We all know, or knew, someone like 'Jordan'. Growing up and going to uni in Liverpool, I can count at least five people who fit that archetype. The scary thing is that when your young, the label 'alcoholic' is one that you apply to older people. It's all just part of the student experience, etc. The patterns of behaviour become clearer the older you get. I'm in my late thirties now, and the lads I knew who were like that in their twenties now neatly fit the image I had back then of what an older alcoholic looks like.
Liverpool has been the second largest and most important port of the empire for more than a couple of centuries. With hundreds of ships from all corners of the world visiting it daily loading and unloading goods and sailors coming ashore in their thousands non stop and most of them with a serious thirst to quench in more ways than one, it was a matter of supply and demand that saw establishments selling alcoholic beverages springing up like weeds after rain in every street and avenue, outnumbering even the ubiquitous places of worship by many times to one. The influx of Irish migrants after the potato famine who could not make it to America stayed in Liverpool brought their own drinking culture and added their own brands of the hard stuff to our shelves. Therefore it is of no surprise alcohol consumption has always been a major happy medium of recreation and relaxation for most Liverpudlians for the last two centuries at least. But sadly, during the last couple of decades, the rapidly growing use of dodgy hallucinogens has destroyed numerous what would have been happy and enjoyable gatherings if alcohol alone was involved.
I would dispute that you can delude yourself by standing in concert square. The problem is far from restricted to there. Castle Street is now a drinking den. Mathew Street is too. Vertical drinking establishments are on the Strand and Water Street that undeniably target binge drinking male groups in for the weekend. The council still has its sights set on polluting other areas of the city.
It reflects the kind of business the council has welcomed with open arms, all the while turning off those that offer decent jobs and the incentive to look after yourself and be educated (or at least to not have to move away from home to get proper work).
The previous LibDem council saw alcohol as a massive ticking timebomb in all respects, not least health, and proposed minimum alcohol pricing. This was so that binge drinking groups would go elsewhere, not treat our city like trash and bring all the crime, drugs and negative "infrastructure" that goes along with this. It's toxic to a population.
I have grown to utterly despise Labour. It's not just the wasted opportunities of the past decade, but also those that have been exploited to our detriment. It has literally ruined peoples' lives.
I think, in some ways to park yourself in the middle of, say Concert Square for a few hours, and then convince yourself that there is a "binge drinking culture" in Liverpool, the same as could be said for say Blackpool, Newcastle and a few other cities in England. But just in the interests of balance, would it be as Interesting to visit during midweek, about the same time, to see what places are open and how busy they are, and how much "instant knobhead" behaviour is on display. None of this is to deny there is a problem or that recovery groups are a figment of our imagination.
I just think we need a bit more education about the potential dangers of over drinking and remove the "macho" or "amusing" image. But as Jirdan said in the Interview it's not just the ale or even the shots, it's when the pills or powder gets mixed in, THIS is what needs highlighting
So good to read stories like this, that actually dive into the problem, meet the people and see the places .. and search honestly for some sort of explanation snd response.
The old drinking culture is disappearing, ie down the pub every night for darts, pool, snooker etc as pubs close down and folks have more to do at home. Imagine 150 years ago, safest thing to drink was weak ale, housing for most was awful, probably safer to go the pub to get away from the missus, 15 kids and mould.
Yet now we keep getting told young people are drinking less, although reports never mention the young are doing more drugs as a replacement or alongside alcohol.
I guess those in Uni are fortunate that they don't have to get up in the morning.
We all know, or knew, someone like 'Jordan'. Growing up and going to uni in Liverpool, I can count at least five people who fit that archetype. The scary thing is that when your young, the label 'alcoholic' is one that you apply to older people. It's all just part of the student experience, etc. The patterns of behaviour become clearer the older you get. I'm in my late thirties now, and the lads I knew who were like that in their twenties now neatly fit the image I had back then of what an older alcoholic looks like.
Liverpool has been the second largest and most important port of the empire for more than a couple of centuries. With hundreds of ships from all corners of the world visiting it daily loading and unloading goods and sailors coming ashore in their thousands non stop and most of them with a serious thirst to quench in more ways than one, it was a matter of supply and demand that saw establishments selling alcoholic beverages springing up like weeds after rain in every street and avenue, outnumbering even the ubiquitous places of worship by many times to one. The influx of Irish migrants after the potato famine who could not make it to America stayed in Liverpool brought their own drinking culture and added their own brands of the hard stuff to our shelves. Therefore it is of no surprise alcohol consumption has always been a major happy medium of recreation and relaxation for most Liverpudlians for the last two centuries at least. But sadly, during the last couple of decades, the rapidly growing use of dodgy hallucinogens has destroyed numerous what would have been happy and enjoyable gatherings if alcohol alone was involved.
I would dispute that you can delude yourself by standing in concert square. The problem is far from restricted to there. Castle Street is now a drinking den. Mathew Street is too. Vertical drinking establishments are on the Strand and Water Street that undeniably target binge drinking male groups in for the weekend. The council still has its sights set on polluting other areas of the city.
It reflects the kind of business the council has welcomed with open arms, all the while turning off those that offer decent jobs and the incentive to look after yourself and be educated (or at least to not have to move away from home to get proper work).
The previous LibDem council saw alcohol as a massive ticking timebomb in all respects, not least health, and proposed minimum alcohol pricing. This was so that binge drinking groups would go elsewhere, not treat our city like trash and bring all the crime, drugs and negative "infrastructure" that goes along with this. It's toxic to a population.
I have grown to utterly despise Labour. It's not just the wasted opportunities of the past decade, but also those that have been exploited to our detriment. It has literally ruined peoples' lives.
I think, in some ways to park yourself in the middle of, say Concert Square for a few hours, and then convince yourself that there is a "binge drinking culture" in Liverpool, the same as could be said for say Blackpool, Newcastle and a few other cities in England. But just in the interests of balance, would it be as Interesting to visit during midweek, about the same time, to see what places are open and how busy they are, and how much "instant knobhead" behaviour is on display. None of this is to deny there is a problem or that recovery groups are a figment of our imagination.
I just think we need a bit more education about the potential dangers of over drinking and remove the "macho" or "amusing" image. But as Jirdan said in the Interview it's not just the ale or even the shots, it's when the pills or powder gets mixed in, THIS is what needs highlighting
So good to read stories like this, that actually dive into the problem, meet the people and see the places .. and search honestly for some sort of explanation snd response.
Last time I walked around Concert Square I heard a lot of woolly back accents. Maybe all the wools are getting us a bad name.
The old drinking culture is disappearing, ie down the pub every night for darts, pool, snooker etc as pubs close down and folks have more to do at home. Imagine 150 years ago, safest thing to drink was weak ale, housing for most was awful, probably safer to go the pub to get away from the missus, 15 kids and mould.
Yet now we keep getting told young people are drinking less, although reports never mention the young are doing more drugs as a replacement or alongside alcohol.
I guess those in Uni are fortunate that they don't have to get up in the morning.
Brilliant Jack, well researched and very informative and to be honest very worrying too! Thank you.
Great article Jack. Really funny and informative