What's with all the drinking?

[Inverse Skies]

I woud have thought it was more export based. Seeing as the western culture can't really make a tobacco industry (I beleive there are no tobacco farms in the Uk) Some countries rely on exporting alcohol, Say Scotch from...Scotland..

Maybe that might be true. Australia exports a lot of wine that's for sure, not so much beer or spirits, but definitely a lot of wine. It still boils down to the same thing in the end, money. That's really the mitigating factor you have to look at here.

 

[Epicurus]

The real reason for a lack of tobacco advertising in Australia, at least, is due to the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act of 1992 which bans companies from advertising tobacco products in any form (TV, Radio, Newspapers, Magazines, etc) and also bans them from sponsoring any sporting organizations or cultural events.

 

[Video Gone]

Even though I'm in Ireland, and from Ireland, I will contribute.

Smoking is by far worse for you than drinking, but the lowering drinking age thing could be tricky. I mean sure, you could lower the age for, say, beer and the like, but the really intoxicating stuff would have to be kept back in my opinion. It's complicated, and not as easy as some would think.

 

[Video Gone]

Smoking does not HAVE to be excessive, which is what you all apparently assume (and which is what has been rammed down our throats for a decade or two).

I agree completely. While I don't smoke cigarettes, I am a cigar smoker. However, I only do so on occasion and yet I still get people I know (and some I don't, which I find is considerably more rude) telling me I'm killing myself and those around me. Having this information stated towards me provokes only one response in my mind "WHAT. I'm the one sitting outside the bar in the cold, because I can't smoke my expensive cigar inside the same establishment that I bought it from due to government regulations, and you presume to tell me that I'm a problem, especially when you're chugging down vodka raspberries three at a time?" If I agree to segregate myself due to my "filthy" habit, then I at least deserve the respect to be left in peace.

I agree with you, although you seem to have a cynical attitude towards some alcohol.
But that's fine. I hate vodka. But not Heiniken beer. Or wine. Or some types of stout.
Sue me.

EDIT: Vodka on it's own that is, and some mixed varieties.
Although I do like Vespers.

 

[Kuhly]

Its all down to cost to the government. It's costing the government millions to care for people with smoking related disease because it usually takes years for these people to die from the disease whereas drinking related incidents usually kill off the person in a shorter time

 

[DemonicVixen]

NO! The drinking age is fine at 18 and over. I had a young teenager online yesterday after a party bragging about how many girls he shagged e.t.c. He was also being very rude and obnoxious. They do not know how to handle the alcohol intake and I am pretty sure it will affect their school work also.

 

[murphy7801]

Meh in the UK the law is 18 but theres loads underage drinking but to quote an american " You brits drink like we eat you've got go long way to be alcoholic in the UK".

 

[iJosh]

You're probably like 15 and having the urge to get drunk all the time and fulfilling you're stereotype of being stupid. "Alcohal"

Haha, I think in the U.S they should raise it to 28 at least.

 

[Xan Krieger]

On the subject of smoking I recall smoking outside a restaurant located right next to a major highway. Naturally some idiot told me to stop. My thought was the smoke I was inhaling was at least a little bit cleaner next to all the car exhaust coming from the highway. I smoked for 2 years and took a breathing test. My score was 112% which means I can breathe 12% better then the average person of my height and weight. Also I have been exposed to second hand smoke from my mother for as long as I can remember. Shouldn't I breathe less efficiently then the average person, not 12% better?

I am against all the anti-smoking advertizements because since the smoking age is lower it only makes sense for them to be able to advertize. Another thing I want is to see cigarettes in movies. In a movie that takes place even in modern times between aliens and humans or some kind of huge war I expect to see smoking because cigs can be portable stress relief. Hell, back in WW2 cigs were standard issue to soldiers.

 

[Epicurus]

I agree with you, although you seem to have a cynical attitude towards some alcohol.
But that's fine. I hate vodka. But not Heiniken beer. Or wine. Or some types of stout.
Sue me.

I'm a social drinker myself, I enjoy the occasional beer, stout (I enjoy Guinness), glass of wine or even a scotch. I was rather getting at the fact that people throwing down cheap mixed spirits haven't a right to berate me on my cigar smoking when they are clearly doing more damage to themselves than I.

Also:

fulfilling you're stereotype of being stupid.

The delicious irony.

 

[CouchCommando]

I'm probably biased but I don't like alcohol been consumed by anyone full stop, I've got personal issues with alcoholism in society. Especially in poor communities.

 

[GrinningManiac]

We have a big anti-drinking campaign in Britain, because we have a larger Binge Drinking culture than america.

There's one type of the antidrink adverts I like, where a woman dresses up all nice, then breaks a heel, hits her head against the wall, tears her dress and vomits in the toilet before going out.

"You wouldn't start an evening like this, so why end it like this?"

Quite clever. Sadly, I know a few binge-drinking types, and they just yell "Rubbish" at the telly when it comes on, with no actual reasoning as to why the advert's not right

 

[Aunel]

Drinking is seen as something everyone just does. So when someone drinks a little bit to much(wich happens quite easily)nobody really sees the problem.

But when you get drunk every weekend it is a problem. And a lot of todays youth gets drunk every weekend. In my country there are dozens of alcoholic beverages marketed towards kids. These so called breezers have a sweet taste and are in colourful bottles that 13-year-olds will easily pond down before they realize how drunk and sick they've become.

You see, when you're drunk, you are sick from alcohol. That's why you're throwing it up.

let me guess you live in Holland?
and yes, alcohol is really part of our culture, and it is expected of 15 year olds to get drunk in pubs.

 

[El Poncho]

Alcohol won't effect the people around you(unless you start fights and all that but that can be prevented) where as when you smoke people would need to breath in the smoke.

 

[mokes310]

You always see the anti-cigarrette commercials, but why is a substance that requires a higher age to purchase (in the U.S.) allowed to have commercials free on tv. I know there are "Please Drink Responsibly" things, but really? Is it because alchohal is just so intertwined with our culture? I actually believe in a lower drinking age in the US. Your Thoughts?

Take a peek at who funds the organizations like "Truth" and other non-smoking organizations. You'll be delightfully surprised to see who is on their sponsorship lists.

 

[Ekonk]

Drinking is seen as something everyone just does. So when someone drinks a little bit to much(wich happens quite easily)nobody really sees the problem.

But when you get drunk every weekend it is a problem. And a lot of todays youth gets drunk every weekend. In my country there are dozens of alcoholic beverages marketed towards kids. These so called breezers have a sweet taste and are in colourful bottles that 13-year-olds will easily pond down before they realize how drunk and sick they've become.

You see, when you're drunk, you are sick from alcohol. That's why you're throwing it up.

let me guess you live in Holland?
and yes, alcohol is really part of our culture, and it is expected of 15 year olds to get drunk in pubs.

This. It's quite odd over here, kids get drunk A LOT.

One might even note the existance of 'breezersletjes', or breezersluts, who will actually debase themselves for a breezer. Don't know if these people actually exist, but the story exists, and it wouldn't surprise me.

As for myself, I enjoy a good night of loud music and intoxication, but not too often. Also; throwing up is not part of the deal.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

You're probably like 15 and having the urge to get drunk all the time and fulfilling you're stereotype of being stupid. "Alcohal"

Haha, I think in the U.S they should raise it to 28 at least.

You sound 15 yourself to be honest. It's incredibly naieve of you to think that people don't just get it illegaly.

Also:

fulfilling you're stereotype of being stupid.

The delicious irony.