Infection and Disease

[me123]

Certainly good news, though. Pertussis is a nasty condition which I certainly wouldn't wish on anyone. All I can say: hope you get better soon and that everything clears up for you
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

If you turn into one of thoise students I will hunt you and beat you to death. Go out and be a student. Student first, medic second in First year! There's bars to go to, JAffa Cake societies to join, bands to play in and bad films to see! And thats before we start on the 'wine, women and song' angle to uni life. Equally most of first ear can be done between 9-9 Mon-Fri!

It's because I was enjoying uni life too much that I ended up in that position This was also coupled with what turned out to be a six hour walk in Friday's rainstorm meaning I had had very little studying since Thursday.

'Twas a pretty bad weekend overall, though, and certainly not normal.

And I wasn't reading the textbook at 11.50pm: I had stopped at the much more reasonable 10.30pm. And that is so far the only time I've studied past 10pm thus far.

Please don't kill me

PS: I'm only 17. I'm not being kicked off the course for an alcohol related offence, so I've been teetotal since September

 

[Bayum]

Hahahahaha, teetotal for a month??

Hahahahaha try 18 years!!

And, I've had Whooping Cough before - but, if it's sounding nasty - i must have got away with it pretty safely before!!

 

[djw1981]

I'm not being kicked off the course for an alcohol related offence, so I've been teetotal since September

Either you drink a hell of a lot normally and cannot control yourself, or you over-react slightly! Moderation in everything... we student on placement in XXX tonight sat drinking GnT, or Wine or Tea and watching Silent Witness and House wishing we were that cool.

 

[me123]

Or everytime I try to purchase a drink, I get ID'd and, being only 17, showing ID would be rather stupid indeed, so I can't buy a drink...

As I say, the last thing I want is to be picked up for underage drinking and kicked off in Block 1.

 

[djw1981]

There are ways around that , and bizarrely you cannot be charged for trying to buy it only for actually selling it to someone under 18! your Student union must be a real stickler if they enforce the age rules, since none of the 6 I have been in in Scotland and North England ever ID'd people once inside. I wish to make clear that I was 18 when I went to Uni (the proper age!) and thus i did not indulge in alcohol underage while at Uni.

 

[me123]

I've only had threats from the bouncers, and never been ID'd inside (not that I'm trying to buy more than a coke), but I'm still paranoid. Then again, Freshers' Week had luminous wristbands which easily showed who had been ID'd and who was 18.

 

[djw1981]

Bah nanny state. where would the fun on weekend A+E shifts be it is were not for scared drunken teenagers waiting to be collected by their Mum. then it would just be violent adults, domestic abuse, twisted ankles and sportspeople.

 

[me123]

Don't forget the old ladies who have fallen over.

 

[Mojo]

On "club" nights my Students Guild asks for age ID outside, but normally not in the bar on other nights. The same for the local pubs which I find slightly concerning.

Do they still want to increase age limits to 21 in Scotland?

 

[me123]

Yup, and I betya they do it starting on the 17th of February next year (which would be my 18th Birthday)...

 

[djw1981]

Many/most off licences now ID anyone looking under 25, and many clubs are taking a similar route. i.e. if the bouncer / checkout asst thinks you are under 25, you are asked to produce ID.

 

[Tom B]

On "club" nights my Students Guild asks for age ID outside, but normally not in the bar on other nights. The same for the local pubs which I find slightly concerning.

Do they still want to increase age limits to 21 in Scotland?

Nope - it was stopped.

 

[djw1981]

It may have been voted out by MSP's (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7651197.stm) But it's back on! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7676897.stm

Mr MacAskill highlighted the large number of crimes that had been committed by those who were drunk and the pressure put on the health service. He stated that alcohol-related deaths had doubled in a decade.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/09/08094812

The Scottish Government has spent the last few months consulting on our radical plans to tackle alcohol misuse, which include a minimum price for a unit of alcohol, raising the off-sales purchase age to 21, ending irresponsible promotions and a social responsibility fee for some retailers.

"Taken together, we believe these measures could help bring about the long-term cultural shift needed to rebalance Scotland's relationship with alcohol.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/Alcohol

A consultation ran between June and September 2008. It set out a package of measures to help reduce alcohol-related harm in Scotland. The responses to the consultation are now being analysed.

The official line will only be launched after the consultation has been 'analysed' - aye right! And in some places it has already started:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7404492.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7318101.stm

 

[Tom B]

I'm sure someone will email me shortly ordering me to go and join the protest...

 

[djw1981]

Well your Uni Labour, Tory, LibDem societies will, the beer society, sports clubs, students unions (loss of profit will be huge), nightclubs and local bar will, if they have your email addy.

