NationStates Jolt Archive


Prohibition?

New Obbhlia
25-04-2004, 21:01
I'd like to hear your views about prohibition?

Personally I don't think that one should drink, but the decision should be your's and noone elses'.
Colodia
25-04-2004, 21:02
One drink can lower your chances of a heart attack

Although an overdose is lethal

Just drink responsibly. If you don't, your problem
Spoffin
25-04-2004, 21:03
I'd like to hear your views about prohibition? Thats a question?

Prohibition not only is wrong, but it doesn't even work. So whats the point? Neither practically nor ideologically is it a good idea, so why would anyone want to do it?
Fynder
25-04-2004, 21:04
prohibition??? i think people should be forced to drink.... the alchohol industry needs all the help we can give it!!!
Berkylvania
25-04-2004, 21:05
Doesn't work any more than the fictional "War On Drugs" has rid our streets of illegal substances.
New Obbhlia
25-04-2004, 21:05
I'd like to hear your views about prohibition? Thats a question?

Prohibition not only is wrong, but it doesn't even work. So whats the point? Neither practically nor ideologically is it a good idea, so why would anyone want to do it?

Yeah, that's what I am tryn' to find out.
New Obbhlia
25-04-2004, 21:07
prohibition??? i think people should be forced to drink.... the alchohol industry needs all the help we can give it!!!

where do you live? :P
Anglo-Scandinavia
25-04-2004, 21:09
Moral and health arguments aside, the problem is that any prohibition is inherently unenforceable. Look at the "War on Drugs" in the US. The prisons are choked, money's being poured down the drain and yet its reasonably easy for a user to get a fix. If you outlaw alcohol, you immediately create another class of criminals. And another unregulated industry with all the health risks that entails. Imagine bathtub liquors being sold in speakeasies and people dropping dead if a batch is screwed up.

Besides that, there's the cultural factor. I'll only look at Western societies as I'm assuming the question posits a Western democracy banning alcohol (1). In most Western societies besides the US, alcohol is an integral part of the culture. In Britain, almost everyone participates in the social ritual of "having a pint down at the local" and the pubs are often valued social centres for the community (if I may put it cold bloodedly). On the continent, alcohol is in some ways even more integral a part of society with wine (in the South) and beer (in the North) being the traditional drinks.

Admittedly, in the US you don't really have much of a drinking culture but still prohibition wouldn't work for the reasons outlined in the first paragraph.

(1)Police states have it somewhat easier as you could theoretically shoot offenders and thereby wage a much more effective "War on <insert substance>"
Yes We Have No Bananas
26-04-2004, 10:20
The US tried it and it didn't work. I'd see it as an attack on personal freedoms. We could never have prohabition in Australia, it would cause a revoultion, the established order would be overthrown in the most violent of fashions. Alcohol was legal tender here way back the early days.

I agree, it's much like the "War on Drugs", unwinnable and pointless.
Deeloleo
26-04-2004, 10:33
Deeloleo
26-04-2004, 10:33
As much as it may seem to be prohibition of alcohol or any other substance people use to alter thier state of mind is not a question of morals. It is a question of by whom and how one would like the substances to be distributed. Noone is going to stop people from drinking or using any other drug. Prohibition simply forces the substance that is banned onto the blackmarket. This only stenghthens racketeers and reduces the quality, availibility and safety of the product while driving the price ridiculously high. The high price forces those who are addicted to the banned substance to commit crimes to get it. And that cycle goes on until those who banned the substance realise that they'd rather have the substance be legal than live with the gangsters.
Anglo-Scandinavia
26-04-2004, 10:47
As much as it may seem to be prohibition of alcohol or any other substance people use to alter thier state of mind is not a question of morals. It is a question of by whom and how one would like the substances to be distributed. Noone is going to stop people from drinking or using any other drug. Prohibition simply forces the substance that is banned onto the blackmarket. This only stenghthens racketeers and reduces the quality, availibility and safety of the product while driving the price ridiculously high. The high price forces those who are addicted to the banned substance to commit crimes to get it. And that cycle goes on until those who banned the substance realise that they'd rather have the substance be legal than live with the gangsters.

Exactly.
26-04-2004, 11:20
Same case with all drugs.
Monkeypimp
26-04-2004, 11:31
Homebrew :D
26-04-2004, 11:35
Or homegrown. :wink: