4 ms·

I disagree. Alcohol is claiming more and more lives from liver disease and throat and stomach cancer in the UK [1] and Ireland. It's not just drink driving that

I disagree. Alcohol is claiming more and more lives from liver disease and throat and stomach cancer in the UK [1] and Ireland. It's not just drink driving that's a problem, but also the death toll from alcohol abuse over the long term which also places increasing pressure on health services. [1]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15997695 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15997695

VMG 15y ago
Alternative: don't cover self-inflicted illnesses
brudgers 15y ago
>"Balance's figures found 189 hospital admissions for 30 to 34-year-olds" Those people are adults, and the numbers of cases is so small that one might question its statistical significance. Furthermore, what evidence is there that regulation would be a more effective way of dealing with the problem (if it exists) than alternatives such as education or public awareness campaigns?
- kiloaper 15y ago
  >and the numbers of cases is so small that one might question its statistical significance. You clearly miss the point. The fact is that liver disease is increasingly significantly in age groups it was not historically a problem in. This was widely reported in the UK last year, I may not have picked the best article.
  - brudgers 15y ago
    The rate of occurrence may be increasing, but the rate at which persons are being diagnosed may also play a role, as may changes to the rates at which person's seek treatment. In other words, a 32 year old with a beer belly might be more likely to be diagnosed based on a doctor's increased awareness, or may be more likely to be diagnosed because of more frequent visits to the doctor. And even if those do not play a role, a case has not been made that special regulations with regard to alcohol are a better solution than other alternatives.
- itmag 15y ago
  While I dislike paternalism, I find pure libertarianism to be problematic as well, because it rationalizes away the fact that individuals have akrasia and/or ignorance in many areas of life.
steins 15y ago
Just what society needs.. more fat controllers bossing everyone around for some arbitrary 'good'. Maybe some people prefer liver disease to sobriety. Maybe they should be allowed to drink themselves to death if they want? It is their choice. Let people take care of themselves and their loved ones, and let them suffer the consequences of their own actions, or be supported through hard times by their loved ones. I would like a law that lets some people out of both welfare and laws that prevent a person from damaging themselves.

VMG 15y ago

Alternative: don't cover self-inflicted illnesses

brudgers 15y ago

>"Balance's figures found 189 hospital admissions for 30 to 34-year-olds" Those people are adults, and the numbers of cases is so small that one might question its statistical significance. Furthermore, what evidence is there that regulation would be a more effective way of dealing with the problem (if it exists) than alternatives such as education or public awareness campaigns?

kiloaper 15y ago
>and the numbers of cases is so small that one might question its statistical significance. You clearly miss the point. The fact is that liver disease is increasingly significantly in age groups it was not historically a problem in. This was widely reported in the UK last year, I may not have picked the best article.
- brudgers 15y ago
  The rate of occurrence may be increasing, but the rate at which persons are being diagnosed may also play a role, as may changes to the rates at which person's seek treatment. In other words, a 32 year old with a beer belly might be more likely to be diagnosed based on a doctor's increased awareness, or may be more likely to be diagnosed because of more frequent visits to the doctor. And even if those do not play a role, a case has not been made that special regulations with regard to alcohol are a better solution than other alternatives.
itmag 15y ago
While I dislike paternalism, I find pure libertarianism to be problematic as well, because it rationalizes away the fact that individuals have akrasia and/or ignorance in many areas of life.

steins 15y ago

Just what society needs.. more fat controllers bossing everyone around for some arbitrary 'good'. Maybe some people prefer liver disease to sobriety. Maybe they should be allowed to drink themselves to death if they want? It is their choice. Let people take care of themselves and their loved ones, and let them suffer the consequences of their own actions, or be supported through hard times by their loved ones. I would like a law that lets some people out of both welfare and laws that prevent a person from damaging themselves.