46 public posts in this discussion.
[rant]
I know it's bad, but the Federal government just have it sooo wrong.
Increasing the price of alcohol won't curb binge drinking, nor raising the legal drinking age. The government just won't accept that social and economic pressure has a big hand in alcohol abuse.
[/rant]
Social upbring has a lot to do with binge drinking. The younger they start the more likely they will binge. Also, considering kids will always steal alcohol from there olds, buy it with or without a fake id and be given it by their parents, its hardly going to slow down.
Getting into a pub or buying booze was no problem for me when I was 15, i didnt even have a fake ID... and going into pubs and bars now a days people still never check ID's, and usualy they dont even have a door man to check ID's aswell. its far to easy for non drinking age people to get alcohol. The RSA certificate is a joke, most emoyployees that have it are just there for cash, so why should they give a **** if they serve to a minor... and managers just want cash, if they think they can get away with serving to a minor then they will.
On another note, the government has probibly realised that they arnt earning as much as they used to off cigs, so they need to tax another legal drug more heavily :P
oh and this thread might get big... so should be moved to GU soapbox :P
natural selection. and life in jail for drunk driving causing injury to a third party.
A ban on alcohol advertising.
wont do anything.
Ignore it and let them drink themselves to death.
Like Pala said, natural selection.
I agree heavy penalities for drink driving offense. A drunk driver came damn close to killing my dad a few years back, so a far as I'm concern drink/drive= get arse rapped in prision.
as if there's anything that can be done about it - binge drinking is fun. i bet everyone who posts in this thread binge drinks occasionally (or more heh).
i too agree
if people are drunk and commit a crime then its no excuse, give them double the punishment.
Quote from uber tard;342097:
as if there's anything that can be done about it - binge drinking is fun. i bet everyone who posts in this thread binge drinks occasionally (or more heh).
i'll take that bet
margarita anyone?
Quote from paladin;342112:
i'll take that bet
Strip club anyone?
its even worse to drive while high on weed.
Quote from Mungus;342113:
margarita anyone?
hardly qualifies as 'binge' drinking ;)
Quote from Evil;342114:
Strip club anyone?
not sure on your meaning there.
Behold, I shall cast the first stone.
Compulsory accumulative poison in all alcoholic beverages, you drink too much in x time, you have a brain hemorrage and die.
win win.
GU would cease to exist after one weekend.
Quote from paladin;342075:
natural selection. and life in jail for drunk driving causing injury to a third party.
I guess he's talking about how we prevent that. :P
Quote from Evil;342076:
A ban on alcohol advertising.
There's no advertising for ecstasy, but it's still wildly popular.
Quote from psyave;342070:
Social upbring has a lot to do with binge drinking. The younger they start the more likely they will binge. Also, considering kids will always steal alcohol from there olds, buy it with or without a fake id and be given it by their parents, its hardly going to slow down.
Getting into a pub or buying booze was no problem for me when I was 15, i didnt even have a fake ID... and going into pubs and bars now a days people still never check ID's, and usualy they dont even have a door man to check ID's aswell. its far to easy for non drinking age people to get alcohol. The RSA certificate is a joke, most emoyployees that have it are just there for cash, so why should they give a **** if they serve to a minor... and managers just want cash, if they think they can get away with serving to a minor then they will.
On another note, the government has probibly realised that they arnt earning as much as they used to off cigs, so they need to tax another legal drug more heavily :P
In europe people are introduced to alcohol at a much earlier age. Italians can buy piss at the age of 12? I don't believe they have the same social problems with drinking. I think its very much a cultural issue.
Quote:
jimmy:
In europe people are introduced to alcohol at a much earlier age. Italians can buy piss at the age of 12? I don't believe they have the same social problems with drinking. I think its very much a cultural issue.
We have people here that think, oh and french and the italians slowly introduce there kids to alcohol and there fine. Wrong, thats a joke, they have just the same problem as us, if not worse. And we need to stop that train of thought.
The later you start drinking in life the less probability you have of bringe drinking. Instead each society around the world, people lap up the liquor and the rate of bringe drinking increases.
http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/en/italy.pdf
http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/en/australia.pdf
and
WHO/Europe - Alcohol and drugs - The Declaration on Young People and Alcohol
Quote:
In the United States, estimates reveal that 40 percent of people who begin to drink before the age of 15 will become an alcoholic at some time in their adult lives.
These early drinkers moreover, are four times more likely to become an alcoholic than those who don't start drinking until the age of 21.
