I’m not one to put down someone else’s hobbies. My wife and friends and I all go out and drink for the flavor. Cocktails are entertaining and delicious, beer gardens and breweries have a chill laid back atmosphere and really helps us get out of the house. We don’t drink to get drunk. Sure, alcohol isn’t that healthy for us, but it takes the edge off. I can’t take mushrooms, weed, or LSD every day after work to relax. Booze is nice sometimes to just have a bit of a rounding out of the day.
There are many precautions that need to be in place to protect drunks from harming others, and I get that it’s exhausting to be around drunk people.
Nutt’s argument relied on large amounts of evidence based on how dangerous each drug actually is in reality.
But sure, because some people consider it a hobby we should definitely keep it legal and let people continue to ruin theirs and others lives!
I’m well aware of this chart. I actively push for using other drugs because of this. One way we can help the dangers of alcohol is by having a better public transit system.
Everyone has vices. Alcohol is very historical. We have alcohol in a lot of things, like a lot of food, so it’s impossible to get rid of it or even ban it.
So are you suggesting criminalizing it? Because we tried that once and became a bigger issue than it was while legal.
People are going to drink whether we like it or not, and outlawing it just pushes it underground and let’s criminals take control. The only way to really drive it out of society is to render it socially unacceptable, but then you’re going up against thousands of years of human habit. I’m not saying that the effects of alcohol on the individual and society aren’t bad, but it’s likely to be an unwinnable campaign. Better to legalize the less harmful intoxicants and give people the choice on how they consume their vices, because again, they are going to get their fixes one way or another.
If you ever worked in a hospital or worked on the social services side of things that tune might change.
Just like tobacco, alcohol is patently terrible for society. DUI deaths, domestic violence, longterm brain deterioration, carcinogenic effects.
Alcohol costs society so much. Just because some can handle driving over the speed limit doesn’t mean everyone should.
I have a friend in his 50’s who has been unable to taper off his drinking, and it’s so sad to watch.
His impulse control is failing, he can hardly enjoy things he used to. He literally gave up on video games and board games because he doesn’t have the patience and they confuse him now.
Part of that is the long-term effects of drinking every day, and the other part is being drunk every day and not being able to soberly assess, well, anything.
I don’t know weed smokers like that.
But I do. While I don’t really want to defend alcohol, y’all are blaming beer for problem drinkers while defending pot because most people aren’t problem consumers.
Back in college I knew several people whose pot habits consumed their lives. Actually, just recently I learned a player got kicked off my kids soccer team, not because they caught him (school has a zero tolerance policy) but because laying around vaping cbd oil ruined his cardio
Before anyone thinks they need to jump to the defense of their favorite vice, these are real people with real problems. Most people can handle a vice or two, and I’d argue it’s a healthy approach to life, but some people just can’t. Some people let the vice consume them, regardless of the vice
I do. Abusive drinking is worse but pot can absolutely be abused. My ex wrecked his teeth and cardiovascular endurance smoking pot. And certainly could not put it down. When he finally couldn’t get pot (when we split and he didn’t have my paycheck) he eventually did abuse alcohol instead, in his 40s. Which yes, was worse at least behaviorally, more damaging to his daily life. His health is harmed still from his years smoking every day. He is clean now, goes to AA. But now is fat. Binge eats instead of drinking or smoking.
I think probably people who are prone to addiction will use whatever they can afford so alcohol is abused more widely.
First I would like to say that millions of people do consume weed every day after work. Without weed, a vast many of them would perhaps be daily alcohol users are.
My second point is, the fact that you have a category of acceptable drugs to consume daily, and include alcohol in it, might be something you should evaluate.
I will drink a bottle of wine on a Friday and Saturday night, but the idea of drinking every night, even if just 1 or 2 drinks, terrifies me.
First I would like to say that millions of people do consume weed every day after work.
Okay?
They never said nobody does those things, just that they don’t, and can’t.
My second point is, the fact that you have a category of acceptable drugs to consume daily, and include alcohol in it, might be something you should evaluate.
And maybe your inability to consider the possibility that others can handle responsible use of drugs in moderation and still carry out healthy, productive, well-balanced lives is something that you should evaluate.
Sure there’s people who can’t handle any amount of any substance in their lives, but that doesn’t mean nobody can, and to imply a personal failing is at the core of any alcohol consumption (beyond whatever personal limits you’ve set and decided to impose on others) is just holier-than-thou nonsense.
I would say that the rate of people who are drinking every day and living healthy, productive, well balanced lives is lower than you are assuming.
This isn’t being moralistic about people’s choices, this is just basic understanding of alcohol’s effects on the body and brain.
If I’m a moralist in your viewpoint, than I’m just happy that pushing for getting addicts (of which the majority of daily drinkers are defined as) onto weed is now considered the moral position to hold.
