don leaves BBC2’s Gardeners’ World after 17 years declaring that the Corporation should hire as his replacement someone who is not, like him, a white, Oxford-educated man
Perhaps the time to make his feelings known on this subject would have been earlier in his career: generously giving someone else an opportunity that he now doesn’t want someone else like him to enjoy.
A ‘death day’ party? Over my dead body!
By the time this is published, I will be on the threshold of 66 years old. There are many people who think that this somewhat insignificant age is nothing to celebrate, but I intend to mark it in style.
However, last week I heard of a new trend for commemorating a ‘death anniversary’. I’ll say it here: if there’s anyone around reading this as I slide away – please, I don’t want any death anniversary memories. Birthdays, keep them coming – but we can forget the day of death.
Mama Mia! This movie takes me back
The breakout star of director Molly Manning Walker’s film How To Have Sex is the brilliant Mia McKenna-Bruce.
The breakout star of director Molly Manning Walker’s film How To Have Sex is the brilliant Mia McKenna-Bruce
She plays Lara, a 16-year-old on a girls’ holiday to Greece, and along with the rest of the cast and a perfect script, brings back everything that is wonderful and utterly terrible about being a teenager.
The film is nothing like the wide distribution of Martin Scorsese’s Killers Of The Flower Moon, but it’s much better and half as long.
All I want about Christmas is for it to start later
The Christmas decorations are up in the shops and it is only the second week of November.
We still have five weeks to get through this. It shouldn’t be legal to play Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You this early. There should be a statute of limitations on when all this stuff can come out.
I suggest it comes after Thanksgiving, which would allow us to drown in tinsel and Christmas tunes for a month, which would make the possibility of surviving the Flood more likely.