 

[AlexS]

Why should my rights be changed without even asking me?

If they want to raise the drinking age to 21 they can fight us over it. It's our rights involved so surely we should get a say.

I occasionally am involved in the sale of alcohol and recently have been told to be much more stringent in who I sell to without ID - as a result, anyone who looks obviously child like gets asked.

I've had some surprises, such as a bloke who looked about 12 producing a valid passport proving he was 25 though!

 

[djw1981]

They did ask the public. Consultation closed on 8th September. It was not however in the SNP Manifesto for the May 2007 election (www.snp.org/system/files/manifesto+programme.pdf), so those affected have not voted for these policies.

Governments do not have referenda on every issue (and indeed there is evidence that to do so would be anti-democratic), but take evidence from various interested parties and pressure groups, and then form a policy - at least that is how is should happen. It should also be evidence based as far as possible. The Government came forward with a policy and has consulted upon it. That consultation and the responses to it are clearly available on the SG website (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/Alcohol/strategy) for the public to read and lobby their MSP's - after all that is how a representative democracy works. Should the SG add this to their legislative procedure, then the matter would be examined in Committee, with experts and representative groups asked to come and present evidence. The Committee of the Parliament can then recommend changes and amendments to the bill before it is presented to Parliament. The Government can choose whether to accept these or not (given their minority status, this gives the Committee a stronger hand), and then the Parliament debates the bill and the report and then votes. Public input via MSP's is possible at every stage.

 

[me123]

If you look at stats, you'd probably find that most alcohol-related incidents are from younger people. And I agree that, to an extent, there are more 18 year olds than 21 year olds that are going to cause trouble or harm to themselves or others after binge drinking.

However, that does not mean that 22 year olds are all safe drinkers and won't get completely wasted; to think so would be rather stupid. There are many people that cannot enjoy alcohol responsibly. To change the drinking age would, in my opinion not be the best option, as it is age discrimination, unless they can prove to me that most 18 year olds cannot be resposible with alcohols, and that most 21 year olds can.

And I'm saying this as a (nearly) Teetotal person.

 

[djw1981]

There is evidence though (and it is not a definitive science as we all know) that most 22 year olds are doing finals, or working, and thus have to be at work for 9am, are more likely to have a meaningful accountable relationship and more likely to have kids. Thus their drinking may be more bingey and concentrated, but has a lower cumulative effect (starting later from a lower base gives a lower total exposure). 18 year olds at college or Uni have more disposable income, fewer commitments and less responsibility thus they drink larger volumes and for longer. Thus they start their liver damage before their liver is even fully developed. this is linked to a higher lifetime exposure, and with any dose-response curve, a higher total damage.

As ever the issue is that Britain's feel that because they CAN drink, they should.

It is not clear cut. I think that the SNP don't have all the answers, or even any of the answers, but they are throwing ideas about. Westminster have increased drinking hours and failed to regulate advertising; whilst also allowing increased access to alcohol 9more places and longer hours).

As ever though the solution will be a tripartite approach between families, society & government. that just won't happen in the me,me,me society of today. However, who knows what society will look like after the credit crunch and recession finally pans out, whenever that might be.

 

[me123]

As ever the issue is that Britain's feel that because they CAN drink, they should.

And it is very sad. Personally, alcoholism disgusts me. The fact that some people feel that the only way to have fun is to poison yourself is disgusting, wrong and rather sad in my opinion.

Not that I in any way oppose drinking, it's just that alcohol should be enjoyed responsibly.

There is evidence though (and it is not a definitive science as we all know) that most 22 year olds are doing finals, or working, and thus have to be at work for 9am, are more likely to have a meaningful accountable relationship and more likely to have kids. Thus their drinking may be more bingey and concentrated, but has a lower cumulative effect (starting later from a lower base gives a lower total exposure). 18 year olds at college or Uni have more disposable income, fewer commitments and less responsibility thus they drink larger volumes and for longer. Thus they start their liver damage before their liver is even fully developed. this is linked to a higher lifetime exposure, and with any dose-response curve, a higher total damage.

Students with more disposable income?!?!? Let's consider accommodation, food, books, tuition fees (for English people :razz and so on... this is quite a bit of money for a person who is either not working or working only part time. Disposable income should therefore not be that much, I wouldn't have thought. Unless you consider that people take out student loans to enjoy themselves...

It is not clear cut. I think that the SNP don't have all the answers, or even any of the answers, but they are throwing ideas about. Westminster have increased drinking hours and failed to regulate advertising; whilst also allowing increased access to alcohol 9more places and longer hours).

