Alcohol, Drug Abuse Rampant in Poker World

Are most poker players drug abusers and alcoholics?

According to a recent poll conducted by Jackpot.co.uk, poker players overwhelmingly are drug abusers and heavy drinkers….at least in Great Britain.

Some 2131 players were initially surveyed regarding their health regimen and lifestyle choices. 

Instead we come to find out that nearly a quarter of poker players admitted to consuming more than the recommended weekly limit of alcohol while their average Body Mass Index was a full two points above the UK average of 25.

And there is most certainly a correlation between heavy drinking and off-target BMI numbers since heavy alcohol intake often leads to beer bellies. 

Not all poker player are boozers, the London Mirror found out.

The 24-year-old champion of this year’s Big One for One Drop, Dan Colman, claims to abstain from alcohol.  Colman has won over $22 million in his short live tournament poker career.

“I don’t understand why people drink alcohol?,” Colman said.  It does nothing for you.  Why would you want to acquire a taste for something like alcohol?”

The Mirror does note that more poker players appear to be shifting away from drug and alcohol usage.  Case in point: Greg Merson.

The World Series of Poker appointed Merson their brand ambassador this year.  Merson had overcome a serious drug addiction six months prior to winning the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event.  

Still, some of the best poker players are also among the biggest partiers.  Look no further than the World Series of Poker record bracelet holder Phil Hellmuth who regularly tweets about his excesses when it comes to alcohol consumption. 

Even Hellmuth has toned things down a bit since the days of late night drunken tweets in 2009.

- Nagesh Rath, Gambling911.com