How bad or good is alcohol for society

OldMrBrennan83 · 14-06-2019 9:58pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Nothing to do with brainwashing and social exclusion

Why is it that working class areas suffer the most, not saying its exclusive to working class before you come back with that.

Working class areas may (if you say so) have the biggest amount of ***** but alcohol doesn't make them *****.

Nobelium · 14-06-2019 10:00pm

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

Working class areas may (if you say so) have the biggest amount of ***** but alcohol doesn't make them *****.

Neither does being working class, but they do have occasion to turn to drugs more than others.

OldMrBrennan83 · 14-06-2019 10:02pm

Nobelium wrote: »

Neither does being working class, but they do have occasion to turn to drugs more than others.

Anyone taking illegal drugs should be stopped taking them, no need to be pussyfooting around them because they've "issues".

Nobelium · 14-06-2019 10:04pm

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

Anyone taking illegal drugs should be stopped taking them, no need to be pussyfooting around them because they've "issues".

I'm talking about all drugs, including alcohol.

OldMrBrennan83 · 14-06-2019 10:05pm

Nobelium wrote: »

I'm talking about all drugs, including alcohol.

Alcohol is legal and the people who cause issues when drinking it are the problem, not the alcohol.

People are always the issue.

odyssey06 · 14-06-2019 10:05pm

Nobelium wrote: »

George Best always said he despised the taste of alcohol, right to the end.

I always liked his honesty about that aspect of it.

Not sure what the taste of alcohol is... what I do know is that a good bottle of wine with a meal is a civilised pleasure... the food tastes better with the right wine.

And a quality whiskey or cognac over ice... I am not paying an extra 20 euros for sth whose taste I despise. I would just buy the cheapest strongest largest bottle instead.

14-06-2019 10:07pm

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

Anyone taking illegal drugs should be stopped taking them, no need to be pussyfooting around them because they've "issues".

It's a lot more than 'issues'. Its breaking the cycle, we all aspire and learn from our parents. Working class areas were deprived for a long time, it is changing but slowly

I came from what was regarded as a rough area in cork and the amount of prejudice that time in the late 90s in secondary school was insane. It was also very evident the haves and have nots. All the teenagers I knew had part time jobs and handing up money at home, the kids from better areas didnt have jobs or didnt need them and probably didny work till after college

Nobelium · 14-06-2019 10:07pm

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

the people who cause issues when drinking it are the problem, not the alcohol.

People are always the issue.

all drug users say that about their drug of choice

14-06-2019 10:12pm

odyssey06 wrote: »

Not sure what the taste of alcohol is... what I do know is that a good bottle of wine with a meal is a civilised pleasure... the food tastes better with the right wine.

And a quality whiskey or cognac over ice... I am not paying an extra 20 euros for sth whose taste I despise. I would just buy the cheapest strongest largest bottle instead.

And that there is the brain washing, you didnt need or want wine with the same meal when you were younger. I used drink whiskey, and the amount of nonsense people came out with, the only difference I saw was the expensive ones had a less harsh after taste and you didnt start drinking whisky, you forced yourself to acquire the taste

I remember first drinking Guinness and i hated it, my brother told me to persevere and after a few nights I would like it better. He was right but it seems mad now to think I forced a drink I didnt like so after a while I would like it. Sounds like hard mentality

Atlantic Dawn · 14-06-2019 10:16pm

I'd say big pharma companies are as bad as alcohol companies, they tap up doctors getting them to over prescribe expensive drugs which are not needed.

Neames · 14-06-2019 10:26pm

How Soon Is Now wrote: »

Alcohol like so many other ''evils'' of the world doesn't become a problem until the wrong person gets there hands on it and abuses it!

Exactly, I know a guy who drank one, it became four and when he fell on the floor he drank more.

15-06-2019 8:22am

Neames wrote: »

Exactly, I know a guy who drank one, it became four and when he fell on the floor he drank more.

