If alcohol was made illegal...

JupiterKid

Just imagine if Ireland, up to its proverbial neck (as it is, lets face it) in alcohol related problems, decided to take a leaf out of the USA's book and introduce prohibition of consuming alcohol - what would happen?

Would we moan about it but meekly accept it? Would it be the final push for the country to engage in all-out protest and civil disobedience?

How much criminality would banning alcohol encourage and would people spend their money on more productive things than drinking?

Thoughts please...

Dravokivich

I don't mind the recession and the shíte our economy is going through with the bankers/bondholders and extra taxes I'm paying with the USC stuff. But take away my Alcohol and I'm on the first plane I can get out of here.

forevertwisted

There's no drinking in America now?

SEPT 23 1989

Holyhead would be the richest town in the UK

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.

JupiterKid

forevertwisted wrote: »

There's no drinking in America now?

Between 1919 and 1933 consuming and selling alcohol in the USA was a crime - the Prohibition era.

To this day a number of bible belt states have many "dry" counties.

Sunnyisland

Banning alcohol would do nothing positive for anyone,There be more sense in educating people on the harm it may do if its abused,Anyway if we banned alcohol in Ireland we would only have gangland shootings,assaults,corruption,gang wars crazy newspaper headlines... o hold on a sec there...

akura

Half the country would turn into zombie's

Knifey Spoony

Just like every other form of prohibition, there will still be plenty of the banned substance about.

Speak Easys would probably come back into existance, which sounds like a bit of crack tbh.

iDave

Heroine and cocaine are illegal. Doesnt stop people from doing what they can to get it.

stargazer 68

I lived in Saudi Arabia for years - believe me where there is a will there is a way! :D

Tazz T

The government would need to find billions from somewhere to make up for the loss in revenue. Thousands of people would be made unemployed overnight. Pubs up and down the country would become derelict. Mass emigration. The economy would collapse.

Unthinkable. Anyway the Vintners Ass. wouldn't allow the gov to do it, even with
Shortall gone.

On the bright side, a return to the bootlegging days of old means that poteen would be dirt cheap and there would be home brew kits in everyone's spare room.

Duggy747

I'd give Nucky Thompson a buzz, see if he could sort me out.

im invisible

Started brewing our own beer here a little while ago, first batch should be ready to drink next week, only 20 litres, but shur we'll scale it up if it turns out drinkable

splendid101

Banning alcohol would be almost as ridiculous as banning certain phrases on an internet forum.

martomcg

It could never happen, as mentioned above the government makes waaaay too much money taxing alcohol to do away with it. Same reason they dont just outright ban the sale of cigarettes in Ireland.

That prohibition era in America created one of the most sophisticated smuggling networks that ever existed and pretty much enabled the Mafia to grow at a ridiculous rate in that time.

jester77

Would be dangerous and deadly. People would resort to homebrews and with no proper controls in place it wouldn't be long before an unintentionally lethal batch of spirits is consumed.

BBDBB

there'd be less ugly people getting laid

postitnote

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Newry would be richest town in the UK

FYP

Noxin

I'd be getting my bathtub and bowling balls ready to make the best tasting alcohol in the world. EVER!

CardBordWindow

Several Tescos would probably shut down.

Sergeant

Tommy guns, sharp suits, and foxtrot?

Bring. it. on.

--Kaiser--

IrishFeeney92 wrote: »

Ireland might stand up for themselves and Riot

I'm confused as to why people think that rioting is a good thing

MadYaker

supackofidiots wrote: »

I would be in favour of such a move. alcohol is a scourge on our society. it ruins lives, families, friendships and most importantly, slowly kills you from the inside out.

Ah heyor, leave i ou

Riesen_Meal

Thinly veiled pro stoner thread.....

HeyThereDeliah

I'm having beer after work, might have two extra in case this ban happens or I'm dying inside.

9959

akura wrote: »

Half the country would turn into zombie's

Zombie's what?

The Snipe

Would they legalise smoke instead? Cause I tend to smoke more then I drink recently, after suffering from previous drinking problems.

Franticfrank

Whatever you say, alcohol is a very important social factor in Ireland, just like it is in other places like Poland and the Czech Republic. For years, Austrians had their cafes with coffee and cake. We had the pub which acted as the nucleus of Irish society, where you'd meet, chat and relax. Of course to some extent this is disappearing today but ban alcohol and you're destroying our social core.

andrew241983

it ok a nucky thompson type figure would help us all

sbsquarepants

JupiterKid wrote: »

Between 1919 and 1933 consuming and selling alcohol in the USA was a crime - the Prohibition era.

To this day a number of bible belt states have many "dry" counties.

How'd it work out for them?

DavyD_83

Homebrew!!

