What's with all the drinking?

[Numb1lp]

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?

 

[Inverse Skies]

Sponsorship. It's all about money and sponsorship. It's why alcoholic drinks like Carlton Draught sponsor the football here in Australia and get a lot of advertising time because of it - money.

 

[johnman]

Because a few drinks everynow and again wont kill you like smoking will. Alcohol can be good for you in moderation, smoking never is, thought over the past few days I have done to much of both.

 

[Ciarang]

It's the opposite here.

I can't remember the last time I saw an anti-smoking advert.
But I'm pretty sure I've seen an anti-drinking advert not too long ago.

 

[SomethingUnrelated]

Smoking is more dangerous than drinking, and drinking is more socially acceptable.

 

[Simalacrum]

probably because smoking is a much more lethal thing than drinking is. We see anti-drinking ads here in the UK (as well as anti-smoking and anti-drug... plus encouraging healthy eating/excersise more recently...), though their more geared towards anti-drink-driving rather than alcohol itself a lot of the time.

 

[Captain Pancake]

It's because the majority of people, even politicians, enjoy alcohol. And it's not nearly as addictive, and has no lasting effects if drank responsibly.

 

[rokkolpo]

i don,t really care you can drive at 16.

why whine about drinking.

in holland it,s the opposite drinking at 16 driving at 18 you have it better.
(although we have legalised drugs)

 

[-Orgasmatron-]

I think it's because cigarettes kill you alot faster and are much more addictive.

 

[annoyinglizardvoice]

There's no such thing as passive drinking.
Small amounts of alcohol can be good for you.
Your liver is much more resilient than your lungs.
I takes a lot more booze to make you smell bad than it does fags (Brit usage)

 

[-Orgasmatron-]

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?

I believe in lowering the smoking age but there would be too many opposers.

How come? Didn't it just get raised in Ireland like last year?

I have no problem with the smoking age now, since I grew a beard I can get served for anything anywhere.

I always thought the US drinking age was odd. I think they should restrict the advertisement of both, not that it will do anything.

The idea of banning adverts for booze makes no sense, I've never saw a Carling advert and thought 'Well, best go out right now, get wasted and participate in some football violence', although I might think 'Hmm, I might try some Carling this weekend instead of Stella'.

What I'm saying is, booze adverts aren't aimed at people who don't drink, they're aimed at people who do drink but aren't sure what they feel like drinking that weekend, so banning them would just leave us with really long ques at bars and off-licenses made up of thirsty, confused and indecisive blokes.

 

[Casual Shinji]

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.

 

[thepj]

Smoking is more dangerous than drinking, and drinking is more socially acceptable.

this, [thread/

 

[Epicurus]

Because drinking excruciatingly expensive wine is classy. You cannot be sufficiently classy unless you are inebriated on only the most expensive of alcoholic beverages. Pass the volovons.

 

[MasterLu]

Oh come on people... THIS is the reason there is no smoking in games: you have apparently all bought the 'smoking will kill you indiscriminately'-bullsh*t.

Don't misunderstand me now: I know smoking is unhealthy and has a great number of adverse effects, most of them long-term, but so does alcohol. Just as with smoking, the problems are caused by excessive drinking, not because you have a beer before you go to bed or the occasional drinking binge a few times a year. 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).

Doctors will tell you that the occasional cigarette, while not healthy in any way, is not going to KILL you. Just like having a glass of wine with your dinner isn't going to cause your liver to die.

Again, I'm not saying you should smoke or drink or that it's not bad for you, I'm just saying that you need to at least THINK about what kind of propaganda you are repeating. THAT is the reason there is drinking but not smoking in games and popular culture in general. Put things into perspective instead of mindlessly reciting what you've been told.

/rant
EDIT: some ranting made less ranty.

 

[Epicurus]

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.