Dutch-born psychologist Professor Anna van Wersch, who has lived in England for twelve years, says our boozing culture goes back to the days of the Vikings - and is "very hard for young people to resist".

Prof van Wersch, whose findings are published in the Journal of Health Psychology, says we are more inclined to "drink to get drunk" while our continental cousins "simply enjoy the taste of a glass of wine". She said: "People in England are more high achievers than the Dutch. The quality of their work has to be perfect and their performance is much higher. There's a lot of pressure to do well and to behave appropriately and control one's emotions and that can be stressful. That's why I think the British put so much emphasis in having something to look forward to at the weekend - a chance to let off steam and let their hair down.

The survey of 32 volunteers, twenty women and twelve men aged 22 to 58, spoke of the culture of a binge drinker being "embedded in our national Zeitgeist" and "accepted as the norm". Others in the group, most of whom were from northern England apart from two Greeks, one Northern Irish person and a Londoner, contrasted English drinking patterns with other European countries and saw "weekend binge drinking" as a cultural pattern that was part of people's social lives.
Positive notions of binge drinking included increased confidence, relaxed mood and reduction of inhibitions. Hangovers were cited as the main downside because they seriously limited next day activities, another reason for only binge-drinking at weekends.
Regret was another negative, such as becoming more intimate with members of the opposite sex, more aggressive or saying things one wished one had not and losing a bit of control.

Prof van Wersch noted the British tendency to change drinking habits depending on the company, with comments like "if you're out with workmates, you've got to maintain a certain image and behave in a certain way". She said: "In Holland people's attitudes to drinking alcohol are not really so dependant on who they are with."
Prof van Wersch, who admits to been taken aback by the British drinking culture when she first moved to England from Holland, said: "For many binge drinking was easier and tended to involve more people than say going out for a meal or to the cinema."
She added: "There is a marked contrast to drinking alcohol in a 'dry culture' like Britain, where many people do not drink during the week because they have got work next day and don't want to suffer from a hangover and the Mediterranean countries and other 'wet cultures' like Holland, where it is quite normal to have a beer or a glass of wine every day with your meal."

Prof van Wersch, of Teesside University, went on: "What we are saying is that there are cultural explanations for it. The drinking is so embedded in the culture here. It is very hard for young people to resist. Everyone from a young age is integrated into this culture. "And if people didn't have the 'big night out with their friends' to look forward to, what would they do and feel like at the end of the week? We don't want a nation on Prozac, do we?"
Prof van Wersch, said although binge drinking is exceeding healthy limits and causing anti social behaviour, no participant mentioned these factors as a downside without being prompted.

On the contrary, only positive connotations were highlighted such as reflecting British ways of celebrating, relaxing and enjoying themselves.
She said: "The main difference between dry and wet cultures is that in the wet cultures people drink because they enjoy the taste of a glass of wine or beer but not with the intention to get drunk. In dry cultures the taste does not seem matter much as long as there ' s alcohol in it and it helps the sedation process. The main question is if we are going to abandon the binge drinking experience what are we going to replace it with to guarantee people relax and can have a laugh together with their friends? My follow up research interviewing people in other dry and wet cultures might shine some light on possible answers."

Official data quantifies binge drinking as five consecutive standard drinks in one sitting for men and four for women but Prof van Wersch and her colleague Wendy Walker from Leeds University, who also reviewed previous research on the issue, explained to participants they were using the term to mean "a drinking occasion leading to intoxication".
Prof van Wersch said: "We found the social aspect to drinking alcohol reflected again and again, with all the participants saying they were in company the last time they got drunk and several saying drinking alone was 'pointless'. Getting drunk was about sharing happy feelings with others and being sociable."

Telegraph: 19 februari 2009
Anna van Wersch (400, XIV,2b)