{"id":1372,"date":"2020-11-24T22:28:19","date_gmt":"2020-11-24T22:28:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/?p=1372"},"modified":"2020-11-24T22:28:22","modified_gmt":"2020-11-24T22:28:22","slug":"health-and-wellbeing-november-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/2020\/11\/24\/health-and-wellbeing-november-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Health and wellbeing – November 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

KEEP IN TOUCH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the key points that CAMRA always makes about pubs is their contribution to the mental wellbeing of their customers in providing a convivial and safe place to meet friends and relax. This particularly applies to single people, myself included. The removal of any possibility of meeting friends is a bleak prospect. The telephone and social media are no replacement but they are the best that we have got in these circumstances. Let\u2019s all do our best to keep in touch with each other at this grim time. Some of you might find this website<\/a> useful. It is for a service jointly run by the NHS and Public Health England <\/p>\n\n\n\n

GENEROUS GESTURES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is not the place to go into the politics of the situation but many pubs across the country offered to provide meals for children during the recent half term holiday. CAMRA\u2019s National Chairman, Nik Antona, commented, \u201cPubs across the country have shown that even when they are facing an existential crisis as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions reducing trade and turnover, they are still selflessly supporting their communities. Despite their own financial hardship, publicans are providing help and support when times are tough. It shows just what a force for good well-run local pubs are in our villages, towns and cities. We must do everything we can to support our pubs through the difficult weeks and months ahead so they can continue to play their part as a vital part of our social fabric, and can continue to provide for our communities<\/em>.\u201d This isn\u2019t just in the current situation. Whenever there are floods or similar disasters, pubs always seem to be at the forefront in providing relief. Furthermore, it is estimated that, pre-COVID, pubs in the UK were raising around \u00a3100 million a year for charities. It really is sad that the \u2018powers that be\u2019 can\u2019t understand just how important pubs are to their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALCOHOL ABUSE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All things considered, I supposed that we should not be surprised at this. The British Liver Trust reports a fivefold increase in calls to its helpline since the start of the first lockdown period. This was, I believe, inevitable while pubs were closed and people were drinking at home, mostly buying alcohol from supermarkets. According to the \u2018think tank\u2019 the Public Policy Exchange (PPE), pre-COVID, there were 1.6 million people who had some sort of alcohol dependency. That is around 3% of the adult population, although we must recognise that every case is, of course, a tragedy in itself. The PPE recently held a \u2018webinar\u2019 on the subject of the forthcoming introduction of local Alcohol Care Teams. I was disappointed to see that one of the topics was to \u2018identify ways to improve and enact strong enforcement licensing laws for shops, pubs and clubs<\/em>\u2019. I\u2019m sure that some campaigners would like to see all sales of alcohol prohibited but that is not likely to happen in the foreseeable future. It is sad therefore that properly run pubs are not being recognised as safe and controlled venues for drinking. They are not the problem, they are part of the solution. It is, I think, worth noting that, as recorded by the Office for National Statistics, the Metropolitan Police saw a 43% increase in drugs offences during the lockdown period so it was not just alcohol that saw an increase in abuse at this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IN A PICKLE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s another contribution to our cuisine from the gastronomes of Glasgow. I\u2019m sure that you have all seen those jars of large pickled onions in fish & chip shops. Have you ever wondered what they would be like battered and deep fried? Amandeep Singh, proprietor of the Codfather chippy in Cambuslang gave it a go and they have been well received by his customers. As well as having a crisp batter, the onion itself apparently retains its crunch rather than going soggy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compiled by Tony Hedger<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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