[Discussion] Should alcohol be banned?

[Abnegation]

Oh yes, because banning alcohol certainly wouldn't cause any uprising! No riots, no response related deaths, nothing like that! Not to mention that the worldwide multi-billion dollar (for lack of common currency) industry would certainly not be missed by the economy and certainly not dig the planet into a further depression!

The above paragraph is complete sarcasm. The banning of alcohol is a ridiculous sentiment. If people think it's an aid to killings, then ban kitchen knives and rope. If people think it's addictive, then create a white box for every person on the planet to live in forever, because everything is addictive, welcome to the human mind. Under age drinking is such a problem? Well about 30% of Christians who have not undertaken communion still go and receive it, which is a sin and condemns you to hell, that's a little more serious than a few hangovers, simply an example to appeal to the several billion Christians out there. Furthermore on underage drinking, you may as well ban cars, kids drive too young and without their full license, and have accidents in which kills people. According to the World Health Organization, drowning is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury and death worldwide. So hey, we should go and ban water too!

The logic seen behind this by some posts is far beyond rational in any respect. Alcohol is something that can be used or abused by people, much like anything else which they're physically able to pick up in their hands.

[twocows]

Originally Posted by Mr. X

What is a pencil meant to be used for? To write.
What are scissors meant for? To cut various material such as paper, cardboard, or cloth.
What is rope meant to be used for? To tie things down.
What is a lake used for? Fishing, swimming
What is alcohol used for? To get drunk.

I'm not saying to ban everything that could pose a threat. I'm saying ban things that's only purpose is a negative.

Getting drunk in and of itself is not harmful to others. If I get drunk in my own house, what business is it of yours?

Also, alcohol is poison.

That depends on what your definition of poison is. It doesn't significantly shorten your life unless you abuse it, so I don't see a problem.

How is making a poison illegal going to be punishing everyone?

Because I ENJOY it. What will you say when the state takes away your gaming privileges because they have the potential to cause a few idiots to do dumb stuff? Are you going to sit back and say "well, they poison peoples' minds and cause them to be unproductive, I fully support this action?" Who cares about that stuff? The fact is, people like myself enjoy drinking, and you're arguing to get rid of something we enjoy doing because you don't like it, so you don't consider it valuable. My enjoyment is an end in itself; you're taking away my freedom to pursue my own happiness because it doesn't affect you.

Logic dictates that the less poison a person ingests, that the more healthy they will be.

Again, you can define poison to be whatever you want, but a few drinks every now and then will have no impact on someone's lifespan. Even if it did, who cares? It's my body and I should be free to treat it how I want. Are you going to outlaw overeating next?
And it's good that you don't drive drunk, but the risk that those that do create is enough to justify 'punishing' everyone as you say.[/quote]
ANYTHING has the potential to be misused. By your logic, we would ban everything and we'd be relegated to being a bunch of brains in pickle jars because that's the only way people aren't going to cause harm. And even then, I guarantee someone would try to fall over onto someone else to knock them over.

Point is, I'm an adult. I have and deserve to have the freedom to "poison" my body how I want because I'm responsible enough to know my limits and to not abuse the stuff. Those who prove themselves not up to that responsibility should be handled by law enforcement; not my problem.

Drink enough and thats what will happen to you.

Har har har, aren't you clever? Except that's nonsense, because alcohol doesn't have any permanent effect on the human body unless you go way over the top.

Morals should be used to create laws, not as a justification to break them. You know, the first group that comes to mind when I think about people using morals as a excuse to break the laws? Islamic terrorists. And all those that commit 'honor' killings.

That's odd, because the examples that come to mind for me are the American revolutionaries, Robin Hood, the underground railroad, and any group of determined individuals who stood opposed to a power who cared nothing for their freedom. But I'm sure those people don't matter, right?

While I'm at it, the last group of people who obeyed the law without questioning its moral foundation was convicted in a court in Nuremberg.

I'm not saying to be a unquestioning slave to a broken system. I'm saying that you should work to CHANGE THE SYSTEM so it is NO LONGER BROKEN. 'It's broke, and I'm not going to try fixing it' is part of the reason why this system is so screwed up. People no longer care, and they always think that they don't need to try solving issues because their are other people to do that for them.

The system is broke. Arbitrary age limits are silly, as I've said dozens of times in other threads. However, you're "fixing" it in the wrong way: you're saying we should essentially torture youths for violating these arbitrary laws when all they really wanted to do was to enjoy themselves.

Still, in all fairness, alcohol needs to get the type of labels that cigs now have. You know, the ones that show what REALLY happens if you become addicted to it.

Label it how you want. Just stop trying to take it away from me. It's my money, it's my body. I'm a responsible adult, stop trying to treat me like a child.

[-ty-]

umm...all I can say is look at the past.

Prohibition hurt the economy and put alot of decent/hard-working people behind bars. Although you cannot tie the start and end to the great depression directly to prohibition's initiation and demise it very well may have been a contributing factor. OH, not to mention the hypocrisy of the rich and powerful who established speak-easies so that they could exclusively bypass the ridiculous amendment. I choose not to drink, but I don't believe I should be able to choose whether someone else can or cannot drink.

[femtrooper]

Of course not! Many people love alcohol, and not for the reason to drunk off of it. I HATE alcohol because I don't like the way it tastes. But I know people who love to have a glass of wine with their pasta...so what? My Mom doesn't drink wine to get wasted. Honestly, if you wanna get wasted, that's cool too! Just don't do it in a way where you might hurt others. I don't think alcohol should be banned...it's 2012, not the 30s.

[Nutella]

While I'm not a drunk (otherwise I can kiss my future career goodbye), I would really, really protest against the ban of alcohol. Not that it would ever happen- there would always be some sly grog if that were the case. Would create more problems!

The thing is... why do us of-age, responsible drinkers have to suffer the consequences because some immature teenagers decide to beat each other up after sculling a 151? Hell, even adults are irresponsible with alcohol. I drink to enjoy the tastes and the variety of combinations.

I'm very much into the "night life scene", where alcohol is a given. No party I ever went to in the last four years didn't have alcohol. Yes, occasionally I go overboard. Most of the time, my friends don't even want to have fun without getting excessively drunk. That's their own stupidity. Should it be banned though? No.

[Fluorescent Dinosaur]

The government tried this already. It didn't work then, and it will won't work now. Besides, I really enjoy drinking with my friends. It should be the person's choice whether or not they want to drink.

[Akio123]

Okay first off Prohibition didn't work remember? They tried this and it just opened up "more job opportunities" (euphemism for bootleggers).

I mean it's deeply ingrained in our culture; it's like trying to take away books. I mean don't some doctors even recommend a glass of red wine? It's one of those things that can't really be taken away without a horrible backlash. Yes, alcohol can be deadly, but it's fine in moderation. Just don't do shots of everclear and you're fine.

[Livewire]

Prohibition was one of the biggest failures ever, and only created a massive black market to which Liquor Kingpins ruled, creating even more crime, murder and debauchery. To try it again would be even more foolhardy than the last time.

[Jay_37040]

Yeah, like it worked the first time the U.S. tried it.

[Livewire]

Not to mention, we make so much money off the sale of alcohol in this country it'd be asinine to try to ban int outright, despite potential benefits.

[CrypticTerror]

Al Capone....That is all...

[HoopyFrood]

If we ban alcohol how would I get my party on? You can have fun without drinking, but social drinking is the bees knees brutha.

Also we'd have a revolution if the great U.S of A tried to ban it again, then we'd have another occupy movement :|

Also it helps hot girls MAKE OUT WITH YOU. I think the pro's seriously outweigh the cons here.