Alcohol kills more than AIDS, TB or violence WORLDWIDE

You can't use that argument about responsibility with alcohol. Everyone reacts to it differently. 
One can/bottle is all it takes.

" Well congratulations to drunks everywhere, then, I guess.  You have an excuse.  It's not your fault. "

It will never be illegal, we tried that and a second attempt is not going to go over well. We just need to find better ways of educating people, and get better at identifying those with addiction issues. 

" @melcene said:

" Well congratulations to drunks everywhere, then, I guess.  You have an excuse.  It's not your fault. "

You'd be hard pressed to find anyone other than a sarcastic forum poster saying that. Don't make up arguments to go against. "

" @CL60: Yes, they should. It's not the alcohol driving, it's the person drinking who CHOOSES to drive. They might not be able to make the best decisions, but in the end it's he or she that chooses to do it. And yes, you can in fact use the "sober people crash too" argument because your entire argument is more or less that alcohol is the sole reason people crash their cars. Since we can't blame the cars for the person who's "too fucked up to know they can't drive", we can't really blame the alcohol for some idiot choosing to drive despite the fact that he had been drinking, knowing the consequences it could have. "

I thought what was ridiculous is that this thread started out against alcohol and alcoholism.  And here we have people giving alcoholics an EXCUSE to keep drinking.  It's not their fault if something bad happens while they're drinking - it's the alcohol's fault.  It's bullshit.  Don't give drunks a crutch.  It does nothing but enable them.

" I thought what was ridiculous is that this thread started out against alcohol and alcoholism.  And here we have people giving alcoholics an EXCUSE to keep drinking.  It's not their fault if something bad happens while they're drinking - it's the alcohol's fault.  It's bullshit.  Don't give drunks a crutch.  It does nothing but enable them. "

" @melcene said:

" I thought what was ridiculous is that this thread started out against alcohol and alcoholism.  And here we have people giving alcoholics an EXCUSE to keep drinking.  It's not their fault if something bad happens while they're drinking - it's the alcohol's fault.  It's bullshit.  Don't give drunks a crutch.  It does nothing but enable them. "

2nd time you give a fake argument to argue again. Seriously, not helping you. "

" @Azteck said:

" @CL60: Yes, they should. It's not the alcohol driving, it's the person drinking who CHOOSES to drive. They might not be able to make the best decisions, but in the end it's he or she that chooses to do it. And yes, you can in fact use the "sober people crash too" argument because your entire argument is more or less that alcohol is the sole reason people crash their cars. Since we can't blame the cars for the person who's "too fucked up to know they can't drive", we can't really blame the alcohol for some idiot choosing to drive despite the fact that he had been drinking, knowing the consequences it could have. "

Where did I ever say that alcohol is the sole reason people crash their cars? Both of you using an argument of "Sober people crash their cars too!" just makes it seem like you support drunk driving, and is absolutely ridiculous. "

 @Fajita_Jim: 
They should ban every substance your brother can't control his intake. It makes me sound like a dick, and I probably am, but it's your brother's responsibility. Do you really think banning alcohol will stop him? Has making any drug illegal stopped drug addicts?

It's stupid. I know someone who is ruining his life because of drinking too, and it makes you mad that something so terrible is allowed to be legal.  
 
I also have a cousin who got in a car accident because of some fucking drunk who decided it would be fun to drive on the wrong side of the high way. He died instantly, but she had practically every bone in her right side shattered and has to live the rest of her life crippled and in constant pain. Every time I hear douche bags bragging about getting drunk and driving I can't help but imagine that it's only going to be a matter of time until they do that to someone elses cousin, and I just want to beat their skulls in with a heavy object as a public service.

