4 ms·

It is indefensible that alcohol is available, or it is indefensible that marijuana possession leads to prison?

minikites 6y ago
Both, in my opinion. I don't think we should return to Prohibition times but I do think it should be significantly more difficult and costly to purchase alcohol.
- lstodd 6y ago
  It is even more trivial to brew and optionally distill alcohol than to grow marijuana. So all that "difficult and costly" would achieve is an increase of dangerous homebrew substances being consumed.
  - minikites 6y ago
    Prohibition was a failure for a number of reasons, but alcohol use did go down and has remained lower than it was pre-Prohibition. Not everyone is going to have the time/energy/resources/interest to brew their own alcohol.
    - tarentel 6y ago
      No it hasn't https://apnews.com/article/f1f81ade0748410aaeb6eeab7a772bf7 https://apnews.com/article/f1f81ade0748410aaeb6eeab7a772bf7
      - minikites 6y ago
        Did you read the article? > Historians say drinking was heaviest in the early 1800s, with estimates that in 1830 the average U.S. adult downed the equivalent of 7 gallons a year. > These days it’s about 2.3 gallons, according to federal calculations. That works out to nearly 500 drinks, or about nine per week.
- inglor_cz 6y ago
  IDK. During my trip to Finland, where alcohol sales follow this paternalistic approach, it struck me as odd how many "obviously problematic" alcoholics I met in the streets of Helsinki. Some of them drank window cleaning fluids and similar substitutes. Libertarianish Tallinn 90 kms away seemed to cope better.
  - antepodius 6y ago
    People want to drink, and those who want to drink the most will also be the least reserved about what they drink. It's the circle of life!
- benc666 6y ago
  That's a valid view, but some alcohol in moderation certainly helps grease the wheels of social interaction. This is probably why alcohol was known since ancient times. I'll cite: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_alcoholic_drinks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_alcoholic_drinks] [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/02/alcohol-discovery-addiction-booze-human-culture/ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/02/alcohol-...]
- ooboe 6y ago
  In many developed countries with universal health care, alcohol is significantly taxed in part to contribute to health care costs. Canada is one example and, as a result, alcohol is generally much more expensive than in USA. This despite the large volumes and purchasing power of the provincial liquour boards (as private sales are limited, to varying degrees according to province).

Both, in my opinion. I don't think we should return to Prohibition times but I do think it should be significantly more difficult and costly to purchase alcohol.

lstodd 6y ago
It is even more trivial to brew and optionally distill alcohol than to grow marijuana. So all that "difficult and costly" would achieve is an increase of dangerous homebrew substances being consumed.
- minikites 6y ago
  Prohibition was a failure for a number of reasons, but alcohol use did go down and has remained lower than it was pre-Prohibition. Not everyone is going to have the time/energy/resources/interest to brew their own alcohol.
  - tarentel 6y ago
    No it hasn't https://apnews.com/article/f1f81ade0748410aaeb6eeab7a772bf7 https://apnews.com/article/f1f81ade0748410aaeb6eeab7a772bf7
    - minikites 6y ago
      Did you read the article? > Historians say drinking was heaviest in the early 1800s, with estimates that in 1830 the average U.S. adult downed the equivalent of 7 gallons a year. > These days it’s about 2.3 gallons, according to federal calculations. That works out to nearly 500 drinks, or about nine per week.
inglor_cz 6y ago
IDK. During my trip to Finland, where alcohol sales follow this paternalistic approach, it struck me as odd how many "obviously problematic" alcoholics I met in the streets of Helsinki. Some of them drank window cleaning fluids and similar substitutes. Libertarianish Tallinn 90 kms away seemed to cope better.
- antepodius 6y ago
  People want to drink, and those who want to drink the most will also be the least reserved about what they drink. It's the circle of life!
benc666 6y ago
That's a valid view, but some alcohol in moderation certainly helps grease the wheels of social interaction. This is probably why alcohol was known since ancient times. I'll cite: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_alcoholic_drinks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_alcoholic_drinks] [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/02/alcohol-discovery-addiction-booze-human-culture/ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/02/alcohol-...]
ooboe 6y ago
In many developed countries with universal health care, alcohol is significantly taxed in part to contribute to health care costs. Canada is one example and, as a result, alcohol is generally much more expensive than in USA. This despite the large volumes and purchasing power of the provincial liquour boards (as private sales are limited, to varying degrees according to province).