Alcohol Abuse and World Statistics
I'll vouch at least this one for the shrinks. Alcohol like any other substance (CMeth, cannabis, tobacco, XTAC... etc) are of narcotic nature. Any substance of narcotic nature is incorporated in the education curriculum at an early age (at least, that was how it was when I was in grade school). Everyone is made aware, without being in the state of intoxication of the effects of each known substance, plus the fact that exams questions are now being asked and mandatory levels of knowledge must be shown so that each individual is "aware and knowledgeable".
The only option left to look on for reasons of substance abuse is social circumstance around the person abusing alcohol. Give any Australian only 2 choices to pick a good reason to get out of a bad situation, and stoning the self will definitely be one of them. It's like... "I know it feels bad, but hey, I'll go down feeling good about it." The other choice is "Well, I'm fighting like mad and have it your way; I'll go down fighting ('They'll never catch me alive'-a more disastrous choice, and GOD in Heaven help all of us if this happens in high frequency)".
I will not accuse or blame any binge drinker I meet at the bar. I admit that I do drink as if I'm dead tomorrow, but the fact that I'm posting this proves always that a reasonable amount of control took over my "out of control" situation. I'm just like any other guy in there trying to feel right. I am definitely sure that while occasionally, there are those that lose it because of intoxication, a reasonable level of control by way of education, encouragement and prevention is appropriate.
^ um, what?
Quote from paladin;342112:
i'll take that bet
you've never been drunk in your life? ok, replace the word 'everyone' with the phrase 'vast majority' =)
Quote from jimmy;342153:
In europe people are introduced to alcohol at a much earlier age. Italians can buy piss at the age of 12? I don't believe they have the same social problems with drinking. I think its very much a cultural issue.
psyave has pretty much shown that one to be wrong but i'll throw some anecdotal (useless? lol) evidence in there as well. i lived in france for a little while doing a gap year after year 12, and every european i met around my age or younger (and a fair few of the oldies too) loved to get smashed - just the same as here. in fact the only difference was that it was harder to get other recreational substances where i was living (rural area) so pretty much everyone drank.
seriously, alcohol has been a part of human culture for at least 4000+ years (can't be assed looking up exact figure). in fact there really hasn't been a human culture that's been free of drugs of one kind or another for thousands of years. well, except for the eskimos and maybe some other obscure indiginous cultures. that means it's been totally ingrained into our collective psyche culturally, socially and economically for thousands of years. it's not something that a bit of regulation can magically reverse.
all that can be done is educate people and tax alcohol sales to offset the negative costs to society. and by all means increase the penalties to drink drivers and people who harm others while under the influence of alcohol. alcohol should not be seen as viable defence in a court of law which at least here in QLD it appears to be these days =/
I binge drink on occaision (Not very often though). The thing is I still know not to get in a car or start a fight etc - sure your inhibitions may be lowered but being drunk is no excuse for poor decision making.
On a side note, there seems to be a lot of self righteous "You CAN have fun without alcohol" types around lately. Sure, but that doesnt mean I cant have fun WITH alcohol does it?
being a queenslander is a viable defence in queensland ;P
****ing cane toads *mumble* *mutter* ;P
Quote from Wrathlon;342172:
I binge drink on occaision (Not very often though). The thing is I still know not to get in a car or start a fight etc - sure your inhibitions may be lowered but being drunk is no excuse for poor decision making.
Now this is a prime example of someone who has his mind upright, even when things have gone upside down.
Good on ya Wrath, but just add to the list of things not to do (firearms, explosives, high voltage, heavy equipment/machinery and don't go swimming) while on alcohol.
oh i dont know about not swimming.. the Stoli Titanic at Silent's place a few years back was well worth it =)
hey pala, wasn't that the night you piffed tracy into the pool?.. after i set her on fire for taking my chair?
Quote from uber tard;342170:
you've never been drunk in your life? ok, replace the word 'everyone' with the phrase 'vast majority' =)
twice, but on neither occasion would i consider it to be 'binge' drinking. i definitely didn't write myself off, pass out, throw up, or any of the other actions i'd associate with binge drinking. neither was the intent on either occasion to actually get drunk.
first time i was nine, didnt appreciate the headache the next day. second time was 2 1/2 years ago when i was in perth for a week looking for somewhere to live. (note while i may not have thrown up on the night, the next day was a different matter. 8am flight back to darwin + 4 games of volleyball on arrival ftl)
Quote from Aegis;342180:
hey pala, wasn't that the night you piffed tracy into the pool?.. after i set her on fire for taking my chair?
i was stone cold sober when i did that :)
Quote from Wrathlon;342172:
I binge drink on occaision (Not very often though). The thing is I still know not to get in a car or start a fight etc - sure your inhibitions may be lowered but being drunk is no excuse for poor decision making.
