Alcohol in our society

[SWM]

What do peole think about the availabilty of alcohol in our society?

personally i think it is too easily available but more importantly i think we are encouraged to drink from all quarters of our society. it seems that going out and getting hammered is something that all "normal people" must do to have a good time?

is alcohol too easily available? do people even realise the dangers associated with alcohol?
is there anything we might do as a culture to change our drinking habits? would people actuallu want to change?

lots of questions! any thoughts?

[Shell]

This is a touch subject for me because I happen to be dealing with someone who I feel drinks too much. 

On the subject of easy access:  How can you explain a convenience store owner/clerk who tells a customer, "don't worry about it, pay next time" for a 12pack of beer because the customer is there every other day or so and he knows he'll be back?

Do people even realize the dangers associated with alcohol?  I believe there are tons of education out there that warn of drinking and driving, which is awesome.  However, there are tons more advertisement that encourage drinking.  I think our society as a whole sees alcohol as acceptable and only spanks the hand when one reaches for the keys.  I don't think I've seen a commercial yet that depicts an alcoholic in the family and the effects it has on the children in that family.

I think that the lack of cigarette promotion has helped cigarettes become less popular, so maybe that will also help with alcohol. The most common images in media we have today are:  husband in garage (or couch) with beer in hand; college student at a keg party; woman at bar with a martini or other appealing drink; etc.  These are all portrayed in commercials, TV, movies, and real life.  They are in advertisement posters and magazines (maybe more the woman w/martini).  Alcohol is encouraged in our society, family isn't really.

JMHO

[SWM]

This is a touch subject for me because I happen to be dealing with someone who I feel drinks too much. 

work related or personal?

On the subject of easy access:  How can you explain a convenience store owner/clerk who tells a customer, "don't worry about it, pay next time" for a 12pack of beer because the customer is there every other day or so and he knows he'll be back?

it is a sad state when it gets this way, i wonder if the same clerk/owner would have the same atitude to a woman who needs a litre of milk for her family but hardly goes in the shop.

a further point on easy access in uk they have changed the licencsing laws to 24 hours. you can get alcohol 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Do people even realize the dangers associated with alcohol?  I believe there are tons of education out there that warn of drinking and driving, which is awesome.  However, there are tons more advertisement that encourage drinking.  I think our society as a whole sees alcohol as acceptable and only spanks the hand when one reaches for the keys.  I don't think I've seen a commercial yet that depicts an alcoholic in the family and the effects it has on the children in that family.

this is a good point, there was a time when the department of health was really trying to turn people off smoking, they showed many adverts with graphic images of people dying from smoking related diseases or the families of people who had died form smoking related health problems.

These are all portrayed in commercials, TV, movies, and real life.  They are in advertisement posters and magazines (maybe more the woman w/martini).  Alcohol is encouraged in our society, family isn't really.

i was thinking along similar lines when i opened this topic. television programs glamourise drinking, many scenes in the popular tv dramas are set in pubs and bars. when families do get together for social occasions the scenes depicted involve alcohol, drunkeness and fights. (fighting and arguments are another thing i dislike on prime time tv) i dont watch these programs any more because they are shallow and empty but i am concerned about the messages communicated the population that does watch these programs.

[Shell]

work related or personal?

Very personal.  I've been dealing with his problem for almost five years.

it is a sad state when it gets this way, i wonder if the same clerk/owner would have the same atitude to a woman who needs a litre of milk for her family but hardly goes in the shop.

Ha! What a very interesting twist you add.  I doubt he would've done the same.

a further point on easy access in uk they have changed the licencsing laws to 24 hours. you can get alcohol 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

In our little town in Texas, you had to wait until 12pm.  Here in Mississippi, you can get in anytime anywhere just like UK.

this is a good point, there was a time when the department of health was really trying to turn people off smoking, they showed many adverts with graphic images of people dying from smoking related diseases or the families of people who had died form smoking related health problems.

I do remember seeing the commericial of a woman who was smoking through a hole in her throat; it discouraged smoking.  Also, I can't remember the name of the program who did graphic commercials discouraging smoking.  I think those are very good, REAL commercials.

i was thinking along similar lines when i opened this topic. television programs glamourise drinking, many scenes in the popular tv dramas are set in pubs and bars. when families do get together for social occasions the scenes depicted involve alcohol, drunkeness and fights. (fighting and arguments are another thing i dislike on prime time tv) i dont watch these programs any more because they are shallow and empty but i am concerned about the messages communicated the population that does watch these programs.

i often wonder why it is so difficult for people to become inspired to develop their lives in a positive manner.  They usually find inspiration through others who have suffered from violence, neglect, or other negativities.  We need more movies like "The Pursuit of Happiness" and less that portray sex, drugs, alcohol, violence, etc.  

Maybe this topic reveals the answers to the gun topic?  The problem in society topic?

We as a society constantly cry out "Why!" when families are destroyed by alcohol or drugs.  We cry out in anger when someone rapes and murders our children.  I feel we create our own monsters.  Maybe not most of us individual, but as a whole.

