Thread

1. alexandre_m · 1790644533 · focus · HN ↗

   > while young people are drinking less alcohol due to health and financial concerns

   My observation is that gen-z spends less time socializing in real life, and drinking remains a social habit for the most part at a younger age. While they drink less, cannabis, vaping and psychedelics are on the rise.

   It's a nice claim to say they are more responsible, but it tells an incomplete story.

   1. 1-6 · 1790645754 · focus · HN ↗

      I may be old-fashioned but the substitute mind-altering drugs you're mentioning does not sound like a more responsible pathway.

      1. asa123 · 1790646980 · focus · HN ↗

         it's really not

         looking from the tail end of the generation, many of my friends ( and also I ) were led to believe somehow that things like marijuana, psychedelics, non-Alcohol have such low consequences that are entirely a rounding error compared to alcohol. which is ...

         1. superkuh · 1790647395 · focus · HN ↗

            Indeed. Alcohol is so much more dangerous and damaging to peoples lives and the lives of those around them that it doesn't even compare. Alcohol would never be legal if discovered today. Compared to alcohol the risks of cannabis are a rounding error.

            But that's only because alcohol is so incredibly dangerous. There is real risk with inhaling particulates and burning gases into your lungs. And it should not be ignored. It's just that compared to the lives ended by alcohol it is a rounding error and that makes it seem safe. Neither are.

            1. djtango · 1790648307 · focus · HN ↗

               Alcohol is deeply deeply ingrained in society. (Almost) universally. It has been for thousands of years. I just don't think you can extricate history and culture from how we set policy and views on alcohol.

               While it may be rational to try to lump it with other newer dangerous substances, removing alcohol from humanity would be full on cultural erasure for many places. Not to mention to total destruction of entire industries that people's livelihoods depend on.

               I guess a way to think of it is - if it was part of culture for 1000s of years it'll probably take at least 100s of years to phase out.

               1. superkuh · 1790648564 · focus · HN ↗

                  I agree. Individuals have the right to chose to damage their bodies if they wish. And laws already exist covering hurting other people while irresponsibly intoxicated. I see no reason to try to use state violence to prevent people from hurting themselves. This doesn't change that alcohol is a poison and seriously incapacitating compared to say, cannabis/THC.

                  1. landdate · 1790651382 · focus · HN ↗

                     No they don't. unless you think health care should be singularly the responsibility of the individual and we have no responsibility for caring for the sick or seriously injured even if they have lack the financial resources to cover expenses.

                     1. sampullman · 1790658951 · focus · HN ↗

                        That's a very slippery slope. What are you going to ban next, extreme sports? Running too fast? Eating french fries?

                        1. landdate · 1790751428 · focus · HN ↗

                           All these poisonous foods should be banned yes. The biggest killler in the US is obesity and we are here talking about individual rights. 1/3 of people aee obese, 2/3 are overweight, I am all for individual liberties but when you have this deadly of an epidiemic I become a lot more practical than idealistic.

                           Rest of your comment is asinine and I won't bother to consider.

                           1. sampullman · 1790965879 · focus · HN ↗

                              It is at most as asinine as your comment.

                              We could start trying to solve obesity through education and perhaps limiting advertising/marketing, rather than jumping to the massive of erosion of individual rights that you suggest.

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