Except for the fact that it reduces your decision making abilities and judgement :p
It really depends. If you're half pissed, sure, you should know better. But if you're dead set ****en skunked, you really aren't in control of your own actions.
That said, the penalties should still be massive, regardless.
but at some point you make the decision to drink to the point where you lose control - so inderectly you have still chosen to do whatever it is you've done while under the influence.
I'm 23 and I've prolly written myself completely off twice. Although by definition I used to bringe drink every, thursday, friday and sunday for about 4 years. I dont any more. Mainly because after my 22nd birthday I was so drunk from about 12 pints and 10 odd shooters. I was so embarrised in the morning that I didnt want to repeat that situation... Until my 23rd birthday when I was even worse :"(
I basically went through all of last year without getting shitfaced (minus my 22nd), and I was disapointed in my actions on my 23rd.
My problem are celebrations. When im drinking and someones says lets do shooters i don't say no... and when the night gets on i usualy increase the alcohol content in the shooter, from a transition from vodka to absienth...
and i think that is a problem when you go out anyhow. When you shout a round of drinks, do you look at yourself or one of your mates and say, hes prolly had enough for a while, how about you skip this round?
No. for one most drinking culture i would say is, "lets be the big man". "Lets keep up", "lets have a drinking competition to out drink each other". No ones wants to look weak when there out with there mates, even though its likely there mates wouldnt mind if they skip the round...
AA ----------------> that way!
I have no problem calling it from a drinking round when I know Im done. Its stupid to keep going. That said the few times I have written myself off I was so smashed I couldnt stand and my vision was a mash of blurred light patterns and not much else and even then I knew not to try and drive etc.
Gotta know ya limits, and help ppl if they dont know there own.
As to being weak its better then being in a corner cant talk and being drawn on.
Quote from psyave;342115:
its even worse to drive while high on weed.
no
In my opinion, alchohol is easily the most dangerous mainstream drug to drive while under the influence of, even over cocaine, speed, ecstasy and marijuana.
Quote:
psyave - its even worse to drive while high on weed.
Quote:
Evil @ngel - no
QLD uni did a report on it. I'll try dig it up when im back at uni.
Basically they found that driving while on weed people, although they went slower had no control over motor skills. So although they were doing 40km an hour, they would veer into the oncoming traffic lane, which was doing 70km and hour. resulting in a 110km/h crash.
On alcohol pepole had greater control of motor skills, but were far more likely to speed and run lights. So although they might be able to judge the on coming corner, they'd prolly try turn at 90km/h and crash as well.
And on both, I cant remember if they sped more or veered off more. but it was a combination of the both.
I have a feeling that some American uni did one on speed, but i havent read it yet.
hmm heres some discriptions on what different drugs do
Illegal drugs
Most people don't need to read descriptions on a road safety website to know what the effects are, and my opinion stands.
Quote from psyave;342222:
QLD uni did a report on it. I'll try dig it up when im back at uni.
university of queensland (UQ) or queensland university of technology (QUT)? there's no qld uni though i think uq may have been referred to as that aaaaages ago.
didnt know there were 2... i'd say university of queensland. They have a greater funding in biological/psycholigcal researched.
But but....
Digg - 8 Healthy Reasons To Drink Beer
Or....
[media]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4u89e_table-top-beer-taps_tech[/media]
Quote from psyave;342222:
QLD uni did a report on it. I'll try dig it up when im back at uni.
Basically they found that driving while on weed people, although they went slower had no control over motor skills. So although they were doing 40km an hour, they would veer into the oncoming traffic lane, which was doing 70km and hour. resulting in a 110km/h crash.
On alcohol pepole had greater control of motor skills, but were far more likely to speed and run lights. So although they might be able to judge the on coming corner, they'd prolly try turn at 90km/h and crash as well.
And on both, I cant remember if they sped more or veered off more. but it was a combination of the both.
I have a feeling that some American uni did one on speed, but i havent read it yet.
Yes and ill see your study with the one from England that showed there was negligible effect on driving skill whilst stoned. I have done both in the past (younger/stupider), driving high is far far safer, It makes you really really concentrate on what you are doing, unlike DUI.
Quote from OverG;342065:
[rant]
Increasing the price of alcohol won't curb binge drinking, nor raising the legal drinking age. The government just won't accept that social and economic pressure has a big hand in alcohol abuse.
But it'll raise tax revenue. They get to raise money while pretending to help society, what more could they want.