Shaken, not slurred: James Bond has ‘a severe chronic alcohol problem’
- During Quantum of Solace, Bond consumed enough alcohol to kill a man
- Researchers say the secret agent needs to seek professional help for his drinking
Dry martini. Lemon peel. Shaken, not stirred. James Bond is unmistakably known for that cocktail and a variant, the Vesper.
But the fictional British Secret Service agent was no stranger to other drinks, including celebratory champagne and even the occasional beer. In fact, in two dozen films over the past six decades, Bond – James Bond – was seen sipping on alcohol precisely 109 times, according to a new study published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
Public health experts at the University of Otago in New Zealand analysed Bond films from 1962 to 2015 to better understand his patterns of alcohol use.
Their findings? Bond had a “severe” and “chronic” drinking problem – and he performed some pretty risky manoeuvrers while under the influence of alcohol.
“Chronic risks include frequently drinking before fights, driving vehicles (including in chases), high stakes gambling, operating complex machinery or devices, contact with dangerous animals, extreme athletic performance and sex with enemies, sometimes with guns or knives in the bed,” says lead author Nick Wilson.