Gambling and Smoking are bad but Alcohol is our friend?

[Jimbo92]

Recently all I’ve seen in the news is the governments concern with vaping, smoking and the dangers of gambling and its consequence. They spend so much time displaying morbid images on cigarette packets as well as constantly bombarding us with awareness surrounding online gambling etc. They’re bringing in laws to ban cigarettes and prohibit a certain age bracket from ever being able to purchase a pack. As well as a ban on disposable vapes.

On the other hand, you have celebs endorsing bottles of whiskey. As well as Chirpy, whacky and colourful adverts about the latest low calorie Strongbow.

Why is it that Alcohol always receives the free pass?? Especially considering that it’s normally the trigger for a lot of the addictions as well as the one's named above. Have you ever wondered why there’s always a bookies conveniently placed next to the local boozer??

What are all your thoughts on this?? I’d love to hear them.

[SoberDrunk1]

Think lot to do with revenue each items that brings in, in the form of taxes. Also the voice that is louder gets attention. My native place is Tamilnadu. Originally it was a dry state but around 1985 the government sensed the revenue that booze can bring in and they went wet. Today, its a massive percentage of revenue that the state goverment draws.

[HeavyFoot]

It is a lot to do with the huge tax revenues that booze brings in, but let’s not forget that tobacco used also to be a big money maker.

I think that the huge, obvious cost to health services of end-of-life treatment of smokers has been the impetus behind international squeezes on smoking.

The social costs of excessive drinking are only more gradually becoming apparent. Drink-driving laws are well established. The public is becoming more aware of city weekend drink fuelled violence, and of its role in domestic violence. Nevertheless alcohol consumption is deeply ingrained in our culture. Alcohol is the only drug you have to have an excuse not to take. And we are bombarded by celebrity-endorsed advertising for the stuff, countless TV and press articles on it, especially on the lead up to Christmas.

In our culture, alcohol imbibing is still the norm and I suspect will be for the foreseeable future.

[Jimbo92 in reply to HeavyFoot]

.Tale as old as time, profit over people. Personally think alcoholism has gotten worse after Covid and the lockdowns. People can’t afford to go out so they drink indoors.

And yes, spot on. As I’ve posted in the group before. My struggle with alcohol and going out at the weekend is normally due to the fact that most of my peers and people I know are drinkers. You become the edgy, strange one that doesn’t want a drink. It’s almost surreal and alien to these people that you’d refuse a pint. If you choose something else to fill your time, going the gym, going for a walk or just anything else that doesn’t involve ale. Then you’re obsessed with fitness or whatever you’ve gotten into and you “need a blowout” and to enjoy yourself 🤣🤦‍♂️ Downing 8 pints and eating shite when you get home is normal but looking after your body isn’t. So yeah, you’re so right. It is very deeply engrained!

[YNWA68 in reply to Jimbo92]

I have found that the more I positively change my lifestyle then my friendship groups have also changed which re enforces the direction I want to continue.

My new normal is far healthier it’s not consumed with conversations of how hammered we were and how rough we all feel and what a great night we had and what a great laugh it was?!?! Really was it!!

My normal is now real! It’s not false. My laughter is all mine it’s not fuelled by the effects of alcohol.

[Jimbo92 in reply to YNWA68]

Yeah you’re right. It’s the fear of all that change that stops a lot of people though. Becoming a social leopar. But in my mind, if your mates don’t invite you out cos you don’t drink anymore then you’ve already got your answer.

Tbh I think if everyone did a moth sober they’d see just how ridiculous and boring these People sound. It shocked me when I’d go the pub, they’d just get louder and louder and the conversations just repeated themselves. It was all rubbish and I just wanted to go home. And I’d think, Jesus is that what I sound like every weekend?!

[YNWA68 in reply to Jimbo92]

I totally agree Jimbo. It is a lot different for me because I’m 55yrs so it’s also been a natural progression throughout my life. I just couldn’t sustain the boozy weekends and participate in the outdoor lifestyle that gives me so much pleasure. I see the friends I used to knock about with and yes they are doing exactly the same thing every weekend and if they’re happy then fair play. It just isn’t for me anymore.

Be your own person Jimbo and be comfortable in your own skin. I’ve learned to like myself again but it’s been a difficult journey.

🤜 🤛

[LilyAnnepuppy Ambassador]

I have an addictive personality. If something makes me feel good, I want more. Everything is okay in moderation. There are a lot of social drinkers out there. I’m not one of them. I’m not a social smoker either (if there is such a thing). Spending time fighting the system is useless for me. It is what it is.

[Jimbo92 in reply to LilyAnnepuppy]

As I’ve said before, I don’t believe in addictive personalities. I think it’s a more complex issue than that. Theres also recent studies that back that up. Alcohol is a drug at the end of the day, anyone can become a victim. There’s loads of different factors and circumstances that come into play.

We don’t say cocaine or heroin is okay in moderation. The only difference is that alcohol is revelled in society whereas other drugs are vilified and seen as criminal.

[LilyAnnepuppy Ambassador in reply to Jimbo92]

Thank you for sharing your opinions

[FatOldMan in reply to LilyAnnepuppy]

I totally agree, I believe that I also have an addictive personality.

I used to smoke 40+ cigarettes a day. I couldn't just have the occasional one after a meal etc.

I could suddenly taste food properly when I stopped smoking so I started eating constantly until I became the obese lump that I am today and I find it very difficult to stick to any weight loss diet.

I cannot indulge in any gambling because once I start I find it very difficult to stop and just keep throwing good money after bad.

Then of course there is the reason for my being here, my drug of choice, booze. I believe it is my inability to control my cravings that make me keep on drinking.

So yes, I would say that I have an addictive personality.

[Isinatra in reply to FatOldMan]

Keep me away from credit cards, casinos, narcotics, carbs. Hold me back from spending too much time online and oops…I almost forgot 🥴 ALCOHOL!

[Isinatra]

Follow the money trail, my friend…..