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Dental patients could find themselves being quizzed on their drinking habits and lectured on how to cut back.

New proposals tell dentists to routinely ask patients how much they drink, how often, and whether they frequently struggle to remember the night if they’ve overdone it.

The guidelines alternatively suggest that receptionists hand out drinking questionnaires to patients to be filled in while they are sat in the waiting room.

And if they comply?

Those whose alcohol consumption is deemed excessive would be referred on to sessions with dental nurses or hygienists for advice on cutting down.

Deemed 'excessive' according to those useless, pulled-out-of-the-BMA's-arse weekly safe drink units, I suppose?

And is this yet another attempt by the NuPuritans to bully a professional body into doing their dirty work fore them?

Well, no. They seem to have come up with it on their own:

The proposals have been drawn up by leading dentists at the University of Cardiff in an attempt to curb binge drinking.

But, as always, it's all for our own good!

Jonathan Shepherd, Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Cardiff University who drew up the recommendations said: ‘Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to cancer of the mouth, larynx and oesophagus and dentists may be the first to notice these conditions.

‘So we need to introduce an alcohol screening tool that reliably detects hazardous and harmful drinking alongside effective treatment.

‘The dental team has a responsibility to promote overall health and not just dental health.’ he added.

You know, dentists have an image problem already.

Do you really think that adding 'hectoring busybody' to the list is going to help with that?