"If only we hadn't drunk that extra glass of Chardonnay last night"
The headline to this post was taken from The Daily Telegraph last week, and upon reading it my first thought was “I’m ok then. I don’t drink average wine”
And yet with further examination, it seems that this story has nothing to do with the quality of the wine and has everything to do with the quality of Daily Telegraph journalism. Yes, it’s another blindingly obvious statement of fact dressed up as a scientific report.
Rebecca Smith, the Daily Telegraphs’ Medical Editor, is quick to re-print the press release of the latest in a long line of alcohol bashing special interest groups.
There seems to be a lot of this kind of lazy journalism about at the moment, especially when it comes to swallowing the government line on alcohol in the run up to budget announcements.
My favourite piffle from this article? Try this one out:
Few middle class drinkers realise that a couple sharing a bottle of red wine a night are both consuming the equivalent of a Snickers chocolate bar in alcohol. This means a woman would consume eight days’ worth of calories in a week. Over a year this would mean putting more than two stone in fat unless those extra calories were burned off in exercise or food intake was reduced to compensate.
Firstly, is it only the middle classes that are thick arses? Does this rank ignorance not affect the working and upper classes then?
Secondly what is a Snickers bar “in alcohol”? What kind of metric conversion tool would work something like that out?
And thirdly, are they saying that you’ll only put the weight on if you cant avoid the munchies and if you sit on your arse in front the the TV all day? Wow. Science.
But hang on a minute surely the Health minister can bring some perspective to this utter drivel. What do you think Phil?
“Regularly drinking more than our recommended daily limits can have a knock on effect on our health – including an expanding waistline.”
Genius. Thanks Phil
the author is clearly not average then
Bloody drivel I agree! I drink a lot of wine and I don’t weight more than 51kg! Who writes this nonsense
I have to say, I gave up drinking for Lent (I know, I know) and I lost 5 pounds. The extra calories do add up if you’re not careful (and really, over the Christmas holidays, who is?). Thumbs down to the Telegraph for blowing it out of proportion as usual, though. Also, “I’m ok then. I don’t drink average wine” made me laugh out loud!
I agree, complete drivel! It’s the same as eating good food…moderation and/or exercise!