3 ms·

The big difference is that you don't have to drink alcohol if an unknown person next to you is drinking, while passive smoking is a real thing. Granted, peer pr

by hiq 3y ago

The big difference is that you don't have to drink alcohol if an unknown person next to you is drinking, while passive smoking is a real thing. Granted, peer pressure leads people to drink more than they otherwise would, but it's still something you can fight against. There's no willpower that will help you against passive smoking. I'm not claiming that alcohol is better, just saying that in terms of getting of nuisances, you can choose to completely opt out of alcohol if you so choose, while in some places it's hard to completely avoid cigarette smoke from people around you.

s_dev 3y ago
Yes but alcohol is going have a far far bigger impact on their temperament and behaviour than even 100 cigarettes in a row.
bill_joy_fanboy 3y ago
Alcohol has negative social externalities just like cigarettes. People who drink often drive and make other bad decisions that don't just damage the drinker. The negative social externality may not be "second hand drinking", but it exists nonetheless.
- kazinator 3y ago
  But you don't have to smoke and do something else to be harmful.
  - Domenic_S 3y ago
    Sure you do. Smoke and walk around in public. Smoke and stand in the middle of the sidewalk. etc
    - kazinator 3y ago
      The point is that these are not necessary. Someone is not harmed if you drink in the same room as them and do nothing else.
      - zepolen 3y ago
        Not true they might drink too much and start complaining about me smoking.
- slily 3y ago
  "People who drink often drive" is a nonsensical statement. People lose their driver's licenses permanently for drinking and driving. People get high on cannabis and drive too. And people smoke cannabis outdoors, which smells worse than cigarettes if you ask me. So as far as public nuisance goes you get the worst of both worlds... except cannabis is the "cool" drug for younger generations, so people will bend over backwards to make excuses and berate you for criticizing it :)

by hiq 3y ago

s_dev 3y ago

Yes but alcohol is going have a far far bigger impact on their temperament and behaviour than even 100 cigarettes in a row.

bill_joy_fanboy 3y ago

Alcohol has negative social externalities just like cigarettes. People who drink often drive and make other bad decisions that don't just damage the drinker. The negative social externality may not be "second hand drinking", but it exists nonetheless.

kazinator 3y ago
But you don't have to smoke and do something else to be harmful.
- Domenic_S 3y ago
  Sure you do. Smoke and walk around in public. Smoke and stand in the middle of the sidewalk. etc
  - kazinator 3y ago
    The point is that these are not necessary. Someone is not harmed if you drink in the same room as them and do nothing else.
    - zepolen 3y ago
      Not true they might drink too much and start complaining about me smoking.
slily 3y ago
"People who drink often drive" is a nonsensical statement. People lose their driver's licenses permanently for drinking and driving. People get high on cannabis and drive too. And people smoke cannabis outdoors, which smells worse than cigarettes if you ask me. So as far as public nuisance goes you get the worst of both worlds... except cannabis is the "cool" drug for younger generations, so people will bend over backwards to make excuses and berate you for criticizing it :)