Should alcohol be banned?

[GoldTrader]

Yes, it does not do anything good.

Well, why don't we ban RuneScape also? It doesn't do anything "good". And let's ban Coca Cola also, it doesn't do anything "good".

 

[kylebiddle]

Banning alcohol is a stupid idea. It would be just as useless as banning tobacco, and in fact it would hurt the economy because it wouldn't be taxed, it would be bootlegged.

 

[DG4L]

YES! Straight Edge XXX!

 

[Gurtaton]

Peer pressure, social desirability are valid reasons.

Banning alcohol is breaching ones civil liberties. You have enforce rules onto others about what they can, or cannot do.

So we should not prohibit that which leads to undesirables? Is that what you're saying? And peer pressure/social desires are really pathetic reasons, because at any party, you can say, "I don't/won't drink." You have the WILL to refuse. DESIRES can be SUPPRESSED.

This would be a different debate.

Then we'll leave it at that.

Why don't you just worry about yourself, and let others take care of themselves?

Society is merely a term referring to the collective body of people. Freedom of such magnitude is not a bad thing. Why do you honestly care what other people do? How about just letting people choose what they want to do? Isn't that fair?

I care because I don't want one of you drunkheads to get someone innocent killed with you. Even if that doesn't happen all the time, it's a potential risk, and if I can stop it, I will, so that a few families out there might be saved from the loss of a relative.

Alcohol can also make you gain weight, make you feel sick or dizzy, give you bad breath, make you clumsy, slur your speech, make your skin break out and make you feel out of control.

You tell me. What is so good about that? By reducing your freedom, I am saving drinkers and non-drinkers alike. Some drinkers "complain" about their weight, and despite knowing the cause, they don't stop. Can't we lead a more healthy lifestyle?

Alcohol is an intricate part to Western Society. It has been instilled into billions of people. One might think in a perfect society, alcohol may be prohibited. This disregards the pragmatic nature of the present. Criminalizing the billions in society will ultimately lead to more chaos. The US tried this in the 1920's. It was a complete disaster. Organized crime increased.

Revoking the right for one to drink is taking away their civil liberties by a large magnitude. Why can't you let people do what they want? Why would you claim to knows whats best for them? Most people don't even know what's best for themselves.

Alcohol is a billion dollar revenue raiser for the Government. It employs 1000's of people and is intertwined harmoniously with almost all industries. Banning alcohol would result in consequences of catastrophic proportions. Unemployment would rise; Government revenue would decrease; Civil revolt would increase; Organized crime would increase and so on.

Ultimately, alcohol is a biological and social problem. Alcohol has been drunken for generations, well into the times of Christ. Alcohol itself only slightly worsens natural human tendencies to have sex and instigate violence. Banning alcohol won't stop people drinking, just like making murder illegal stopping people murdering.

Those are the main issues. It would take some serious persuasion to ban alcohol in the West.

As I said, your society has become too reliant on alcohol, but is it really worth destroying your body over? Your people are ignorant. Despite knowing the risks, they take it, and lead themselves to harm's way.

Now to address your 1920 example.

Yes, at first, there will be many protests. The best we can do is educate the newer generations about why it was illegalized. You may say this is like "brainwashing" them, but we all know this is for their own good. With its banning, it would become more expensive. Less people would be able to get their hands on it. In like perhaps 50 years (not necessarily saying that it's gonna be 50), the newer generation would take over, with the mindset that "alcohol is bad for the body", which is true.

I know what's right because I haven't been "Westernized" yet. You are led by the belief that good times without alcohol is impossible. At school, you hear about how other people got wasted and had a great time. This makes you want to drink and try it out for yourself as soon as you reach the right age. This then leads to addiction, and this is also how alcohol was instilled into your lives. This was your initial mistake.

In time, they will decrease. Only the addicts would do anything serious, and they would be dealt with accordingly.

I will, however, say that I do not want to completely ban alcohol. This would lead to too much revolt. In times like Christmas, for example, it could be allowed, and that would probably reduce protests by a considerable amount. But rules would still be put in to drink responsibly.

Banning it won't stop it, but persuading people NOT TO DRINK IT will.

If 970,000 people can drink in moderation, yet only 30,000 lose self-control, not all to a major degree, I think it would make more sense in dealing with those 30,000. Many lives are lost due to smoking also.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_causes_of_death_by_rate

0.16 people perish due to alcohol use disorder. 4x more people die from drowning. Perhaps we should ban people from setting foot in the water.

Natural rights. Let me drink what I want. Isn't this fair enough?

And yet those 30,000 still have the potential to affect the other 970,000's lives.

That's ridiculous. People can be taught to swim. Swimming does not harm your body. If you're irresponsible, you'll gain zero sympathy from me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-term_effects_of_alcohol#Alcohol-related_deaths

"One study links alcohol to 1 in every 25 deaths worldwide and that 5% of years lived with disability are attributable to alcohol consumption."

 

[oxodium]

Well, why don't we ban RuneScape also? It doesn't do anything "good". And let's ban Coca Cola also, it doesn't do anything "good".

Runescape is a business, the benefit it has is that it provides us with entertainment and a past time. It also provides jobs.

Coca Cola is one of the largest companies in the world, and banning that would mean possibly say 100 million out of jobs.


Now lets move onto alcohol, everything done responsibly is fine, taking in too much of any substance, is bad for you.
Consuming under a certain amount of week is fine, infact I remember reading in the paper, that a certain amount of red wine/week is actually healthy for you.

Lastly, without alcohol, I dare to say the amount of people left un-employed would be extreme. There would be mass rioting and violence throughout the globe, this would lead to depression and many businesses would suffer as a result.

 

[The Don Kiluminati]

Just read this article recently - http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_9548000/9548887.stm

Stuff like that makes me in favour of it being banned. At the end of the day, no one drinks alcohol for the first time and says "I will get drunk senseless and in the process hope to get a liver desease", instead they say "a little at a time should be alright".

Next thing you know their binge drinking and are addicted.

But in a practical sense, atleast in Europe/America, banning Alcohol would be extremely difficult. If memory serves right, America did try to do it in the past but it just failed.

 

[malakadang]

So we should not prohibit that which leads to undesirables? Is that what you're saying? And peer pressure/social desires are really pathetic reasons, because at any party, you can say, "I don't/won't drink." You have the WILL to refuse. DESIRES can be SUPPRESSED.

So, peer pressure does influence ones decision?

I care because I don't want one of you drunkheads to get someone innocent killed with you. Even if that doesn't happen all the time, it's a potential risk, and if I can stop it, I will, so that a few families out there might be saved from the loss of a relative.

How about dealing with those drunkards directly. Isn't that a better solution then relinquishing everyones rights?

Alcohol can also make you gain weight, make you feel sick or dizzy, give you bad breath, make you clumsy, slur your speech, make your skin break out and make you feel out of control.

McDonalds can make you fat, obese, cause you to break out, bad breath.

You tell me. What is so good about that? By reducing your freedom, I am saving drinkers and non-drinkers alike. Some drinkers "complain" about their weight, and despite knowing the cause, they don't stop. Can't we lead a more healthy lifestyle?

So, your argument is that humans do not have the right to drink whatever they want? Your arguing the end-cause. The ends do not justify the means.

Those are the main issues. It would take some serious persuasion to ban alcohol in the West.

As I said, your society has become too reliant on alcohol, but is it really worth destroying your body over? Your people are ignorant. Despite knowing the risks, they take it, and lead themselves to harm's way.

That's their problem. You decide not to, they decide to.

Now to address your 1920 example.

Yes, at first, there will be many protests. The best we can do is educate the newer generations about why it was illegalized. You may say this is like "brainwashing" them, but we all know this is for their own good. With its banning, it would become more expensive. Less people would be able to get their hands on it. In like perhaps 50 years (not necessarily saying that it's gonna be 50), the newer generation would take over, with the mindset that "alcohol is bad for the body", which is true.

I fail to see how taking someones freedom away is good. Also, actually, it led to an increase in crime and alcohol ultimately.

I know what's right because I haven't been "Westernized" yet. You are led by the belief that good times without alcohol is impossible. At school, you hear about how other people got wasted and had a great time. This makes you want to drink and try it out for yourself as soon as you reach the right age. This then leads to addiction, and this is also how alcohol was instilled into your lives. This was your initial mistake.

You know whats right, how omniscient of you. I never said good times without alcohol is impossible. Alcohol is instilled in your genetics, it has been consumed for generations. Your also saying drink alcohol = addiction. That is incorrect. Most people drink alcohol responsibly, it's only the few that run-a-muck with it.