SNP have brought in some good things, which cannot be said for Westminster. They saved my local A&E department, pushed for better transport links, and the new hospital in the South of Glasgow looks superb for an NHS hospital. I can't remember the last thing something good came out of Westminster.

They have actually led me to support independence, however I do not feel that we are ready at the moment. It'll probably take 50-100 years, in fact, before Scotland can be said to be ready to split from England, and in that time, things could well have changed. But the SNP are certainly the best thing to have happened to Scotland in a long time and, what started out as a protest against Labour has certainly become a success for Scotland.

Are we ready to leave? No. Will we leave? Well, that depends on if Westminster actually do something to benefit the country as a whole. If they do change things for the better, then I might not want nationalism, but if things go on the way that they are, then I will vote for nationalism if Scotland is ready for it.

This isn't racism, or is not intended to be racism, but is more a protest against Westminster and the farce that is Labour.

How on earth did we start talking about Pertussis, go onto my lack of social life, to call centre work, to alcoholism and finally on to independence for Scotland.

PS: Sorry that you've got Gordon Brown; that's one thing we aren't proud of

 

[djw1981]

And it is very sad. Personally, alcoholism disgusts me. The fact that some people feel that the only way to have fun is to poison yourself is disgusting, wrong and rather sad in my opinion.

Sad yes, disgust is a bit strong - clearly you need some soft Glasgow Uni lectures on public Health and learned behaviour

Students with more disposable income?!?!? Let's consider accommodation, food, books, tuition fees (for English people :razz and so on... this is quite a bit of money for a person who is either not working or working only part time. Disposable income should therefore not be that much, I wouldn't have thought. Unless you consider that people take out student loans to enjoy themselves...

Some do. The average student needs £6k p.a. to live. UK Student loan assesses the state to provide around £4k (including whatever assumed parental contribution - i.e. full means assessment gives £4k Loan); with a summer job and part time termtime job, you can easily earn another £4-6k (5.52 x15hrs x30weeks (£2.5k) + 5.52 x38hrs x20 weeks (£4k)). Thus you have £2k purely for disposable use - drinking, holidays, charities, car, women etc. This is £40 a week.

Not all students do have this, but many students get more than the minimum from their parents. Obviously if you increase your baseline living costs, you have more disposable income.

SNP have brought in some good things, which cannot be said for Westminster. They saved my local A&E department, pushed for better transport links, and the new hospital in the South of Glasgow looks superb for an NHS hospital. I can't remember the last thing something good came out of Westminster.

This does depend a little upon one's political views. Nu Labour have had some good policy ideas and still do, but after 10 years in power, there is a combination of changing decisions made during past 10 years (as a response to changed circumstances) and a certain amount of voter fatigue with the people involved.
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[me123]

Sad yes, disgust is a bit strong - clearly you need some soft Glasgow Uni lectures on public Health and learned behaviour

That'll have to wait until Block 4.

Some do. The average student needs £6k p.a. to live. UK Student loan assesses the state to provide around £4k (including whatever assumed parental contribution - i.e. full means assessment gives £4k Loan); with a summer job and part time termtime job, you can easily earn another £4-6k (5.52 x15hrs x30weeks (£2.5k) + 5.52 x38hrs x20 weeks (£4k)). Thus you have £2k purely for disposable use - drinking, holidays, charities, car, women etc. This is £40 a week.

So my ambition to live on £2500 is a bit unrealisitic then? I earned almost £4,000 when I worked, including the month I tried on Part Time. Minus one-off expenses (presents, laptops, stethoscopes and the like) I have worked out that £2500 should be enough to get me through until the exams. However, my parents are paying for all books and equipment (except the aforementioned Stethoscope for some reason :?) so that's gotta count for something. Plus I haven't accounted for my SAAS loan in the above calculations.

 

[djw1981]

My £6k does include SAAS loan, but your £2.5k clearly does not include accommodation (at around £3.6k). The £6k is also based annually, not just termtime, and is a minimum.

£2.5k is fine but depends on extracurricular activities - charity work, music, sports, cinema, concerts, SO's. For termtime only it works out as £75pw, thus more than my estimated level. If living in catered Halls you are even more sorted.

 

[me123]

Living in non-catered halls which my parents are paying for, and I've worked out that I can live on £40pw minus social life and luxuries and stuff like that. £40 covers meals, transport (usually no more than £7 a week depending on cicumstances) and other basic living costs.

 

[djw1981]

Ah see you forgot to add in the benefit in kind of accommodation which is part of your living costs........ When you look at the tax status as well, most students have more disposable income than people on minimum wage jobs do.