Minimum alcohol pricing is nigh

Fair play to ye! Wish one could do that with beer.

Just because someone does not drink or stay up late at night, it does not mean they are a 'miserable dry bastard' as some on here would say. Its been about a year for myself (not that I ever drank much to begin with) and I'm happier then ever.

Although labelling alcohol doesn't really do much in my opinion as everyone already knows its bad for you. Labels or no labels people will continue to drink.

Although the smoking package rules had some of an effect, it was mainly slowly built up stigma against the habit which caused people to stop (among other reasons too - health, 2nd hand smoking etc).

There is no so such stigma against drinking and its nearly the reverse in Ireland. There is a stigma against non-drinkers.

I think people who need drink to socialise are wànkers, why is drink a requirement for not being a wànker?

I run 35-40 miles per week, don't drink and hate staying up past 10. My life outside of work revolves around being the healthiest, fastest, fittest and strongest I can push myself to be.

Does that make me a wanker? I do my socialising with my running friends - our long runs are plenty long enough to have a chat and catch up once a week along with the post run coffee.

Had two heinegen 00 recently just to 'fit in', do you not that that its a bit crap that in order to fit in, you have to partake in drinking poisen (not judging, just stating that it is infact poisen to your body).

I used myself as an example (will admit I walked into that - I also prefer 800m - 5ks, have never ran a marathon and won't for a few more years).

My general point is, why is anyone who dedicates themselves to a sport, any sport a wánker because they avoid drink, partying and focus on their physical health?

People make 1 thing their personality all the time. It doesn't just apply to sport.

My "normal" conversation will typically be about running because all I do in my spare time is run. Lets put it to you this way, there are people who make football their entire personality - do I find them insufferable? God yes. My solution? Don't talk to them.

When you ask your office colleague who you know is running a marathon "hows it going? Anything on" and proceed to get annoyed when he talks about the marathon you just asked him about (because you probably already knew he was running).

Your problem seems to be you ask them your nonsense "obligatory" 'oh how did the weekend go? Did you do anything interesting' question then get annoyed when you get an answer you know was coming.

If you find a person is just one thing, and you dislike that one thing, then just don't interact with them. Or at the very least minimise it.

A good life skill is to know enough about a wide range of topics to be able to hold a 10 minute conversation with anyone about anything. Limiting yourself to running seems, ironically, quite unhealthy. I run (~25k per week so way below your volume) but will only talk running to the handful of people I know who share that interest.
With other people I can talk TV shows, soccer, irish sports, golf, cinema/theatre/art, travel, politics (fun having a hardcore maga/right-wing good friend when I'm a socialist).

Tonight will be a 7K run followed by a nice few Friday beers with some of those friends after they go to their LOI soccer game (which I know enough about to just about be able to hold my own).

I think you've a balance issue. No offence meant as you do some good posts in athletics.

You do realise that you cannot just ignore everyone that you might want to, ie. work colleagues, extended family etc. you do have to make some bit of effort to be polite to not be a dick.

Running is your hobby, that's fair enough, it doesn't need to be your life.

I asked a valid question and thats what I get in response. Its things like this that make me support MUP even though I know it has nothing to do with the publics health and only do with helping Publican’s try get more people back into the pubs and away from home drinking.

I used my running as an example, later on I used a more general example listing many sports.

So its not ok for me insult drinkers but drinkers can insult non drinkers? Because thats what you are implying - it was literally stated that 'non drinkers are wánkers' and I asked why.

People like myself support MUP because maybe foolhardishly, I believe drinking is reduced as prices increase some moderate drinkers will cut back. I know problem drinkers will never cut back no matter the price and MUP has nothing to do with public health.

If drinking were to actually be reduced, culture change is required - not just tax it or make it so expensive that it breaks peoples pockets.

Have a listen to the 14 minute audio on Newstalk under this link between economist Dan O'Brien who argues for MUP to be scrapped and Dr. Chris Luke who's unhinged whataboutery defence of MUP will make anyone who has common sense want to rip their hair out

https://www.newstalk.com/news/should-minimum-unit-pricing-be-scrapped-2172280

Anybody else find it Ironic that they want us to pay silly money for our alcohol but want it cheap as possible for the yanks?

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/government-urges-eu-to-avoid-tariff-reprisals-on-us-food-and-alcohol-as-it-could-disastrously-impact-ireland/a1389447013.html