Imagine if they banned cars because it would cause less automobile accidents.

In time, they will decrease. Only the addicts would do anything serious, and they would be dealt with accordingly.

How about dealing with them accordingly without reducing liberty.

I will, however, say that I do not want to completely ban alcohol. This would lead to too much revolt. In times like Christmas, for example, it could be allowed, and that would probably reduce protests by a considerable amount. But rules would still be put in to drink responsibly.

Humans are not caged animals.

Banning it won't stop it, but persuading people NOT TO DRINK IT will.

Yet you still seek to virtually ban all of it.

And yet those 30,000 still have the potential to affect the other 970,000's lives.

The ends don't justify the means.

That's ridiculous. People can be taught to swim. Swimming does not harm your body. If you're irresponsible, you'll gain zero sympathy from me.

Your missing the point.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-term_effects_of_alcohol#Alcohol-related_deaths

"One study links alcohol to 1 in every 25 deaths worldwide and that 5% of years lived with disability are attributable to alcohol consumption."

We all know alcohol is bad for you.


Do humans have the right to drink whatever they want? Yes, or No?

 

[Kodak]

Runescape is a business, the benefit it has is that it provides us with entertainment and a past time. It also provides jobs.

Coca Cola is one of the largest companies in the world, and banning that would mean possibly say 100 million out of jobs.


Now lets move onto alcohol, everything done responsibly is fine, taking in too much of any substance, is bad for you.
Consuming under a certain amount of week is fine, infact I remember reading in the paper, that a certain amount of red wine/week is actually healthy for you.

Lastly, without alcohol, I dare to say the amount of people left un-employed would be extreme. There would be mass rioting and violence throughout the globe, this would lead to depression and many businesses would suffer as a result.

Getting rid of something would definitely not change the world so drastically. We would adapt..

 

[Jemmy]

If alcohol was banned then someone would just make and sell it illegally. There is a lot of sense to banning but however that doesn't mean a supply of it won't exist and now that just means we're losing tax revenue.

 

[kill dank]

Only for idiots. There's nothing wrong with having a drink every once in a while. But when it becomes routine or irresponsible, maybe there should be some regulation.

 

[ytrewq]

reasons to keep it legal

- most societies value freedom
- prohibition did not work well the last time.
- taxation
- a drink every now and then is enjoyable.
- drinking is ingrained in many peoples lifestyles/traditions.

Bingo.

It all comes down to personal responsibility anyways, although it gets a bit complicated when your drunkenness effects someone else (ex. drunk driving).

 

[Dungeon Technique]

personally i dont think it should be, people choose to abuse it and thats their choice, but to ban it is a bit far.. people need to learn self controll and maybe we need to do something but not ban it.

 

[i noob killer i]

My idea is if you ban it, then it will go underground and you will be back to the days of prohabition and then the government will make no money from it. so the only way to stop this is to raise the price of alcohol and tax it more so people will drink less.

 

[nirvanablue92]

My opinion is no, because if we try to outlaw it, that will only make people want it more. We have no way to control if people consume alcohol or not, and people will just make it themselves.

 

[Dave.]

Do humans have the right to drink whatever they want? Yes, or No?

Yes, they do. but they shouldn't have the right to put people in danger by drinking and wasting hospitals and other peoples time and money.

 

[Um0d]

Personally, I Think it should be banned because it kills human's brain cells and it can lead to fatal failure of brain's system when getting older. When drunk, even worser, you do stupid things that you would never do. You possibly would do a stupid stuff that would lead you to go in a course and get a life sentence like a fucked cunt.
Also alchol just is unhealthy and you will get some ugly and fucked up stomach shape. I have a six packs, under a week, alcohol possibly would lead me to have a body with four packs then other week, I wouldn't have at least one pack. That would make me lose an attraction of girls like I do now.

Alcohol will make your body skin wrinkled fast and they would give you pimples fatal loss of girls.

Being drunk is may be fun, only for the night. On the next day you will be sick and having a hangover which sucks majorly. True me, I've experienced it terribly.

People Who thinks drinking is cool is like people who thinks smokin is cool. Well these people are a group of fucked up people and having a fucked up future.

I reccomend you to NOT drink at any circumstance.

