Poll: Should alcohol advertisement be banned?

[Dags90]

Alcohol is actually good for you in moderation, cigarettes are not.[footnote]http://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/cardiovascular/heart/alcohol-good-for-your-heart.htm[/footnote]

I doubt the major beer companies would object. The brands are ubiquitous, so they aren't really catching new customers, just trying to compete with the other companies' advertising. If they were banned they'd save all sort of advertising money (or simply redirect it elsewhere).

 

[VanTesla]

The difference between alcohol and tobacco is alcohol really only causes immediate physical harm if consumed in copious amounts (which the fine print of all liquor ads discourage). Tobacco causes harm for every cigarette you consume, whether you smoke 1 or 50 a day. When consumed in reasonable amounts and in responsible situations, alcohol is much safer than tobacco. Plus, there is no equivalent to "secondhand smoke" with alcohol.

I have a bone to pick with your reasoning here, Its a long bone, like a femur.

Spoiler

1 pint won't kill you. 1 cig wont kill you.
40 pints will fuck you up and likely kill you. 40 cigs will make you wheezy and have bad breath all night.
2 pints a day for a lifetime will make you fat and destroy your liver. 4-5 fags a day will give you skin problems and destroy your lungs.

What I'm saying is, in the short term, and in large quantities, alcohol is much more likely to kill you than cigs. However in the long term, and with regular consumption, they are both incredibly bad for you.

An example. I smoke between 4 and 15 cigs in a day, depending on what I'm doing, and I drink 2-3 times a week. I'm 21 and in mild health.
A friend of mine at uni doesn't smoke, but drinks between 2 and 10 pints a day, depending again on what he's doing. He's 22, in mild health but he is very overweight because of all the beer he drinks.

But I digress. I don't know where you are going with beer being safer than tobacco. It's not better for your health, and it certainly isn't better from a mental focus standpoint. Smoking does not remove you basic functions.

And lastly, you're right, you don't get secondhand smoke with alcohol. The effects of drinking on other people tends to be; getting sworn at, getting asked if you want to fight, getting killed by them as their car mounts the pavement and a myriad of other offensive, abusive and downright deadly behaviour.

Tl:dr
Alcohol and tobacco are just as poisonous as each other, no matter how much you have, and they are both dangerous to other people, but in different ways (see last paragraph under spoiler).

Like I said before I am talking more long term of effects than short term. I am not saying you have to be a alcoholic or every day constant drinker. Also alcohol is worse in short term when people are vulnerable (example is depression) and that one time could be fatal for you are not totaly in control of your actions. People drink mostly to dull pain of something that is bothering them, but in truth it only makes things worse (my opinion and belief). There are other ways to enjoy ones self and socialize.

If you are down you can talk to some one, if you have no one to talk to then try doing something you like. If all fails then try a out reach program.

 

[kloiberin_time]

1 pint won't kill you. 1 cig wont kill you.
40 pints will fuck you up and likely kill you. 40 cigs will make you wheezy and have bad breath all night.
2 pints a day for a lifetime will make you fat and destroy your liver. 4-5 fags a day will give you skin problems and destroy your lungs.

What I'm saying is, in the short term, and in large quantities, alcohol is much more likely to kill you than cigs. However in the long term, and with regular consumption, they are both incredibly bad for you.

An example. I smoke between 4 and 15 cigs in a day, depending on what I'm doing, and I drink 2-3 times a week. I'm 21 and in mild health.
A friend of mine at uni doesn't smoke, but drinks between 2 and 10 pints a day, depending again on what he's doing. He's 22, in mild health but he is very overweight because of all the beer he drinks.

But I digress. I don't know where you are going with beer being safer than tobacco. It's not better for your health, and it certainly isn't better from a mental focus standpoint. Smoking does not remove you basic functions.

And lastly, you're right, you don't get secondhand smoke with alcohol. The effects of drinking on other people tends to be; getting sworn at, getting asked if you want to fight, getting killed by them as their car mounts the pavement and a myriad of other offensive, abusive and downright deadly behaviour.

Did your friend magically become fat in the year he started drinking? Does he diet and exercise right and his only vice is drinking? Does no one in his family have a history of weight gain?

