Alcoholism is a big problem in many
areas of the world. There are real difficulties for the alcoholic
themselves, and they may well be unable to hold down a job, drive
or operate machinery safely. They also have a raised risk of liver
damage, heart disease and loss of motor control. Suicide is much
more common in alcoholics than in the general population.
 The
families of alcoholics are affected too. They are more likely to
suffer abuse, neglect and divorce. Many road accidents are linked
to drink-driving, and much of the crime that is committed is either
carried out under the influence of drink or to get money to buy
drink. It is estimated that between 10 and 15% of the American population
is alcoholic – and the UK figures are not so very
different. The cost of this problem is enormous in every way.
Results from the Human Genome Project as well as from other studies
suggest that there is a genetic tendency to become an alcoholic.
At least two genes seem to be involved, but alcoholism is not just
genetic. Environment plays an important part as well. Obviously
if you never drink alcohol, you won’t become an alcoholic
however strong your genetic tendency to do so!
Each of the two genes which seem to be involved has two alleles – a
non-alcoholic and an alcoholic form. How likely you are to become
an alcoholic if you start to drink will depend at least in part
on which combination of alleles you have inherited from your parents.
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| Imagine a situation where
it is proposed to pass a law requiring everyone
to be tested for their genetic status with
respect to alcoholism. As a result of this
law : |
- those people who have
three or four ‘alcoholic’
alleles would have their driving licence
marked or carry a card which shows their
status;
- it would be illegal to
sell alcohol to anyone possessing a marked
licence or card;
- anyone with a marked licence
or card found buying alcohol would be
banned from driving for 3 years;
- anyone found selling alcohol
to an individual with a marked licence
or card would be fined £25,000.
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MPs proposing this law say it would
reduce the level of alcoholism by preventing those
most at risk from buying and consuming alcohol.
At the same time this would reduce the NHS bill
for treating alcohol related disease, reduce road
traffic accidents, crime, suicides, wife beating,
child abuse and neglect as well as lowering the
divorce rates. They claim that all of these changes
would benefit individuals and society as a whole,
as well as reducing government spending.
However there are strong objections
to this proposal from people who see this as the
thin end of the wedge, removing people’s
freedom of choice. They ask: "what else will
we be forbidden to do because of the information
in our genes?"
Other people want to know who will
have the right to information showing that an
individual has alcoholic tendencies – employers,
potential partners, doctors, banks, insurers,
mortgage lenders …? They fear that
the information in the genes, which only expresses
a tendency and does not mean an individual WILL
become an alcoholic, will be abused to prevent
people getting work, buying a home, getting insurance …
Who will decide who is allowed access to this
information?
Work in a small group. Plan a report
for a local TV station explaining the idea of
this new law, and communicating arguments both
for and against the proposed legislation. If possible,
present the outcome of your work as an actual
report, using sound and video. |
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