Surveys, Polls and Statistics

[Golden Bear]

I often question the value and accuracy of the countless surveys, polls and statistics which are regularly poured out by government departments and other agencies.

I find this one particularly hard to believe:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8463333.stm

Incredible ---------------- if true -------- which I really doubt.

[Woody1985]

I agree that the figure is high for all Scots.

However, on a personal level I used to go out every Friday, Saturday and sometimes Sunday in the same weekend and reckon for the last two/three years I would have exceeded the number of pints (537) shown as the average.

Trying to cut down now because my body is telling me it's had enough and I'm getting bored of being wrecked every weekend.

Also, it's easy propaganda for the government. How much was sold / number of people. We all know that all drink that is sold isn't drunk whether it be left over drinks, spilt drinks, drinks stored in cupboards, thrown out etc etc etc.

[Curmudgeon]

How to get the result you want in an opinion poll is explained below.

HERE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yhN1IDLQjo&feature=PlayList&p=0C4CB5F8E81D654C&index=19)

[JE89]

I agree that the figure is high for all Scots.

However, on a personal level I used to go out every Friday, Saturday and sometimes Sunday in the same weekend and reckon for the last two/three years I would have exceeded the number of pints (537) shown as the average.

Trying to cut down now because my body is telling me it's had enough and I'm getting bored of being wrecked every weekend.

Also, it's easy propaganda for the government. How much was sold / number of people. We all know that all drink that is sold isn't drunk whether it be left over drinks, spilt drinks, drinks stored in cupboards, thrown out etc etc etc.

Me too. Quite shocking really. But then again, right now I'm thinking about my exams being over and get rat-arsed.

[CropleyWasGod]

What gets me is the use of the word "average".

This last week, I have had two pints. That's normal for me, and probably not uncommon. So, to achieve the average, somewhere out there is someone who had 18 pints in the week. That's going some.

[Dashing Bob S]

I agree that the figure is high for all Scots.

However, on a personal level I used to go out every Friday, Saturday and sometimes Sunday in the same weekend and reckon for the last two/three years I would have exceeded the number of pints (537) shown as the average.

Trying to cut down now because my body is telling me it's had enough and I'm getting bored of being wrecked every weekend.

Also, it's easy propaganda for the government. How much was sold / number of people. We all know that all drink that is sold isn't drunk whether it be left over drinks, spilt drinks, drinks stored in cupboards, thrown out etc etc etc.

I don't believe all the propaganda. I'm going to swim against the tide and drink more this year, and I shamelessly encourage everyone else to doo the same.

[Woody1985]

I don't believe all the propaganda. I'm going to swim against the tide and drink more this year, and I shamelessly encourage everyone else to doo the same.

:greengrin

I understand the point you are making, I'm not saying that the extent of the drink problem shouldn't be highlighted but when using examples such as '46 bottles of vodka' it could have a negative effect because people think that it is ridiculous as well as sensationalist and has people questioning the information provided to them.

[ancient hibee]

How many bottlesof Buckfast does this equal?

This can go in at No.2 in my League of Useless Stats.-just behind last week's telling us that alcohol abuse costs everyone £900 p.a.

[Bayern Bru]

Me too. Quite shocking really. But then again, right now I'm thinking about my exams being over and get rat-arsed.

I've already planned my Wednesday night soirée. It is without vodka currently.
:cool2:

[Woody1985]

How many bottlesof Buckfast does this equal?

This can go in at No.2 in my League of Useless Stats.-just behind last week's telling us that alcohol abuse costs everyone £900 p.a.

Another example of sensationalism.

I guess they forgot to include the revenue generated via jobs and taxes that alcohol puts back into the economy and coffers of the IR.

I read that the 'human cost' was quantified as an amount in those findings. Is that true?

[danhibees1875]

Thats less than a bottle per week. A bottle contains 21 units - the recommended units for an adult. :dunno:


I agree that the figure is high for all Scots.

However, on a personal level I used to go out every Friday, Saturday and sometimes Sunday in the same weekend and reckon for the last two/three years I would have exceeded the number of pints (537) shown as the average.