Leading to all sorts of homebrew and moonshi8ne related accidents and health issues.
Sounds like it'd be cheaper for the public and way more fun!
Lets do it!!

OneArt

The Snipe wrote: »

Would they legalise smoke instead? Cause I tend to smoke more then I drink recently, after suffering from previous drinking problems.

I'd prefer alcohol. Smoke just makes everyone sit around giggling. It's all right but I like my weekends to consist of a bit more.

*cough* MDMA *cough*

ghostdancer

i'd just drink soft drinks and take a quarter of a pill every hour or 2 or so, like i sometimes do now.
less expensive, less messy, more fun, less unhealthy.

no-one would be bothered giving out about alcohol being banned because they'd probably see how much better things are without it after a few months.

it would probably never happen though, as there'd be far too much outrage for it to even be banned in the first place.

Kolido

The Snipe wrote: »

Would they legalise smoke instead? Cause I tend to smoke more then I drink recently, after suffering from previous drinking problems.

Since when did they make smoking illegal. Sure you can buy cigerettes in most shops if your over 18.

im invisible

Not smoke, smoke smoke

TwoShedsJackson

JupiterKid wrote: »

Between 1919 and 1933 consuming and selling alcohol in the USA was a crime - the Prohibition era.

To this day a number of bible belt states have many "dry" counties.

That worked out great, as we can clearly see from the complete absence of organised crime syndicates providing alcohol to anyone who wanted it whilst simultaneously jacking up prices, and the attendant increase in related crimes such as bribery, assault, murder etc. etc., in the US in that period.

AnonoBoy

"I'll find you beer baron!"







"....no you won't!"

gimmick

I would presume everyone would accept it. And if someone started complaining about it, people on internet forums would go on about it being the law of the land and you should accept it.

alphabeat

from my cold, dead, hands

AnonoBoy

alphabeat wrote: »

from my cold, dead, hands

A cold, cold beer....

Capt'n Midnight

In the past in this country because of crackdowns on poteen and the tax on alcohol and the temperance movement people used to take ether instead.

It boils at body temperature so the trick is to only sip it, belch as soon as you swallow, and never ever belch in front of a fire.


http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/sambompas/100051243/the-best-way-to-drink-ether-the-drug-that-caused-chaos-in-19th-century-britain/

During the 19th century there was widespread concern about the drinking of ether in Northern Ireland in place of alcohol. Known as "sweet vitriol" and discovered in 1275, ether was originally used for medicinal purposes as a common anaesthetic but quickly became a favourite substitute for whisky. After drinking a glass of water, people would take one drop of ether whilst holding their noses and slamming down another glass of water. This was considered the best way of consuming ether at the time – it's so volatile that it needs to be washed down to prevent it evaporating.

Not only was the ether cheaper than whisky (at one penny per draught from most dealers), but it also got you both drunk and sober much more quickly, allowing 19th Century boozers to feel tipsy several times a day.

Another advantage was that ether did not result in a hangover, although it was thought to cause depression. Other symptoms included extreme hysteria and blindness. Chronic abuse of ether could lead someone to believe that they were hearing heavenly music or seeing angels. Yet despite the "violent excitement" that the ether caused, the main danger was people setting fire to themselves when lighting their pipes.

Michael Sheridan

unthinkable is right

any Government willing to forego the Tax and duty revenue, not to mention damage to the "hospitality" and tourist trade would be a financial kamikazee pilot.

Northern Ireland would boom!

Funglegunk

We'd all get free cheese instead.

Boombastic

Funglegunk wrote: »

We'd all get free cheese instead.

It's nice cheese too, I've gotten a heap of it over the last couple of months:D

rossie1977

the blackmarket business for alcohol would be booming for one, a couple of people would get really rich, there would be a massive increase in crime, the gardai would be overwhelmed in trying to stop illegal booze just crossing the border never mind anything else, alcohol related deaths from homemade stuff would soar

--Kaiser--

My friends brew their won cider and beer. Presumably they would become Al Capone/ Nucky Thompson figures and I'd become their mob enforcer

JohnMarston

With drinks like Guinness and Whiskey linked to our culture, the upsurge and consumption of black market alcohol would be considered patriotic

Ellis Dee

A ban on alcohol would probably be about as effective as the current ban on cannabis.:)

And just think of the opportunities it would create for those, already multi-millionaires, who control the drug-distribution networks in Ireland and the gang wars, probably with much "collateral damage", that would be sparked off.:eek:

LuciusPax

No way this could ever happen! Even most teetotalers would be against this as it would knock them off their high horses.They'd no longer be able to harp on (and on and on) about their disgust for Irelands drinking culture.

If it became illegal it would become cheaper