A fix on every corner - 'The Australian'

[Jordan`]

Don't want to jump on the bandwagon but seriously nice article very well written.

 

[Jordan`]

I can appreciate how the article juxtaposes illegal drug users and dealers with bar attendants and the bar itself, but i think the opening statement is a bit extreme.

it sort of suggests that, only on the weekends, and for no reason at all, anyone with a drug adiction will take to the streets in a violent bloodlust and bash both passerby's, eachother, and even police. that just seems a little silly to me

I thought he used the word drug as a broad term for any substance. He then describes this drug addiction and violence in the next paragraphs particularly with respect to alcohol.

EVERY weekend, in any number of Australian cities, addicts pour onto the streets from the premises of their drug dealers to perpetrate violence upon each other, hapless passers-by and the police.

The premises I thought referred to the alcohol serving venues, and the addicts being the people who frequently visit these places.

It may just be me but the way this article is written I think switches the common assumption that EVERY illicit drug user is an addict and junkie and transfers that assumption to people who drink alcohol. I'm really not used to reading articles like this so I'm quite dazed at the moment

 

[Exjunkie07]

I would have to agree, that the main cause to violence we have all been unfortunate to witness on our streets at some time or another, is not purely drug related as most media would like to blame.

Mix alcohol and drugs in some of these young binge drinking teens that are unable to handle their drugs or grog, and we have our average patron in Newcastle. The guys that want to fight over the girls that are in the garden vomiting. While one of their friends has had a bad pill and is on their way to the hospital to take up a much need bed, for a more deserving person, its a disgusting sight.

Alcohol related crime in Newcastle may be down 37% in their statistics, but I can guarantee that there is a lot that doesnt get reported. In Newcastle there is a level system in place and all venues have a 1.30am lock out. If your venue is placed on level 1 restrictions, its due to the fact that the police have attended to too many alcohol related incidents.

So to avoid these restrictions most licensees of the venues advise Security staff not to call the police, without asking the manager on duty's permission. Now the last time I looked at the majority of Security Guards, they were either the kid that got beaten up at school, or some fat dude that cant run 4 steps.

Not to mention the fact that the hotel's main aim in to make as much profit on a weekend to make up for the slow week, or the times that they are closed.

In doing this bar staff will not refuse service to an intoxicated patron, and when the venue closes they are all pushed out on the streets, in most cases leaving them locked out of all venues, creating a irate intoxicated patron, that decides to vent their frustrations on the next person that looks at them the wrong way, or the Security guard that refuses them entry to the next venue they try to enter.

The police need to start and enforce their policies and start fining the venues, maybe then they will responsibly serve the patrons. I do agree with the lock out system but then I don't see the need for venues to be open till 4am either, why not look at raising the drinking age to 21. Legalising drugs will not solve everything, but there are some drugs that should be legalised, considering the drug company's make most of them, and expect us to feed them to our children.

 

[DavisK4high247]

Nice article compared to the usuall media bullshit.Better for booze to be illegal and marijuna made legal and sold in stores like alcohol is.This would create a black market for alcohol ,but it would not be 1/2 as bad as the Prohibition on drugs,plus a lotta people who smoke weed would not be in jail..

 

[hyroller]

I wish beer was in any way comparable to hard drugs....

 

[acidprime]

blackmarket for alcohol would be massive.

Consider this,

You can buy yeast and nutrients, sugar and water, mix together .. makes about 20% alcohol in 23litres over about 5 - 6 days fermenting at a cost of $25~

A decent still will output 94% alcohol... so get about 4litres of 94% from that 23litre ferment, and get that in under a week.


This is what would happen if alcohol was banned out right, it would be far worse than meth manufacturing in terms of social damage and obviously even worse than the current state of alcohol control.

 

[TripppAR]

Ego's are through the roof these days..so most don't ever (or even think) they have a problem with alcohol!


Alcohol makes me angry, so i don't drink in excess! Period.


I hate the man i become.. so i avoid it and stick with substances better suited to my chemical make up!