I myself am a fatass. My fatness comes from the fact that my diet consists of 3 meals of red meat a day, about 10 servings of dairy and my exercise routine involves walking to an elevator every hour or so and then pacing back and forth while I vengefully suck down a Camel light. It does not stem from the fact that I like to have a Knob Creek on the rocks when I get home.

 

[willsham45]

Smoking is sean as bad by a lot of loud people so it was banned.
Alcohol is sean as bad by a few quiet people it stays.
Although alcohol adverts are usually the more interesting ads, do you really want them to be banned and replaced with more what is on ads and stuff you will already buy ads

 

[SoopaSte123]

The difference is that alcohol ISN'T worse than tobacco. Having alcohol once a day will not give you cancer, nor is it near the same level of addictiveness. Some alcohol can even be GOOD for you once a day (wine)!

So no, it should not be banned. Besides, where would we be without awesome Superbowl beer ads? Or the real men of genius?

 

[Legend of J]

Should alcohol advertisement be banned? No I don't think it should just abit more tighter security on the actual purchase of alcohol itself. I mean I know people will binge drink..it happens I think most people will disagree with me but that's my opinion.

 

[Dingo John]

Why should alcohol advertisements be banned ? It's a product that we consumers buy, just lie anything else, and it's way more healthy than junk food, coca cola etc.

And if you are a convinced non-drinker, a commercial probably couldn't convince you to start drinking. If it could then you would suck at life.

Also I fucking love alcohol... To an extreme degree.

Mmmh beer...

 

[joshthor]

cigarette advertisements are boring, alchohol advertisements are funny. simple. bim bam done.

 

[xXGeckoXx]

I am of the opposite thinking as you. I think the tobacco laws have gotten absolutely rediculous.

I fully endorse putting bands in all alcohol advertisements.

For serious though, while I don't think drinking is really a good thing at all, most people in the U.S. would agree that a little social drink doesn't hurt anybody. With tobacco, there's a risk of harming yourself and others from the get-go.

At least that's how I see it.

It has actually been proven that in moderation red wine is actually good for you.

Come on jesus christ advertising is not that big of a deal. Why do they try to get rid of it so godamn much.

 

[TheEndlessSleep]

Anyone here from the UK remember the issues with Alcopops and underage drinking?

Remember the issues? They still happen...

 

[kloiberin_time]

First amendment gets overruled when it causes real harm. Also, I'm not American, so that leaves me unconvinced.

More people die from auto accidents, should be ban them? Heart related deaths are the biggest killer, should those go too? People die from skin cancer, should we ban advertisements for Orlando? Or beaches? What about Theme parks or sporting events?

Maybe something happened in your life involving alcohol. Maybe a parent or someone close has a problem? If so I am sorry and I hope they can get the help they need or if it is too late I hope they are at peace. Maybe it is because you are 19 and don't quite grasp the whole drinking thing.

You can't ban something that is legal because you personally feel that it is wrong. As many have pointed out, a little alcohol can be good for you. A lot, well then you start having problems.

The man that goes home after 8 hours and has a Bud Light is not slowly killing himself or putting people at risk like you think they are. The 24 year old coed that goes out on a Friday night and has a few Vodka and Cranberries but has a DD, takes a cab, or walks is not a blight on society.

And so you are not American, I still pity you if you think that banning something like Alcohol adverts will help your society, you obviously don't know the dangers of giving up your rights so you can sleep a little easier at night. There are people that are saying the same thing about Video Games, Movies, Music, Food, Books, etc. ad nauseum. What comes after alcohol?

 

[demoman_chaos]

I like alcohol commercials, they are some of the funniest ones. Especially during the Super Bowl.
I'd rather see tobacco commercials come back than anymore of those stupid arse Dairy Queen ones.

It has actually been proven that in moderation red wine is actually good for you.

Because its made from fruit. The fruit is what is good for you. Much better to just eat some fruit than have some wine.

 

[Idlemessiah]

Did your friend magically become fat in the year he started drinking? Does he diet and exercise right and his only vice is drinking? Does no one in his family have a history of weight gain?