" @Snipzor said:

" @melcene said:

" I thought what was ridiculous is that this thread started out against alcohol and alcoholism.  And here we have people giving alcoholics an EXCUSE to keep drinking.  It's not their fault if something bad happens while they're drinking - it's the alcohol's fault.  It's bullshit.  Don't give drunks a crutch.  It does nothing but enable them. "

2nd time you give a fake argument to argue again. Seriously, not helping you. "

I know, it's getting annoying. I'm just going to leave this topic if these people are going to act like this. "

All cars should have breathalyzers in them so that you can't drive when drunk and the people that do want to be drunk all day and destroy their bodies should do so in the privacy of their own homes.  

" @CL60 said:

" @Snipzor said:

" @melcene said:

" I thought what was ridiculous is that this thread started out against alcohol and alcoholism.  And here we have people giving alcoholics an EXCUSE to keep drinking.  It's not their fault if something bad happens while they're drinking - it's the alcohol's fault.  It's bullshit.  Don't give drunks a crutch.  It does nothing but enable them. "

2nd time you give a fake argument to argue again. Seriously, not helping you. "

I know, it's getting annoying. I'm just going to leave this topic if these people are going to act like this. "

What are you talking about, "fake argument?"  I'm honestly confused.  And act like what?  All I'm asking is that responsibility for one's actions is put on the person, not an object. "

People who have issues with alcohol abuse would likely just use another outlet if alcohol were illegal.  
 
It's an illness, and they would channel that self destructive behavior somewhere else. My brother has struggled with alcohol abuse, and the at the core of it is not booze, but the fact that he deals with depression. I agree that it's a big problem, but the solution isn't getting rid of alcohol, it's treating the underlying issues that people have that make them more susceptible to alcohol abuse. Not everyone who drinks beer becomes an alcoholic, because not everyone has issues with addiction or depression.

Just because your brother can't handle himself doesn't mean that other people can't. 
  
The answer, as with anything, is moderation, not "ban this sick filth".  Also, let's not forget that we tried making alcohol illegal once. How'd that work out?

Alcohol is not only dangerous in the hands of those who "have issues" with alcohol, most deaths linked to alcohol involve people who, just like alot of people on this board, say they just drink casually.  However, alcohol impairs judgement, and they got behind the wheel, and someone's life is cut short because of it.  The issue, I believe, is not to ban alcohol, or make alcohol illegal to drink, the issue is that our laws are not strict enough on those who get drunk publically.  If you are found under the influence while driving, they should ban you for LIFE from ever driving again.  Because the next time it could cost the life of someone innocent, because someone else decided they were just "buzzing" and "OK" to drive.

lol @ prohibition. Just make everything legal, and let everyone buy smokes and booze. Fuck the government always helping illicit syndicates make millions from illegal substances.

" Lol @ people in this thread acting like alcohol isn't dangerous. "

If you don't have the self control to prevent yourself from becoming an alcoholic, then its your fault. Not the alcohols. 
 
If it wasn't that, itd be drugs or something else. People with no self control are always into something.
 
Yes alcohol is bad, but no it shouldn't be illegal. People make their own decisions because they are adults. If they want to sell their possessions and become full time meth-heads, then thats their stupid choice. Feel sorry for them and try to help them, but don't blame the drugs because they didn't do anything. Its the person's fault and they should be held accountable for it. None of this "Alcoholism is a disease, you can't help it! Its not your fault!" bullshit. Its your fucking fault every fucking time people. 
 
My dad is a functioning alcoholic, and its his fault, not the beer's.

It's legal because it's been used since ancient times. That's the only reason. Despite the fact that it isn't good for people, and can harm society, it is tolerated because those in power ALSO drink, and have been for a long, long time. Drinking has become such a part of society, that attempts to ban it failed miserably.  
 
All those arguments the Prohibitionists used against Alcohol are EXTREMELY similar to arguments employed by your government and mine against different drugs. Alcohol is a drug, though, but again, it's given a pass simply because too many people in important positions drink quite a bit.  
 