I think its deeper than that. Majority of people have a much higher tolerance than they did in their first few years of drinking, is that acquiring the taste or falling further into addiction like when a user first takes a drug

Also we all know people who are sound without drink and turn at a certain point. Is that emotional buildup, possibly, is the person an asshole, no cos the person is normal without it, so to blame the person over the substance is wrong. Addiction is a terrible thing, just cos it takes someone a lot longer to hit the bottom shouldn't matter

Pauliedragon · 15-06-2019 9:53am

Deleted User wrote: »

Ah was waiting for it. We've definitely been conditioned to only associate alcohol with fun. Don't know how children have far more fun than us without any desire for a drug.

Been reading a lot of unconscious conditioning that begins in early childhood. The wheel keeps turning as this generation had been conditioned to thinking drinking is an adult fun thing cos they see their parents doing it, the cycle continues until the chain is broke

Society needs a replacement social scene

Ever notice how children seem to have more fun when they're full of sugar. Sugar is the drug of choice for kids. Humans of all ages seem to love chemicals that alter our brains for some reason.

branie2 · 15-06-2019 9:55am

Too much alcohol can be bad

Munsterman12 · 15-06-2019 10:19am

Would Ireland be a better place if alcohol didnt exist? Easy to answer that one

15-06-2019 10:23am

Dr. Bre wrote: »

I’d sAy your great crack

I'm still waiting for you to finish that sentence.

odyssey06 · 15-06-2019 10:25am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

And that there is the brain washing, you didnt need or want wine with the same meal when you were younger. I used drink whiskey, and the amount of nonsense people came out with, the only difference I saw was the expensive ones had a less harsh after taste and you didnt start drinking whisky, you forced yourself to acquire the taste
remember first drinking Guinness and i hated it, my brother told me to persevere and after a few nights I would like it better. He was right but it seems mad now to think I forced a drink I didnt like so after a while I would like it. Sounds like hard mentality

I didnt want sex either when I was 7. Dunno how the human race survives.
Herd mentality... you sound like the one who is trying to brainwash people!

Utterly incorrect concept just because you dont value sth as a kid you must be brainwashed. Nonsense.
Or just because sth needs a bit of effort to appreciate it then its not worth appreciating.
Driving a car or learning a skill is pretty tough at the start.

Sunny Disposition · 15-06-2019 10:27am

Alcohol a total disaster for society, definitely very damaging and is s strong counter argument to those who would legalize more drugs.
Economic productivity is hit hugely by alcohol, thousands of people killed by drunk drivers, go to your local district court and you’ll see it’s a factor in many if not most assaults.
It’s good craic at an individual level though, while you are drinking.

15-06-2019 10:28am

odyssey06 wrote: »

In all risks mortalities studies moderate drinkers have the best outcomes.

Untrue, and at best old thinking. The extensive evidence against this "moderate drinking is OK" line has been widely reported upon in the past year:

No healthy level of alcohol consumption, says major study

suicide_circus · 15-06-2019 10:34am

achieving altered states of consciousness is a perfectly valid approach when faced with the realities of the human condition.

Atoms for Peace · 15-06-2019 10:36am

I need a a few as social lubrication, I'm far too self consciousness too enjoy myself sober.

15-06-2019 10:37am

Deleted User wrote: »

Ah was waiting for it. We've definitely been conditioned to only associate alcohol with fun. Don't know how children have far more fun than us without any desire for a drug.

Been reading a lot of unconscious conditioning that begins in early childhood. The wheel keeps turning as this generation had been conditioned to thinking drinking is an adult fun thing cos they see their parents doing it, the cycle continues until the chain is broke

Society needs a replacement social scene

Absolutely this. It really is overbearing; the sheer stupidity of a person thinking other people cannot have "fun" without taking alcohol/a drug says so much about the person saying that. What are they running away from, and how pathetic is that?

If they could all lock themselves in their rooms rather than being an obnoxious and dangerous presence on our streets and on our roads that would be at least one saving grace. Let them at it, there. But they don't, so society must suffer from the innumerable stupid things which are done as a result of this "fun".