Trying to cut down now because my body is telling me it's had enough and I'm getting bored of being wrecked every weekend.

Also, it's easy propaganda for the government. How much was sold / number of people. We all know that all drink that is sold isn't drunk whether it be left over drinks, spilt drinks, drinks stored in cupboards, thrown out etc etc etc.

Agreed. :agree:

Im out 3/4 nights a week also and think I far exceed it. :agree:

[Woody1985]

I think there are 38 units in a 1 litre bottle. Can someone confirm?

Lets take a closer look at the article. I think they are using 70cl for sensationalism. Everyone thinks of a 1litre bottle when you mention a bottle of vodka. Here's my calculations. I'm a bit rough on some of the math but I'm sure someone will keep me right.

----------------------
I note that they are saying that the average amount of pure alcohol we each have is 12.2 litres. I'd assume they are using the standard 37.5% as found in Smirnoff Red (75% proof) to reach their total number of bottles.

I'm now going to show the non alcohol content in the vodka to illustrate how many bottles the total equates to.

Therefore, if 12.2 litres accounts for 37.5% of the total amount drunk you can say that:

24.4 litres = 70% of the total amount.

To make the other 30% I've taken 24.4 / 3 = 8.13.

Add 24.4 & 8.13 = 32.5. I would make that 32.5 1 litre bottles drunk.

If you take 32.5 and divide it by 46 you get..... 0.695. I.e. A 70cl bottle of vodka.
----------------------

Make sense?

----------------------

To further clarify the sensationalism... 70% of 38 (units) is 26.6, yes, that is the figure they've given for each Scot. Therefore, I think my figures are correct.

It should read 'Scots drink 32.5 bottles of vodka' otherwise you might as well illustrate the point using half bottles, quarter bottles or nip size bottles to increase the amount.

Who approves this ***** to be put out to the public or perhaps it's the press manipulating the figures?

[Killiehibbie]

All I can say is good luck to the guys getting their share of what I used to get through in a week. Just over 10 pints a week? That would've just about taken care of a Sunday hate to think what the total was for the week.

[Twa Cairpets]

537 pints, which is given as the equivalent, is just over 10 pints a week, which os just over 20 units a week, which is the guideline figure not to exceed.

Also the link/report is contradictory in what it says:

1) "It said sales for the year to September 2009 averaged 12.2 litres of pure alcohol per person over the age of 18. "
2) "In total, 50.5 million litres of pure alcohol were sold in Scotland last year, enough for every drinker over the age of 18 to exceed the weekly consumption guidelines. "

The figures for average consumption must be different if non-drinkers are excluded.

Essentially, highlighting the figures with ludicrous comparisons of "number of bottles of vodka a year" is pointless, and deters from any sensible conclusions being reached. Its a headline grabber that doesnt help the debate in any way.

I said on another thread that good research is vital to the decision making process, and it is. It's a shame when the research is highlighted by lazy sensationalised journalism.

Scots 'drink 46 bottles of vodka a year'
is very different to the following based on the same info:
Scots 'drink 10 pints a week'

[lyonhibs]

Thats less than a bottle per week. A bottle contains 21 units - the recommended units for an adult. :dunno:



Agreed. :agree:

Im out 3/4 nights a week also and think I far exceed it. :agree:


Good :agree:

The only real dissappointment is that the figure has apparenlty stagnated since 2005.

I feel in this new decade, human kind should be looking onwards and upwards, and I think 50 bottles of vodka each per annum is perfectly achievable.

Cirrohis is the dream - we can live it together :greengrin :devil:

[ancient hibee]

Another example of sensationalism.

I guess they forgot to include the revenue generated via jobs and taxes that alcohol puts back into the economy and coffers of the IR.

I read that the 'human cost' was quantified as an amount in those findings. Is that true?
To be fair the spin of £900 per head was by SNP government press release in order to boost their campaign of minimum pricing.As far as the actual survey-the estimate was anything between (roughly)£2.3B and £4.6B-a 100% swing-and included £1.5B estimate of a "cost" of life lost building in an annual per death of £50K-including an amount for grief.All this was ignored by the SNP and their man was shredded on Newsnight by Gordon Brewer.