[shadow]

Personally, I am entirely against alcohol.
Its one thing to have a glass of wine at dinner, and another to drink solely to get drunk or for entertainment socially.
Alcoholism seems to run in my family, and has caused a large amount of disasters in my life, so I know the harm it can cause.
I have only drank and gotten drunk once in my life, and it wasn't fun. It sucked immensely, and I never plan on doing it again. Not even after I turn 21.

[Enigma]

We should be promoting marijuana use instead of alcohol tbh.  Healthier and safer. 

[seekinghga]

As someone who has had problems with alcohol in the past I must say that I am against its use as it is in today's society.  In moderation alcohol can be a useful tool for social interaction, creativity, etc., but more often than not it is not used in such a way.  It is too readily available to younger people and current laws are powerless against this.  In the US the drinking age is 21 - I became an alcoholic at the age of 17.  Some of my friends even younger than that.  There is talk of lowering the drinking age to 18 in order to reduce alcohol use or to have a tighter grasp on the situation ( http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26271328/ ).  This would be counterproductive in my view.  Here is a little spiel based on my experience that I give to people who say that alcohol is good because it is legal:

"For the record:
Look at this list of close-minded abominations who have smoked pot-
http://frankdiscussion.netfirms.com/who_celebtokers.html
There works should be banned, burned up, etc. Long live alcohol and tobacco! Take it from someone who has experienced the DTs, watched a friend convulse helplessly from binge drinking, has a family member with emphysema, or themselves have choked up blood as a result of smoking too many Newports; these are all much superior outcomes to the eating a lot and then sleeping for 9 hours which pot causes when you smoke way too much of it.
The law says that cannabis is bad, and that is that. Nevermind the fact that even the AMA finds the markedly draconian legal policies against marijuana to be excessive.
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/13580.html
What does the AMA know?"

[liza123]

What do peole think about the availabilty of alcohol in our society?

personally i think it is too easily available but more importantly i think we are encouraged to drink from all quarters of our society. it seems that going out and getting hammered is something that all "normal people" must do to have a good time?

is alcohol too easily available? do people even realise the dangers associated with alcohol?
is there anything we might do as a culture to change our drinking habits? would people actuallu want to change?

lots of questions! any thoughts?

Yes, it is too easily available. A relative of mine passed away at 41. He used to drink regularly at the pub. His liver was badly affected. I just cannot why he would spoil his health by overdrinking..the only explanation is addiction

[seekinghga]

Yes, it is too easily available. A relative of mine passed away at 41. He used to drink regularly at the pub. His liver was badly affected. I just cannot why he would spoil his health by overdrinking..the only explanation is addiction

I am sorry to hear about your relative.  Those who seek providence in a bottle are the product of the mentality of society.  These people think they see how the world is and think that they need to be something in particular and they think that alcohol is the best way to achieve this.  I saw a quote by Abraham Lincoln the other day, on Erowid.org, which states "I believe, if we take habitual drunkards as a class, their heads and their hearts will bear an advantageous comparison with those of any other class. There seems ever to have been a proneness in the brilliant and warm-blooded to fall into this vice." 
I agree with Abe, oh too well.  But, like they say, there is a mouth, we might as well use it for something...

[anaklio]

Alcohol is such a troublesome issue. It's probably the most dangerous "drug" ever invented, yet it's is so ingrained in our society that we don't even recognize this danger.

That said, I believe it can be used safely in moderation. I see nothing wrong with a glass of wine at dinner.

[seekinghga]

That said, I believe it can be used safely in moderation. I see nothing wrong with a glass of wine at dinner.

My grandfather and grandmother, 88 and 85 respectively, have each drunk 2 shots of vodka every night at supper for the past 60 years, and live a calm, peaceful life, without any of the traditional dipsomaniacal shortcomings.

[liza123]

That said, I believe it can be used safely in moderation. I see nothing wrong with a glass of wine at dinner.

My grandfather and grandmother, 88 and 85 respectively, have each drunk 2 shots of vodka every night at supper for the past 60 years, and live a calm, peaceful life, without any of the traditional dipsomaniacal shortcomings.

I have read about such cases before. Alcohol has medicinal and health properties too if taken in moderation

[anaklio]

There are also some studies showing the positive effects of red wine. For example, moderate consumption of wine is associated with lower risk and mortality from cardiovascular disease (nicely reviewed in a new paper by Guerrero et al., 2009).

[Enigma]

Anything can be used in moderation.  Despite social stereotypes, I'm sure it's entirely possible to be a responsible heroin user.  It's all about self control. 

[liza123]

There are also some studies showing the positive effects of red wine. For example, moderate consumption of wine is associated with lower risk and mortality from cardiovascular disease (nicely reviewed in a new paper by Guerrero et al., 2009).

Yes, i have read about the positve effects of red wine as well. My grandmother used to take a wine based beverage for her asthma...

Wine is basically made of grapes.....so, it does have health benefits if taken in moderation

[sure]

SWM, it's very difficult to re-learn after 40 years of society with alcohol. you just don't know yourself in a society without. alcohol.

[Enigma]

Psychotropic chemicals have been a staple of the human condition since the dawn of time.  Deal with it.