Sunny Disposition · 15-06-2019 10:39am

Still enjoy a few pints in my late 30s, but have on occasion wondered would I have been better off taking the pledge at 16. No hangovers ever, fewer badly advised liaisons, less embarrassing behavior, but in this culture where would you go to socialize as a college student or in a small town?
Definitely is some brainwashing, serious peer pressure on teenagers to drink.

Seanachai · 15-06-2019 10:50am

Sunny Disposition wrote: »

Alcohol a total disaster for society, definitely very damaging and is s strong counter argument to those who would legalize more drugs.
Economic productivity is hit hugely by alcohol, thousands of people killed by drunk drivers, go to your local district court and you’ll see it’s a factor in many if not most assaults.
It’s good craic at an individual level though, while you are drinking.

The abuse of alcohol has been a disaster for society, from people I've spoken to that developed a problem with alcohol and drugs, they said that abuse of alcohol did the most damage. You would recover better from years bingeing on opium that you would on alcohol, but alcohol is the culturally entrenched drug.

Modern life is very stressful though and you only have to go to the pubs in Dublin on a Friday evening and see people releasing a head of steam from the week. Cocaine has been added to the mix in recent years, or a lucky-mix version of cocaine.

I'm on the fence about legalising drugs, on the one hand I'd prefer to see drug users using 'clean' versions of the substance and I think if more adults used cannabis instead of booze there'd be less social and health problems.

On the other hand I'm not sure if a lot of people could handle the responsibility, Monday morning absences would probably treble for the first few months

. Teenagers would still have to use the tainted, illegal gear as the age limit would probably be 21.

It is interesting though that there's some very prominent people pushing for full drug legalisation lately. They must be eyeing up the business opportunities.

15-06-2019 11:07am

To all those thinking I am brainwashing and pushing an agenda, I would still have the odd pint. Where I was all for the craic before I have been questioning it a lot more lately. I see perfectly civilised sound people turn on drink. So they probably think it's a relaxer too but its just masking what's really going on in their lives

I am seriously thinking of just cutting it out, I see people with kids wasting sundays in the pub and going home drunk with their kids at 9pm, and those kids have school the next morning

This argument that most can enjoy it also has me questioning it. I remember a guy I knew who hated his dad as he would get home loaded most evenings. His parents split over it, later the dad gave up drink and reconciled to a certain point with his kids. When he died the funeral was jam packed with his drinking buddies proclaiming him to be a mighty man and character.

The fun and great craic guys aren't always what they seem

Another guy I served in the pub was like a hero there and still is. He would be preaching to people what's right and wrong and thought he owned the place. Turned out his kids were sleeping on the floor and his name was down for charity beds, his kids turned out to be disasters, yet hes still respected in the pub

JohnnyFlash · 15-06-2019 11:14am

I love a good clatter of pints. Getting pissed is great fun. Alcohol is an excellent drug. The vast majority of Irish people are excellent drunks as well - chatty and good natured when well oiled.

odyssey06 · 15-06-2019 11:19am

Deleted User wrote: »

To all those thinking I am brainwashing and pushing an agenda, I would still have the odd pint. Where I was all for the craic before I have been questioning it a lot more lately. I see perfectly civilised sound people turn on drink. So they probably think it's a relaxer too but its just masking what's really going on in their lives

I am seriously thinking of just cutting it out, I see people with kids wasting sundays in the pub and going home drunk with their kids at 9pm, and those kids have school the next morning

This argument that most can enjoy it also has me questioning it. I remember a guy I knew who hated his dad as he would get home loaded most evenings. His parents split over it, later the dad gave up drink and reconciled to a certain point with his kids. When he died the funeral was jam packed with his drinking buddies proclaiming him to be a mighty man and character.

The fun and great craic guys aren't always what they seem

Another guy I served in the pub was like a hero there and still is. He would be preaching to people what's right and wrong and thought he owned the place. Turned out his kids were sleeping on the floor and his name was down for charity beds, his kids turned out to be disasters, yet hes still respected in the pub

You seem to imagine the above dads would be perfect dads if they'd never touched a drop. I don't believe it for a second. If people can't relax without a drink, they can't relax fullstop.
We don't know what's really going on with people's lives behind closed doors from social interactions, whether that's pub or a round of golf or whatever.
Perfect teetotaller guy could be beating his wife.
Quiet grumpy guy in the pub who never buys a round could be a wonderful carer for a sick kid.
The relaxed chatty sociable guy at the bar could be a relaxed chatty socialable guy in every thing he does.

