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Alcoholism - and addiction in general - is as much a symptom as it is a disease. That is, there's a root cause that triggers / manifests as addiction. Making a

Alcoholism - and addiction in general - is as much a symptom as it is a disease. That is, there's a root cause that triggers / manifests as addiction. Making alcohol less accessible doesn't cure anyone. It simply kicks the can on to some other means to find relief. Put another way, "maybe we shoild raise taxes?" is the wrong question. The better question is, "why are more and more people in so much pain that they need substances to make life bearable?" Playing the sin tax card is a nice political maneuver but it's a societal train wreck.

zthrowaway 4y ago
I agree but this discounts the harm alcoholism does to those around. It can impact the family, especially children, who which in turn develop psychological issues that alcohol is used to cope with later in life. Continuing this circular issue throughout subsequent generations. I think we can attack the root cause and prevent ongoing damage.
- chiefalchemist 4y ago
  This meaning my comment, or the tax? If it's the tax, yes I agree. It takes a complex issue and over-simplifies it. If it's my comment, I'm not discounting the pain. I'm annoyed that we have a bad habit of trying to fix problems by "treating" symptoms.
wizofaus 4y ago
I'm willing to hypothesize that there are a percentage of drinkers for whom a higher price will be a key trigger in reducing their intake, and having done so, it gives them an opportunity to find some other more healthy distraction to make life, as you say, bearable (or at least, more enjoyable). Even for myself, I'd certainly accept that if alcohol were cheaper I'd probably drink more of it and as such I'm grateful we do have quite high taxes on it here.
- chiefalchemist 4y ago
  Or...find an even less healthier distraction. That's more likely, simply because once you're in that "network" (i.e., your friends and associates) there aren't many (any??) pointing to the door that says, "this way out." That is, when you're in that position you're 10x closer to something worse than something better.

zthrowaway 4y ago

I agree but this discounts the harm alcoholism does to those around. It can impact the family, especially children, who which in turn develop psychological issues that alcohol is used to cope with later in life. Continuing this circular issue throughout subsequent generations. I think we can attack the root cause and prevent ongoing damage.

chiefalchemist 4y ago
This meaning my comment, or the tax? If it's the tax, yes I agree. It takes a complex issue and over-simplifies it. If it's my comment, I'm not discounting the pain. I'm annoyed that we have a bad habit of trying to fix problems by "treating" symptoms.

wizofaus 4y ago

I'm willing to hypothesize that there are a percentage of drinkers for whom a higher price will be a key trigger in reducing their intake, and having done so, it gives them an opportunity to find some other more healthy distraction to make life, as you say, bearable (or at least, more enjoyable). Even for myself, I'd certainly accept that if alcohol were cheaper I'd probably drink more of it and as such I'm grateful we do have quite high taxes on it here.

chiefalchemist 4y ago
Or...find an even less healthier distraction. That's more likely, simply because once you're in that "network" (i.e., your friends and associates) there aren't many (any??) pointing to the door that says, "this way out." That is, when you're in that position you're 10x closer to something worse than something better.