As for the comparison between Alcohol and other drugs, it depends - Alcohol is far worse than some recreational drugs, but far better when compared to others.  Should other drugs be legalized? Let's leave that up to a vote.  
 
I don't drink. At all. Not for religious reasons, but for philosophical reasons. I'm a stone cold sober guy, and I never will and never have, touched a drop of Alcohol, nor will I EVER take a recreational drug. I don' t like Alcohol, I don't like it's effects on society, but I know enough about Human Nature to not even begin to suggest that it should be banned, because it won't be. Prohibition doesn't work .Even in Saudi Arabia, which carries very harsh penalties for drinking alcohol, and even harsher penalties for selling it, there's a lot of drinking in underground bars and at private parties. You can't stop Alcohol, too many people enjoy it. Politicians drink it, business people drink it, every day joes and janes drink it.  
 
Does this mean those moral conservatives who hark on and on about the horrors of drugs are hypocrites for not applying those very same arguments against alcohol? Why, yes it does. Yes it does indeed. Because Alcohol is: 
 

• Addictive to a lot of folks
• Very harmful to your health if you drink a lot
• Impairs mental functions
• Can quite often lead to violence

1. Car Crashes caused by drunk driving that can kill non-drunk drivers! Imagine that! You get killed because Johnny-Drinks-a-lot got behind the wheel while drunk and now you're dead because he didn't stop at the red light
2. Domestic violence! How many drunk husbands abuse their wives and kids when they get drunk enough to lower their inhibitions against violence? Well, you can look at the stats and they don't paint a pretty picture
3. Liver Failure! How much money has been wasted needlessly, treating people who were too stupid to know their own limits? It's probably quite a lot. Organ transplant lists have also grown because of excessive drinking. Thanks Alcohol!
4. How many people have died in stupid accidents because they were drunk and thus, not properly co-ordinated? I don't have those figures, but I'm willing to bet it's large!
5. How many women have been taken advantage of because they were drunk? Again, don't have the figures, but I'm betting it's not a small number!
6. How many lives have been ruined because of a crippling addiction to alcohol? I think you know the answer to this.

It's called Whiskey Media, not apple juice media. 
 
And any type of drug being illegal is rather pointless. 
 
@Korolev You seem like a boring dude.

I don't agree that it should be illegal, but some cultures have been overusing it... i mean i get the whole high school thing to be cool, thats fine. But yeah the two cultures that have been abusing it to a ridiculous amount are US and UK. Compare alcohol accidents/deaths in Norway or Sweeden to UK and US, its a little ridiculous how much they differ. 
 
I do agree it should be illegal in the US/UK, not because its harmful, but because its being abused and not used properly, everything is harmful if you abuse it, and personally if my child over-abused chocolate, i would take it away from him. 

Its a sad situation, but people should know that alcoholism is a disease and a biological one.  Alcoholics' brains react differently than others and their addiction is very real.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholism#Genetic_variation

I am a raging alcoholic, what are you going to do about it?

anything can turn into an addiction, and some people are more prone to addictive tendencies than others. if you care about your brother then you will express how you feel and offer to help. it resides with him to act.

The government telling you what you can and can't do is a bit totalitarian for me

i think it's more to do with people not drinking responsibly. yes, alcohol can kill your liver and other inner body parts but it also has good side effects like in beer. in beer it helps prevent heart diseases. it's great thing for that. 
 
there aren't enough people that drink responsibly. there are people will go to bars and just drink all night making them drunk. they leave driving themselves home. drinking and driving don't mix because alcohol makes person tired, they don't have good judgment.

"

So why is it legal?