Hobosan · 15-06-2019 11:22am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Another guy I served in the pub was like a hero there and still is. He would be preaching to people what's right and wrong and thought he owned the place. Turned out his kids were sleeping on the floor and his name was down for charity beds, his kids turned out to be disasters, yet hes still respected in the pub

Sounds like my deceased parents. Could afford the pub every night, forgot about the small task of purchasing food for the children at home. We ended up in foster care. Thousands of well wishers at both funerals all the same, to tell me how brilliant they were.

Nobelium · 15-06-2019 11:29am

Deleted User wrote: »

To all those thinking I am brainwashing and pushing an agenda, I would still have the odd pint. Where I was all for the craic before I have been questioning it a lot more lately. I see perfectly civilised sound people turn on drink. So they probably think it's a relaxer too but its just masking what's really going on in their lives

I am seriously thinking of just cutting it out, I see people with kids wasting sundays in the pub and going home drunk with their kids at 9pm, and those kids have school the next morning

This argument that most can enjoy it also has me questioning it. I remember a guy I knew who hated his dad as he would get home loaded most evenings. His parents split over it, later the dad gave up drink and reconciled to a certain point with his kids. When he died the funeral was jam packed with his drinking buddies proclaiming him to be a mighty man and character.

The fun and great craic guys aren't always what they seem

Another guy I served in the pub was like a hero there and still is. He would be preaching to people what's right and wrong and thought he owned the place. Turned out his kids were sleeping on the floor and his name was down for charity beds, his kids turned out to be disasters, yet hes still respected in the pub

I gave it up a few years back . . . I thought I would miss it . . but quite the opposite, I now feel totally liberated from it all. The first 12 months was occasionly hard, but after that it's very easy. I'll never have to drink again now. I can still go to any function I want and have the best of craic, but when it turns into repeat drunken nonsense (as it always does after a certain time of the night ). . . I say my goodbyes, head home, have a nice sleep and wake up as fresh as daisy and really enjoy my next day.

Also I realise now, that the only thing I really had in common with a lot of my former drinking pals . . was the actual drinking. So I don't miss that life in the slightest.

Giving up drink is all positives . . . from your wallet, to your physical health, to your sanity . . there's no negatives.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 15-06-2019 11:32am

I see Diageo have pulled their sponsorship of London Irish RFC over Paddy Jackson. Guinness have been involved with the club for over 40 yrs.

Taking the moral high ground. Doesn't fit in with their values apparently.

They've destroyed more lives than any firm in this country. You could cut the irony with a knife.

OldMrBrennan83 · 15-06-2019 11:34am

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

I see Diageo have pulled their sponsorship of London Irish RFC over Paddy Jackson. Guinness have been involved with the club for over 40 yrs.

Taking the moral high ground. Doesn't fit in with their values apparently.

They've destroyed more lives than any firm in this country. You could cut the irony with a knife.

People drinking their products have destroyed lives. Many people drinking their products haven't destroyed any. Many people not drinking their products have destroyed lives.

The common factor is the people destroying lives.

Nobelium · 15-06-2019 11:35am

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

I see Diageo have pulled their sponsorship of London Irish RFC over Paddy Jackson. Guinness have been involved with the club for over 40 yrs.

Taking the moral high ground. Doesn't fit in with their values apparently.

They've destroyed more lives than any firm in this country. You could cut the irony with a knife.

Not to mention how rotten drunk all parties at that trial were on the night, most of it no doubt from Diageo products. The whole mess never would have happened if they were all sober.

15-06-2019 11:38am

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

I see Diageo have pulled their sponsorship of London Irish RFC over Paddy Jackson. Guinness have been involved with the club for over 40 yrs.

Taking the moral high ground. Doesn't fit in with their values apparently.