But there are alot of people that think your the scum of the earth for using "drugs" ... but then will go and get SMASHED as a fucking tin can every weekend on there lovely alcohol!

Its sad.. and gettng gradually worse. The stuff they put in booze... gawd.. You don't wanna know.

 

[puckboy]

I thought it was a very well written article, by a respected journalist/opinion columnist in Phillip Adams. So hopefully it does change the thinking or atleast challenge the thinking of some people. I don't think he is saying alcohol should be made illegal, not at all, he's trying to prove a point in a way that the majority of people will understand, IMO atleast.

I have similar issues with alcohol, TrippAR, I hate the person I become when I drink to excess, yet I drink most days of the week

I'm glad most of you enjoyed the read

 

[Divine Moments]

Thanks for posting

I thought it was a very well written article, by a respected journalist/opinion columnist in Phillip Adams. So hopefully it does change the thinking or atleast challenge the thinking of some people. I don't think he is saying alcohol should be made illegal, not at all, he's trying to prove a point in a way that the majority of people will understand, IMO atleast.

I always wonder the sort of ratios between people who are open to these ideas, people who are undecided or easily convinced, and people who are firmly against them. From my day to day experience I fear the latter category is rather large

 

[puckboy]

^
True, though if the people who believe that something needs a drastic change (the 'war on drugs' etc) are cynical about the issue then it's hardly going to change is it? Don't get me wrong, I'm a pretty cynical person myself when it comes to things like this. But I'm trying hard not to be like that.

Conan O'Brien said something very true IMO in his last late night show.

"I hate cynicism. It's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen."

And I believe that too.

 

[TripppAR]

"But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen."


Sadly this ain't how the world works... he sold his soul to get his current position. It WAS NOT from being nice, mate..

Its all an illusion.

Sorry for the negativity. But the world ain't all peachy like conan wants you to think..(Use the word think lightly)

 

[Jakeperson]

I just caught you out on negativity in another thread.

"Be the change that you want to see in the world."

 

[sir pacman]

Very refreshing article.

 

[Lovegrud]

This article is awesome, it's good to see an article going against the mainstream media views and pointing out the ridiculous double standards.

 

[internettoughguy]

This article is awesome, it's good to see an article going against the mainstream media views and pointing out the ridiculous double standards.

This a million times over, bravo for Mr Adams having the balls to write it and post it. Let's just hope it inspires other writers to copy him to help make the difference!

 

[CartoonHead]

I wish beer was in any way comparable to hard drugs....

You know for a lot of people it really is comparable...

Mind you it would be nice to have a "meth shop" in bottle shop style, with many different varieties of gear sold, so we could sample all the different end results from different cooking processes, different areas and the like....mmm...

Haha actually this would probably be a terrible idea.

But amazing for the 1st year or so, until we were completely fried.

 

[static_mind]

Its a good artical but I don't know if it really helps our cause. Its kinda "How come our drugs are illegal when booze is legal and is so bad?"

The conservitive people out there I think would sooner put harsher laws against booze.

 

[chugs]

With the Greens holding the balance of power lets hope that they move on their long held drug and alcohol policies.

I do see the writing is on the all for the multi-national brewers. As was the case with cigarettes there will be a long and drawn out battle as we strengthen control (but never make illegal) on these substances. Certainly there has been much from the academics as of late about the effects of alcohol on our society.

 

[footscrazy]

Great article, it sucked me in and I did a double take when I got half way down. Change will be really slow but at least there is change, at least a different opinion is getting coverage in the media, which encourages people to think. This at least gives those people with an ambivalent attitude something else to consider, rather than just accepting the status quo. There's so many issues out there that unless you have a personal interest or experience, people wont really question the mainstream view. Articles like this can change that.

Mind you it would be nice to have a "meth shop" in bottle shop style, with many different varieties of gear sold, so we could sample all the different end results from different cooking processes, different areas and the like....mmm...

Haha I think about this sometimes, like if it was normal to have puff breaks at work or if the no smoking sign was a crackie instead of a ciggie...

 

[WordUp]

Spot on