  
GTFO if you want to bring mary jane into this. Let's talk about alcohol and its effects and uses, not how it compares to something else.   My brother is a year younger than I (34) and a functioning alcoholic. He goes to work, comes home, gets drunk and goes to sleep. His personality disappeared a few years ago for the  most part. It's disgusting, and it will unfortunately probably be the end of him at some point.  What is so acceptable about this that it's still legal? It's not like he's anywhere near the only one.   "

WHY ARE CARS LEGAL GOD DAMNIT, SO MANY PEOPLE DIE IN CAR CRASHES. 
 
people die, deal with it

" WHY ARE CARS LEGAL GOD DAMNIT, SO MANY PEOPLE DIE IN CAR CRASHES.  people die, deal with it "

alcohol is just bad man . I know it's stating the obvious but seriously I feel like I have no boundaries whats whoever  when I get drunk . Besides the nausea and the awful hangover .  
I tried whiskey the other day and after two shots I felt dizzy and all and I got more talkative than usual with strangers . The strange thing is I could think clearly though and I drove back home even though I was a little intoxicated  . All in all, it was not fun at all . 

Because I should be allowed to kill myself however the hell I want. So long as I'm not endangering others (which alcohol drinks do; there are better solutions to that than prohibition, though), I should be able to do whatever I damn well please to my body, be it shoot up on heroin, smoke pot, drink whiskey, or smoke cigarettes.

Be responsible kids. 

Squeezing down a bottle of hand sanitizer is easier than running to the store and grabbing a bottle of AIDS. 

As long as something only harms themselves, i think it should be legal.

And marijuana is still illegal lol

" Because people think the only way to have fun at any social event is to be drunk. So it's socially acceptable. While marijuana is not. "

" @CL60 said:

" Because people think the only way to have fun at any social event is to be drunk. So it's socially acceptable. While marijuana is not. "

Alcohol is a social lubricant, it helps people open up conversations with people they normally would never talk to sober. No one by any means thinks its the only way to have fun. "

" Alcohol doesn't kill people, people do.  "

Cigarettes kill more people in the US than alcohol, homicide, all disease (including AIDS) and car accidents, combined. Why aren't they illegal? 
 
Simple. People like it, and it rarely hurts anyone other than them. In Spain, all drugs are legal to buy, possess and use. They're just illegal to sell. If a person wants to destroy themselves, they should be allowed to do it. As soon as they begin to destroy someone else, that's when the law should step in. Not before.

" @Gunner said:

" @CL60 said:

" Because people think the only way to have fun at any social event is to be drunk. So it's socially acceptable. While marijuana is not. "

Alcohol is a social lubricant, it helps people open up conversations with people they normally would never talk to sober. No one by any means thinks its the only way to have fun. "

Nobody thinks it's the only way to have fun? Really? Then how come when I get offered alcohol when I'm with friends, and I say "I don't drink" they look at me and say "WELL HOW DO YOU HAVE FUN THEN?!" "

" @drag said:

" Alcohol doesn't kill people, people do.  "

That's the silliest thing I've ever heard. You ingest 10 entire bottles of vodka by yourself, and let me know if you still are alive in your chair by the end. "

Obvious, really. Srsly make pot legal. At least more people will be doing that, instead of booze. weed life, son.

" @Gunner said:

" @CL60 said:

" Because people think the only way to have fun at any social event is to be drunk. So it's socially acceptable. While marijuana is not. "

Alcohol is a social lubricant, it helps people open up conversations with people they normally would never talk to sober. No one by any means thinks its the only way to have fun. "

Nobody thinks it's the only way to have fun? Really? Then how come when I get offered alcohol when I'm with friends, and I say "I don't drink" they look at me and say "WELL HOW DO YOU HAVE FUN THEN?!" "

" @drag said:

" Alcohol doesn't kill people, people do.  "

That's the silliest thing I've ever heard. You ingest 10 entire bottles of vodka by yourself, and let me know if you still are alive in your chair by the end. "

" @Chabbs0 said:

" @CL60 said:

" Lol @ people in this thread acting like alcohol isn't dangerous. "

It doesn't have to be though, it's up to the person. "

No it's not. A lot of people make bad decisions when they're drunk. Because they can't think straight. "