They've destroyed more lives than any firm in this country. You could cut the irony with a knife.

I've enjoyed an occasional sup of stout over the years, while witnessing many of the 'fun' brigade fall by the wayside. Ending up as broken caricatures, with collateral damage inflicted on their families. Therefore I give the neanderthals habitually 'getting pissed' a wide berth.

odyssey06 · 15-06-2019 11:39am

Nobelium wrote: »

Not to mention how rotten drunk all parties at that trial were on the night, most of it no doubt from Diageo products. The whole mess never would have happened if they were all sober.

Or if we banned rugby players.
But doubtless there would be other messes. Wives get beaten, cars get crashed, sexual assaults happen... all over the 'dry' countries of this world.

Rologyro · 15-06-2019 11:42am

On both sides of my family alcoholism has caused so many problems. Caused the death of two of my relations on one of my parents sides of the family.

On the other side, an alcoholic father is what I believe led my other parent having emotional problems which affected us growing up.

What I’m saying is the affects of alcohol can affect generations of a family.

Ireland doesn’t have a healthy relationship with alcohol, either in the past or now.

Seanachai · 15-06-2019 11:43am

Nobelium wrote: »

I gave it up a few years back . . . I thought I would miss it . . but quite the opposite, I now feel totally liberated from it all. The first 12 months was occasionly hard, but after that it's very easy. I'll never have to drink again now. I can still go to any function I want and have the best of craic, but when it turns into repeat drunken nonsense (as it always does after a certain time of the night ). . . I say my goodbyes, head home, have a nice sleep and wake up as fresh as daisy and really enjoy my next day.

Also I realise now, that the only thing I really had in common with a lot of my former drinking pals . . was the actual drinking. So I don't miss that life in the slightest.

Giving up drink is all positives . . . from your wallet, to your physical health, to your sanity . . there's no negatives.

I only drink about 1-2 times a month now, I do enjoy those few times though. I'd mostly drink at home with some music or a movie, I don't like being around messy drunks. If cannabis was legal here and I could get good quality stuff, I'd probably drink less tbh.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 15-06-2019 11:46am

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

People drinking their products have destroyed lives. Many people drinking their products haven't destroyed any. Many people not drinking their products have destroyed lives.

The common factor is the people destroying lives.

I respect that it's a business and consumers have free will but I refuse to take morality lectures off a brewery .

No more so than I would off a bookmaker or the Philip Morris tobacco Company.

Nobelium · 15-06-2019 11:48am

odyssey06 wrote: »

Or if we banned rugby players.
But doubtless there would be other messes. Wives get beaten, cars get crashed, sexual assaults happen... all over the 'dry' countries of this world.

I'm not talking about banning anything. Education is a much better route.

We're so used to it in Ireland, we've forgotten Alcohol is massive contributory factor in Ireland to crime, road accidents, sexual assaults, anti social behavior, physical and mental health problems and a lifetime of domestic problems for families.

15-06-2019 11:48am

odyssey06 wrote: »

Or if we banned rugby players.
But doubtless there would be other messes. Wives get beaten, cars get crashed, sexual assaults happen... all over the 'dry' countries of this world.

Unfortunately that's life. By your reasoning don't interfere with anything dangerous. Cigarettes weren't the problem it was the people, heroine as a medicine wasnt the problem it was the people getting high from people, gambling isn't the problem, it's the people, Facebook which is a new addiction isnt the problem it's the users who constantly refresh.

Why oh why do all these legal addiction companies pay so much money to neuroscientists and marketing to figure out how to get into your sub conscious mind. Why do they need to do this? Humans by nature will get addicted to what they perceive as pleasure but the problem is they end up taking more and more to get that pleasure

Potential-Monke · 15-06-2019 11:49am

In my 9 years serving as a Garda I reckon 90% of the people I arrested were either drunk or there was drink involved. I've never arrested anyone because they were so stoned they were a danger to themselves or others, or because they did something criminally illegal while stoned. It just doesn't happen.