I myself am a fatass. My fatness comes from the fact that my diet consists of 3 meals of red meat a day, about 10 servings of dairy and my exercise routine involves walking to an elevator every hour or so and then pacing back and forth while I vengefully suck down a Camel light. It does not stem from the fact that I like to have a Knob Creek on the rocks when I get home.

Ok I'll bite. I don't know if he got fat the year he started drinking, I've only known him for 3 years. And no, he has no other vices, doesn't smoke, doesn't toke, doesn't pop pills or snort. And he eats maybe 2 12 inch pizzas a week, and maybe a subway. In a WEEK, because he spends literally all of his money on beer. He even has to ask his parents for rent money some months. The beer is destroying him.

But I'm not saying everyone is like this. And tbh, bringing this back to the topic, if smoking is bad and is banned, so should alcohol. And if alcohol ads aren't banned then tobacco ads should be allowed back.
You know what, screw it. Ban all advertising, let people make their own minds up what to buy, whats good and bad for them and see what happens.
My bet, nothing changes.

 

[kloiberin_time]

Ok I'll bite. I don't know if he got fat the year he started drinking, I've only known him for 3 years. And no, he has no other vices, doesn't smoke, doesn't toke, doesn't pop pills or snort. And he eats maybe 2 12 inch pizzas a week, and maybe a subway. In a WEEK, because he spends literally all of his money on beer. He even has to ask his parents for rent money some months. The beer is destroying him.

But I'm not saying everyone is like this. And tbh, bringing this back to the topic, if smoking is bad and is banned, so should alcohol. And if alcohol ads aren't banned then tobacco ads should be allowed back.
You know what, screw it. Ban all advertising, let people make their own minds up what to buy, whats good and bad for them and see what happens.
My bet, nothing changes.

Your friend does have a problem. Sounds like a lot of people I knew in College. They grow out of it hopefully. If not they become Barney on the Simpsons except not lovable or funny. Also, your friend needs to learn how to drink more cheaply. Find a few bars that have well specials. A whiskey and 7 is never as expensive as a pint is when there is a special going on.

If we ban all advertising then we will not have any entertainment. No TV or Radio, they could never make money. No Film, word of mouth does not spread fast enough to get people out on opening weekend where they make the majority of their money. Video Games will face the same backlash. This site would be gone, they have to pay for hosting and bandwidth and content plus put a little coin in their pocket to live.

Adverts are annoying but necessary. An unfinished degree in Broadcasting can back this up for me.

 

[LitleWaffle]

Well I guess you could compare the two, saying that Tobacco has nicotine and Alcohol does not, while still both are bad for you.

Also, drinking isn't as addictive, and since most effects of alcohol affect you after a lot of use, it isn't absolutely dreadful.

Tobacco isn't really something you can have a tiny amount and not want more. Once you start, you'll keep going, making the bad effects more likely to happen.

You can be responsible to drink on occasion, but Tobacco doesn't really allow that for the general public, if you can do so anyways, congrats I guess.

 

[Idlemessiah]

Your friend does have a problem. Sounds like a lot of people I knew in College. They grow out of it hopefully. If not they become Barney on the Simpsons except not lovable or funny. Also, your friend needs to learn how to drink more cheaply. Find a few bars that have well specials. A whiskey and 7 is never as expensive as a pint is when there is a special going on.

If we ban all advertising then we will not have any entertainment. No TV or Radio, they could never make money. No Film, word of mouth does not spread fast enough to get people out on opening weekend where they make the majority of their money. Video Games will face the same backlash. This site would be gone, they have to pay for hosting and bandwidth and content plus put a little coin in their pocket to live.

Adverts are annoying but necessary. An unfinished degree in Broadcasting can back this up for me.

Yeah he has a problem alright. But the worst thing is, he does drink cheaply. He drinks in the student union, which is dirt cheap. He drinks Fosters and Carlsberg which is even worse.

And I agree with your points on advertising. Although even if the entire industry is destroyed and many other affected badly by it's absence, people will still do what the hell they like and drink, smoke, eat and buy crap they don't need until either they die, go broke or the world ends.

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

But then we would miss the only good commercials during the Superbowl...

Honestly, I could care less.

 

[USSR]

We banned cigarette advertisement in America. Why not alcohol?