Would we legalise Alcohol today

[Super Nova]

Liquor laws blamed for drink harmJULIA MEDEW
September 23, 2009
A BIG rise in alcohol-related injuries and illnesses reported in Victoria has been linked by a researcher to the state's liberal liquor licensing.

The number of people in hospital for alcohol-related injuries and diseases in Victoria jumped 77 per cent between 1995 and 2006 - compared with a 34 per cent increase nationally, according to a report from the National Drug Research Institute.

The most common causes of admissions were alcohol dependence, falls, assaults, attempted suicide and injuries sustained in road accidents.

Would today's western society legalise Alcohol and it's distribution/sales for general consumption if it was inevnted or discovered today?

Do you think it will be legal in the long term?

Should it be?

Alcohol is one of the most abused and destructive drugs in society today. Does much more harm than some of today so called hard drugs.

[Jovial Monk]

Probably. We know prohibition of alcohol (& drugs etc) doesn't work.

[Super Nova]

Probably. We know prohibition of alcohol (& drugs etc) doesn't work.

I agree. It does not work.

You certainly come across as being an expert on the topic of Alcohol (that is it's production and distribution). Have you seen any problems from your view point in our treatment of Alcohol in society and any thoughts on how we could improve things.

I swing between two extremes.

1. Ban all drugs (including Alcohol)
PRO - big brother looking after the health of individuals
CONS - ilegal trade, crime and corruption will take off

2. Legalise and tax all drugs (including the hard ones)
PRO - the choice is mine if I want to kill myself. Removes crime. Increase Taxes
CONS - do gooders will be unhappy. Some people who would never have been in contact with a drug may fall victim to it.

I am not sure there is a happy inbetween point. It certainly does not work the way it is today.

[Jovial Monk]

On every Pack I sell are the words "Please enjoy in moderation." and I do not glorify getting totally shitfaced.

Education is probably important in reducing deaths/injuries etc from drugs. Ummm think tobacco is still a bigger killer of people than booze, not sure tho.

If we can keep crims out of the "drug" industry that would be good.

How is that for weaselling?

[Ethnic]

The government loves alcohol taxes too much to ban it anyways.

[Super Nova]

On every Pack I sell are the words "Please enjoy in moderation." and I do not glorify getting totally shitfaced.

Education is probably important in reducing deaths/injuries etc from drugs. Ummm think tobacco is still a bigger killer of people than booze, not sure tho.

If we can keep crims out of the "drug" industry that would be good.

How is that for weaselling?

very PC.

I have read that 1 in 10 people have a tendency to be addicts. So 1 in 10 should not drink.

I don't think the majority should be constrained by the minority. However we tend to be a nanny state and set the laws to address the minority.

I think education and you have to live with the decisions you make and the consequences is the way to go. Only the young should be protected.

Your boxes should read in the future. "If you are old enough to buy this, you are old enough to drink it. You are personally responsible for your consumption and all consequences related to it."

with a line that says

"if you do not understand this message, please return it because you are either clearly a potential addict or too bloody stupid to be trusted with a drink"

[Super Nova]

tax it I say. Everyone wins.

[Jovial Monk]

hehehehehe

Tell you what, SN, you set up a HBS and put that on your Packs.

[commonfaux]

Alcohol has caused more misery than any other substance. Violent crime, domestic violence and sexual assault all find a catalyst in alcohol. Let them smoke weed instead.

[LeftofCentre]

Violent crime, domestic violence and sexual assault all find a catalyst in alcohol. Let them smoke weed instead.

True, alcohol does play a role in all those unpleasant things.

Of course, alcohol has been banned for about a thousand years (upon pain of death) in some countries where inter-faction war is the national sport and blood feuds, violent revenge, rape and the brutal oppression of women are pretty much the order of the day.

Maybe if they had a relaxing after-work drink, they would calm down a bit?