Thinking on my own experiences, drink brought out both the best and worst in me. I haven't had a drink in over a year, not because i'm trying to give it up, but because I just haven't any interest in it anymore. Personally, I think alcohol is the biggest issue in this country, but it makes so much money for the people in power or friends of those that it will never go away.

I also think alcohol shouldn't be allowed to sponsor sporting (any) events, just like cigarettes back in the days of F1, but that's just my opinion.

15-06-2019 11:53am

Potential-Monke wrote: »

In my 9 years serving as a Garda I reckon 90% of the people I arrested were either drunk or there was drink involved. I've never arrested anyone because they were so stoned they were a danger to themselves or others, or because they did something criminally illegal while stoned. It just doesn't happen.

Thinking on my own experiences, drink brought out both the best and worst in me. I haven't had a drink in over a year, not because i'm trying to give it up, but because I just haven't any interest in it anymore. Personally, I think alcohol is the biggest issue in this country, but it makes so much money for the people in power or friends of those that it will never go away.

I also think alcohol shouldn't be allowed to sponsor sporting (any) events, just like cigarettes back in the days of F1, but that's just my opinion.

Great to get views from a guy on the front line. I'm sure ambulance and emergency departments would have similar stories and further on to the main hospitals dealing with dying and sick patients over alcohol abuse

Hobosan · 15-06-2019 11:57am

odyssey06 wrote: »

Or if we banned rugby players.
But doubtless there would be other messes. Wives get beaten, cars get crashed, sexual assaults happen... all over the 'dry' countries of this world.

I'm sure I'm going to regret this, but the 'dry' countries of the world are populated by people with significantly lower general intelligence than us and are thus more prone to violence.

And for anyone that doubts this, a Witch Doctor convinced aids sufferers that sex with virgins would cure the disease, so the aids infected males began raping babies because the older girls were no longer virgins... So if you want to compare yourself to people like that, go ahead, but leave the rest of the Irish people out of that equation.

The BBC reported on that epidemic, before you ask.

Lowering alcohol consumption would definitely reduce those crimes you mentioned and it would be ridiculous to argue otherwise.

15-06-2019 12:03pm

Hobosan wrote: »

I'm sure I'm going to regret this, but the 'dry' countries of the world are populated by people with significantly lower general intelligence than us and are thus more prone to violence.

And for anyone that doubts this, a Witch Doctor convinced aids sufferers that sex with virgins would cure the disease, so the aids infected males began raping babies because the older girls were no longer virgins... So if you want to compare yourself to people like that, go ahead, but leave the rest of the Irish people out of that equation.

The BBC reported on that epidemic, before you ask.

Lowering alcohol consumption would definitely reduce those crimes you mentioned and it would be ridiculous to argue otherwise.

Yep happened in south Africa and became a huge issue. Also witch doctors getting people to chase down albinos to use their bones for potions

seamus · 15-06-2019 12:03pm

Hominids have been consuming alcohol for tens of millions of years. We have evolved to favour traits that accommodate, even encourage consumption.

So it is folly to think that this is a binary, good or bad, debate. You cannot remove alcohol. People will still get it. Even in countries and cultures where it is strictly forbidden, people get alcohol and drink it. Every attempt to ban it has been a dismal failure.

Because alcohol is part of the very fabric of our species.

Any alcohol policy that seeks to reduce harm, needs to first move away from painting it as "bad" by default, and recognise that alcohol abuse is more genetic than it is cultural.

15-06-2019 12:11pm

seamus wrote: »

Hominids have been consuming alcohol for tens of millions of years. We have evolved to favour traits that accommodate, even encourage consumption.

So it is folly to think that this is a binary, good or bad, debate. You cannot remove alcohol. People will still get it. Even in countries and cultures where it is strictly forbidden, people get alcohol and drink it. Every attempt to ban it has been a dismal failure.

Because alcohol is part of the very fabric of our species.

Any alcohol policy that seeks to reduce harm, needs to first move away from painting it as "bad" by default, and recognise that alcohol abuse is more genetic than it is cultural.

Genetic than cultural?

Surely not, I think it goes back to emotional issues why people get to the gutter faster.