Haters, get fucked cunts

 

[Jimmy]

People who think drinking is cool are like people who think smoking is cool. Well these people are a group of fucked up people and will have a fucked up future.

True me, I've experienced it terribly.

Riiight.

Do humans have the right to drink whatever they want? Yes, or No?

This is an extremely poor argument; we surrender a portion of our rights so that the rest may be protected.

 

[Dave.]

My idea is if you ban it, then it will go underground and you will be back to the days of prohabition and then the government will make no money from it. so the only way to stop this is to raise the price of alcohol and tax it more so people will drink less.

there is already gangs in the uk making fake alcohol with ethanol and selling it in shops.

This endangers peoples life and is illegal to make and sell fake alcohol.

 

[ScammersAreDumb]

Runescape is a business, the benefit it has is that it provides us with entertainment and a past time. It also provides jobs.

Coca Cola is one of the largest companies in the world, and banning that would mean possibly say 100 million out of jobs.


Now lets move onto alcohol, everything done responsibly is fine, taking in too much of any substance, is bad for you.
Consuming under a certain amount of week is fine, infact I remember reading in the paper, that a certain amount of red wine/week is actually healthy for you.

Lastly, without alcohol, I dare to say the amount of people left un-employed would be extreme. There would be mass rioting and violence throughout the globe, this would lead to depression and many businesses would suffer as a result.

I just wanted to say The Coca-Cola Company has about 140,000 employees, not 100,000,000.

You know whats right, how omniscient of you. I never said good times without alcohol is impossible. Alcohol is instilled in your genetics, it has been consumed for generations. Your also saying drink alcohol = addiction. That is incorrect. Most people drink alcohol responsibly, it's only the few that run-a-muck with it.

Alcohol is hardly "instilled" in our genetics. In fact, there is nothing in our genetics that would make us crave alcohol. You're also saying most people drink alcohol responsibly. That is incorrect. Most people drink alcohol irresponsibly, except very few actually get caught or are made public, so many have the same illusion as you. There are far more people who drink irresponsibly than responsibly. Simply because they don't kill someone, have sex with a random stranger, rape someone, or pass out doesn't mean they drank "responsibly."

Imagine if they banned cars because it would cause less automobile accidents.

Banning cars would be illogical and unreasonable. Banning alcohol, not so much. Life without cars is easily possible, however, the efficiency at which we did things would be lowered drastically. Life without alcohol on the other hand is easily doable, without having anywhere close to the negative impact of banning cars.

 

[malakadang]

Yes, they do. but they shouldn't have the right to put people in danger by drinking and wasting hospitals and other peoples time and money.

I agree. Can we also agree that instead of banning alcohol, we should deal with the people instigating violence directly?

This is an extremely poor argument; we surrender a portion of our rights so that the rest may be protected.

It's not an argument, yet. I'm simply asking do we as human-beings have the right to drink whatever we want?

Alcohol is hardly "instilled" in our genetics. In fact, there is nothing in our genetics that would make us crave alcohol. You're also saying most people drink alcohol responsibly. That is incorrect. Most people drink alcohol irresponsibly, except very few actually get caught or are made public, so many have the same illusion as you. There are far more people who drink irresponsibly than responsibly. Simply because they don't kill someone, have sex with a random stranger, rape someone, or pass out doesn't mean they drank "responsibly."

Alcohol is actually part of our genetics. Our ancestors for generations have used alcohol to celebrate. Some societies such as the Greeks drunk almost all alcohol. Perhaps responsibly isn't the correct word. Most people don't bring harm to others, though.

Banning cars would be illogical and unreasonable. Banning alcohol, not so much. Life without cars is easily possible, however, the efficiency at which we did things would be lowered drastically. Life without alcohol on the other hand is easily doable, without having anywhere close to the negative impact of banning cars.

Banning cars follows the same logic as banning alcohol.

Alcohol is causes some people in society to harm others.
Banning alcohol would stop this.
Therefore alcohol should be banned.

Automobiles are a cause of numerous accidents and fatalities in society.
Banning automobiles would stop this.
Therefore automobiles should be banned.

Arguing the ends as if their relevant is arguing the ends justify the means. You could argue this if you'd like. I would wager based on the 2 above deductions that it is unreasonable, and when applied universally, folly. You would have to argue why the ends would justify the means in this specific scenario, and not the rest. Then, you would have to formulate something we can apply across the board.