Drinking to go the way of smoking

[CliffFletcher]

So a major new study has concluded that drinking is bad for your health, full-stop.

https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...s-good-for-you

I expect we'll see the full court press now on driving alcohol out of polite society into the shadows with smoking. The safety brigade are relentless about suppressing dangerous and unhealthy behaviours, and now they'll have all the ammunition they need to impose greater restrictions, higher taxes, and generally make drinking a disreputable behaviour. And with younger people drinking less, and almost all of Canada's immigration coming from countries with low or no alcohol consumption, they have demographics on their side.

[nik-]

this is a sassy post

[Weitz]

I highly doubt it.

[mikephoen]

I'm not sure what your point is Cliff. Where you're legally allowed to drink is already more restrictive than where you can smoke. I don't think anyone was under the illusion that drinking was actually good for you anyway.

Are you mad that you can't smoke in restaurants and planes any more?

[MRCboicgy]

I'll drink to that.

[CliffFletcher]

My point is that it's likely that alcohol use will become more restrictive, more expensive, and less socially acceptable. It has already been trending that way for some time, but this will give the social engineers greater license. And again, demographics are pointing that way anyway. There will come a point at which drinking will become uncommon enough (as smoking did) that legislators will be able to enact punitive restrictions without fear of public backlash.

And no, I'm not a smoker. But it was clear to me as smoking was driven out of public spaces and taxed higher and higher that alcohol would follow, and for the same reasons. If you can't imagine a Canada 20 or 30 years from now where drinking is regarded much the same way smoking is today - an unhealthy habit of the lower classes and the weak-minded - then you don't have a very good imagination.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

My point is that it's likely that alcohol use will become more restrictive, more expensive, and less socially acceptable. It has already been trending that way for some time, but this will give the social engineers greater license. And again, demographics are pointing that way anyway. There will come a point at which drinking will become uncommon enough (as smoking did) that legislators will be able to enact punitive restrictions without fear of public backlash.

And no, I'm not a smoker. But it was clear to me as smoking was driven out of public spaces and taxed higher and higher that alcohol would follow, and for the same reasons. If you can't imagine a Canada 20 or 30 years from now where drinking is regarded much the same way smoking is today - an unhealthy habit of the lower classes and the weak-minded - then you don't have a very good imagination.

If anything in the last 10 years the opposite has happened for alcohol. It’s easier to get. You can drink in more places. More variety and local.

[Ashartus]

As usual the media spin on the story is unreliable at best. Yes any level of alcohol consumption has risks associated with it. But at low/moderate levels (a drink or two a day) those risks are very low, much lower than smoking. There's a big difference risk-wise between having a glass of wine every day and being a smoker.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

My point is that it's likely that alcohol use will become more restrictive, more expensive, and less socially acceptable. It has already been trending that way for some time, but this will give the social engineers greater license. And again, demographics are pointing that way anyway. There will come a point at which drinking will become uncommon enough (as smoking did) that legislators will be able to enact punitive restrictions without fear of public backlash.

And no, I'm not a smoker. But it was clear to me as smoking was driven out of public spaces and taxed higher and higher that alcohol would follow, and for the same reasons. If you can't imagine a Canada 20 or 30 years from now where drinking is regarded much the same way smoking is today - an unhealthy habit of the lower classes and the weak-minded - then you don't have a very good imagination.

Well, I'd say that is highly, highly speculative. And if society changes and drinking is less prevalent, is that a big problem? If you enjoy it and are still kicking around in 30 years, I'm sure you'll still be able to enjoy whatever drink is your preference.

The way scotch prices have gone up the last few years, I won't be complaining if the competition for the good stuff dropped off a bit.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

My point is that it's likely that alcohol use will become more restrictive, more expensive, and less socially acceptable. It has already been trending that way for some time, but this will give the social engineers greater license. And again, demographics are pointing that way anyway. There will come a point at which drinking will become uncommon enough (as smoking did) that legislators will be able to enact punitive restrictions without fear of public backlash.