Regarding cultural, it is far more in our culture than the middle east, southern Europe etc. Where alcohol is cultural is countries that have a strong British and Irish ancestry like America, parts if Africa, Australia etc. I think its very much a cultural thing

Calltocall · 15-06-2019 12:17pm

Ah alcohol, the most widely available, damaging drug there is, I’ve loved and hated it at times but now I’m a bit older I see the dangers and the hypocrisy of attitudes towards it, the lives it cost, the relationships it destroyed, the toll it takes on mental and physical health where the after effects make you want to crawl into a hole and die, where the quietest individual can turn into a vicious lout after a few etc etc but sure isn’t it great craic.

With all the focus on mental and physical health these days i think the alcohol industry has gotten off very lightly, they can still put up big banners promoting their product, can still sponsor major events without obstruction, on every corner it’s available. Imagine big posters promoting the latests strain of cannabis/cocaine unthinkable yet alcohol which is equally if not more dangerous gets a complete pass because well it’s acceptable to the mainstream, the guards spend a huge amount of resources fighting drug gangs etc yet I often think hang on aren’t the pubs doing as much if not more damage than the drug gangs. Just because something is acceptable to the mainstream doesn’t mean it’s right in fact it’s often quite the opposite. I believe in the future people will be reading their history books and will laugh at this time and say ‘’weren’t they right eejits back then going around arresting people for buying/selling certain drugs but at the same time selling one of the most harmful drugs on every street corner in the country’’ Madness.

15-06-2019 12:17pm

Nobelium wrote: »

I'm not talking about banning anything. Education is a much better route.

We're so used to it in Ireland, we've forgotten Alcohol is massive contributory factor in Ireland to crime, road accidents, sexual assaults, anti social behavior, physical and mental health problems and a lifetime of domestic problems for families.

Yes, education is a much better route - in particular destroying this romanticisation of alcohol which poisons so much of what passes as Irish culture today. Having said that, I'd definitely ban advertising alcohol, just as cigarette advertising has long been banned. It's not like they're advertising for any other reason than to increase the sale of their drug.

Hobosan · 15-06-2019 12:26pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Genetic than cultural?

Surely not, I think it goes back to emotional issues why people get to the gutter faster.

Regarding cultural, it is far more in our culture than the middle east, southern Europe etc. Where alcohol is cultural is countries that have a strong British and Irish ancestry like America, parts if Africa, Australia etc. I think its very much a cultural thing

It's both. There is a genetic factor which makes it easy for some people to stop at 4/5 pints, while for others, to stop at 5 would be nigh on impossible. For the latter group, they will typically drink until they are either unconscious, or they run out of alcohol/money.

I'll see if I can find the studies on this behaviour.

Edit - There are so many studies on the genetics of alcohol that I'm struggling to find this exact study, but by searching 'genetics of alcoholism' or 'genetics of binge drinking' you'll find enough information which highlight areas to be wary of, especially for teenagers.

I'll look again later, it's worth being aware of.

scamalert · 15-06-2019 12:34pm

wonder what are stats in general for each weekend and fights damages illnesses caused on emergency services and Gardai because its legal.

it always amazes me because government says its legal and gets nice kickbacks from it they dont care, yet mention any other drugs you will have junkie squad in a minute bashing on the topic.

Potential-Monke · 15-06-2019 12:35pm

Hobosan wrote: »

It's both. There is a genetic factor which makes it easy for some people to stop at 4/5 pints, while for others, to stop at 5 would be nigh on impossible. For the latter group, they will typically drink until they are either unconscious, or they run out of alcohol/money.

Me! During the rougher times, I was drinking a litre of rum a night. That made me question my habits eventually. Subsequently quit and became a stoner, best decision yet! Why did I become a stoner? Because of anxiety, and it's the only natural remedy for it imo, the alternative is to take a concoction of chemicals created by a company who just wants to make profit and has potential side effects of 'increased suicidal thoughts'. Yeah, great drug for someone with anxiety!

In case anyone doesn't know, I quit being a Garda too, also one of the best decisions of my life, should have done it well before then

How bad or good is alcohol for society

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