British Government Defines Their Drunken Populace

Having solved all other problems, the British government issued a document that defines just how much of a lush their citizens are. Notably absent is the “happy drunk.” Judging by the list, I’m guessing they drink because the British Government keeps wasting their tax dollars.

Now this is a drinking problem.

From the AFP here:

Britain has identified nine types of problem drinker, from depressed solo tipplers to macho boozers, as part of efforts to fight the country’s notorious binge-drinking culture.

The nine types of problem drinker identified by the department are:

1. “de-stress drinkers”: those who use alcohol to calm down at the end of a hard day. Typically middle-class men and women;
2. “community drinkers”: driven by the need to belong. Usually lower middle-class men and women, who drink in big groups;
3. “hedonistic drinkers”: crave stimulation and want to lose control. Often divorced people with grown-up children, with exhibitionist tendencies;
4. “macho drinkers”: tend to spend most of their spare time in pubs. Mostly men of all ages;
5. “re-bonding drinkers”: use drink as a way of keeping in touch with friends;
6. “conformist drinkers”: driven by the need to belong and seek structure. Typically men aged 45-59 in clerical or manual jobs;
7. “boredom drinkers”: those who drink to pass the time and relieve monotony;
8. “depressed drinkers”: craving comfort, or feeling of safety. Can be of any age, sex or socio-economic group;
9. “border dependents”: these regard the pub as an alternative home. They visit regularly, at all times of day, weekdays and weekends. Tend to drink quickly.

For the conformist drinker- Heck, if I were a middle-aged man stuck in a clerical job, I would drink too.  And there is nothing wrong with thinking of a pub as an alternate home.  How many of these categories do you fall into?