And no, I'm not a smoker. But it was clear to me as smoking was driven out of public spaces and taxed higher and higher that alcohol would follow, and for the same reasons. If you can't imagine a Canada 20 or 30 years from now where drinking is regarded much the same way smoking is today - an unhealthy habit of the lower classes and the weak-minded - then you don't have a very good imagination.

Yeah that's not going to happen.

[ResAlien]

I think the reasonable response to this article is to draw the conclusion that soon all alcohol will be banned or taxed beyond the point of affordability. The safety brigade with their zeal for things like seat belts, not allowing smoking in grocery stores, speed limits, even their insistence on companies not dumping toxic waste in public water supplies, they are the true monsters here. May god have mercy on us all for the end of days are truly upon us.

[N-E-B]

I will be utterly stunned if drinking ever ends up the same as smoking. It's too popular and I can safely say that's it's certainly still socially acceptable. Hell people who don't drink always are asked why they don't drink.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

If you can't imagine a Canada 20 or 30 years from now where drinking is regarded much the same way smoking is today - an unhealthy habit of the lower classes and the weak-minded - then you don't have a very good imagination.

If you made this post in 1918 on Ye Olde Fort Calgarypuck I would agree, but prohibition didn't exactly work or leave a lasting good impression. And how has drinking gotten less accessible in recent years? If anything it's expanded, with the explosion of craft breweries and beer festivals it's easier than ever to find great beer to drink. The only thing being cracked down on in the last few decades has been drunk driving and the stigma around it, and rightfully so


If you honestestly thing that booze will be relegated to the poor and stupid in years to come then you're way out to lunch

[vanisleflamesfan]

I just don't know about this. It has been at least 10 years since the yoga-pants moms of the world declared war on soda pop and it is still cheap, plentiful, and available everywhere.

[DiracSpike]

I personally don't see alcohol trending towards being socially unacceptable, on all my friend gatherings and trips it's socially enforced to be drinking and/or drunk 24/7 lest you be known as a #####.

But I think Cliff brings up an interesting parallel, is smoking all that different to drinking? They're both harmful, addictive, can give you cancer as well as a plethora of other health conditions...I have a hard time seeing how they're any different, except somehow tobacco companies have been completely vilified and alcohol just keeps trucking along.

[Rubicant]

I’d say that a major difference is how smoking isn’t isolated to the user like drinking. I dislike strongly being around people smoking because it stinks, my clothes reek after, and I get to “enjoy” the side effects and carcinogens even though I’m not the one smoking.

I can see taxes being increased to account for health costs (along with crap food) but I don’t know about the same social push to reduce/eliminate it.

[ResAlien]

I’d like to also mention how awesome it was to throw in that beautifully crafted touch of xenophobia there at the end. Those pesky immigrants infiltrating North America, insidiously changing our way of life. What happened to the Canada we once knew? What will it take to return to the great White north of time past?

[nik-]

Also a derisive reference to a mystery "safety brigade". That post really checked all the boxes.

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by DiracSpike

I personally don't see alcohol trending towards being socially unacceptable, on all my friend gatherings and trips it's socially enforced to be drinking and/or drunk 24/7 lest you be known as a #####.

But I think Cliff brings up an interesting parallel, is smoking all that different to drinking? They're both harmful, addictive, can give you cancer as well as a plethora of other health conditions...I have a hard time seeing how they're any different, except somehow tobacco companies have been completely vilified and alcohol just keeps trucking along.

It's not interesting or a parallel, and you answered your question in the first part of your post.

Drinking is social. It is a social lubricant and I'd take the over on 50.5% of calgary puck members existing because of it. It is fun and hilarious to do with your friends, and one of the best and easiest ways to meet new people.

Also, it is not addictive in the same way. The day after your 24/7 benders with your buddies, none of you are going home to get hammered by yourself the next day. Some people have problems, granted, and I'm glad there are supports out there for those people, but the level of addiction is not the same.

[Peanut]

Originally Posted by resalien

i’d like to also mention how awesome it was to throw in that beautifully crafted touch of xenophobia there at the end. Those pesky immigrants infiltrating north america, insidiously changing our way of life. What happened to the canada we once knew? What will it take to return to the great white north of time past?

make canada great again!!!!