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We here in South Africa, we have actually banned the sale of alcohol and cigarettes while in lock-down for almost a month now.
by rawoke083600 7y ago
We here in South Africa, we have actually banned the sale of alcohol and cigarettes while in lock-down for almost a month now.
- tempsy 7y agoThat sounds like a terrible decision
- sjwright 7y agoThough the social results will be fascinating... I'm sure there are researchers salivating over this opportunity.
- wolco 7y agoThat seems like a bad idea. Many people will die without any alcohol. Forcing people inside and then stopping the sales of cigarettes seems like it would create more agression in the short term.
- aprdm 7y agoOut of curiosity how exactly would people die without any alcohol?
- codemati 7y agoWithdrawal symptoms (primarily seizures, I believe) can be lethal.
- code_duck 7y agoPeople can be severely addicted to alcohol to the point of physical dependence. https://www.medscape.com/answers/819502-79121/what-is-the-mortality-and-morbidity-of-alcohol-withdrawal-syndrome https://www.medscape.com/answers/819502-79121/what-is-the-mo... "The mortality rate from severe alcohol withdrawal and delirium tremens (DT) historically has been as high as 20% if untreated. Early recognition and improved treatment has reduced the mortality rate from DT to approximately 1-5%" So this means people either die or go to emergency care with severe symptoms that require hospitalization, which obviously is to be avoided at a time like this.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- xzel 7y agoAlcohol withdrawal can be fatal in some cases. I have a childhood friend who had multiple seizures from alcohol withdrawal and is it in a semi vegetative state.
- alpaca128 7y agoWithdrawal symptoms of alcohol addiction can be pretty severe.
- jussij 7y agoI think the OPs point would be it would lead to more aggression and that then would lead to the more deaths. Now I don't know if that link exists and in fact I suspect it could be the opposite, as many people become more aggressive the more they drink.
- notRobot 7y agoNo, they're talking about severe withdrawal.
- alknemeyer 7y agoPart of the idea is to curb domestic violence and reduce the strain on emergency services [0]. I personally think that it will also help people budget, as most expected a three week lockdown but the reality is that many could be with reduced income for far longer [0]: https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/why-alcohol-sale-banned-south-africa-during-lockdown/ https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/why-alcohol-sale-banned...
- wolco 7y agoThe cigarette ban would increase domestic violence as people without any support aid would be forced into limit spaces with partners. How do they justify that decision?
- bunje 7y agoI've heard this can cause methanol blindness and increase in black market but who knows. Soon we will learn.
- pugworthy 7y agoHere is a prohibition against learning history.
- jotm 7y agoBold move... I've resorted to smoking because I can't buy eliquid for vaping heh. On that note there was a whole thread on Reddit with people saying they might kill themselves if lockdowns go on for months. That would be hilarious, "cause of death: Covid-19"
- grecy 7y agoThe only thing stopping Americans from seriously protesting is cheap beer & cigarettes & sports on TV. One is already gone, there is no way they'll take away the others.
- yellowapple 7y agoYep. Thankfully I've got enough booze stocked up that even if the liquor stores shut down I'd be good for awhile, and I don't smoke so that's a non-factor for me. The lack of hockey and NASCAR is annoying but manageable.
- sizzle 7y agoCurious what you have stocked up, mind sharing?
- yellowapple 7y agoSure! Current inventory: - 1 box and 3 bottles of cheap moscato - 1.1 bottles of rum - 4-ish bottles of various whiskeys - 0.7 bottles of brandy - 1 giant bottle of tequila - Half a gross of bottles/cans of beer
- sizzle 7y agoGood stuff, cheers!
- rudiv 7y agoSame in a lot of parts of India, sale of liquor is prohibited in the union COVID guidelines, although I'm told there are some states where liquor stores have been reopened.
- dluan 7y agoAnd suddenly grocery stores are setting up displays of pineapples, sugar, and yeast.
- veggieburglar 7y agoEverything old is new again! https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ingenious-brick-helped-wine-industry-survive-prohibition-180956412/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ingenious-brick-he...
- ashtonkem 7y agoI’ve heard some of the arguments against alcohol consumption during the pandemic, and I don’t buy it. Sure, it’s true that alcohol lowers your immune system and requires trips to stores. But a big portion of whether or not we’ll make it out of this with lower fatalities will be about our ability to maintain quarantine. And honestly, people are bored and freaked out, recreational substances give them one more thing to do that’ll keep them inside and safe-ish.
- yellowapple 7y agoYep. If anything alcohol has helped me maintain quarantine, since if I'm too drunk or high to drive then I'm that much more inclined to stay home.
- yellowapple 7y agoYou'd think that other countries would learn from America's historical mistakes. On the other hand, I look forward to someday watching the South African version of NASCAR this will surely spawn.
- robk 7y agoTry and pry me out of my Shabeen