for those of you who dont like alcohol...

[nephil]

In the great pantheon of drug use, I place drunks right between the glue-sniffers and the crackheads in respectability. Why is alchol legal when most other things aren't? Because white middle-class Christians drink, as opposed to the dirty chinese with their opium, the crazy mexicans with their marijuana, the damn Hippies with their LSD, etc. Drugs are illegal because white christians associated them with 'socially undesirable' groups. (It's been argued that the US only passed alcohol prohibition because the Protestants saw it as a way to morally condemn the hard-drinking Catholics.)

In other words, racists and bigots created prohibition.

I think the US needs a 'coming out' day for drug users. One day a year where we could throw a little parade, knock on the neighbor's door and say 'Hi, I sometimes use illegal drugs, and I work hard, pay my taxes, and have never once sacrificed a cat to Satan. We are normal, responsible, productive people just like you.'

very well said!

 

[CrazyKix]

In my opinion, drunk people create the amusement and the stoners just sit back and laugh at them. It was just a random thought I had one day when I was really stoned one day and watched a bunch of my drunk friends make assholes out of themselves. It doesn't necessarily apply to every time, but certainly a few.

 

[tooky]

I'm frankly amazed at a lot of what I've read here. People saying that alcohol should be illegal because some people take too much and act stupid. Come on this is Bluelight, I thought everyone on here was forward thinking and understood that you can't blame a drug for the actions of its users. Just because people take it too far with alcohol, don't drink responsibly, that's no reason to demonise alcohol, just the wankers spoiling everyone else's night.

There's plenty of people who fuck up on other drugs, do stupid things on other drugs, and generally give those drugs a bad name. But that's one of the aims of BL, isn't it? To promote responsible use, so that the powers that be have less ammunition to use against our drugs.

Lets rise above this petty my drugs are better than your drugs bullshit.

 

[hoptis]

Since I started taking drugs I've become a bit of drug elitist. I've never liked drunks and associate alcohol with aggresive, rude and thoughtless behaviour. I do have one or two beers with friends (always light beers) if I'm at a pub, but if it's a club I'd prefer to do a line of speed than drink.

Finances and brain cells permitting, I would always choose an illicit drug over alcohol.

There's a great song by The Streets called 'The Irony Of It All' about this exact topic. You really should fire up Kazaa and have a listen.

The Irony Of It All
The Streets

Hello, Hello. My names Terry and I'm a law abider
There's nothing I like more than getting fired up on beer
And when the weekends here I exercise my right to get paralytic and fight
Good bloke fairly
But I get well lairy when geezers look at me funny
Bounce 'em round like bunnies
I'm likely to cause mischief
Good clean grief you must believe and I ain't no thief.
Law abiding and all, all legal.
And who cares about my liver when it feels good
What you need is some real manhood.
Rasher Rasher Barney and Kasha putting peoples backs up.
Public disorder, I'll give you public disorder.
I down eight pints and run all over the place
Spit in the face of an officer
See if that bothers you cause I never broke a law in my life
Someday I'm gonna settle down with a wife
Come on lads lets have another fight

Eh hello. My names Tim and I'm a criminal,
In the eyes of society I need to be in jail
For the choice of herbs I inhale.
This ain't no wholesale operation
Just a few eighths and some Playstation 's my vocation
I pose a threat to the nation
And down the station the police hold no patience
Let's talk space and time
I like to get deep sometimes and think about Einstein
And Carl Jung And old Kung Fu movies I like to see
Pass the hydrator please
Yeah I'm floating on thin air.
Going to Amsterdam in the New Year - top gear there
Cause I take pride in my hobby
Home made bongs using my engineering degree
Dear Leaders, please legalise weed for these reasons.

Like I was saying to him.
I told him: "Top with me and you won't leave."
So I smacked him in the head and downed another Carling
Bada Bada Bing for the lad's night.
Mad fight, his face's a sad sight.
Vodka and Snake Bite.
Going on like a right geez, he's a twat,
Shouldn't have looked at me like that.
Anyway I'm an upstanding citizen
If a war came along I'd be on the front line with em.
Can't stand crime either them hooligans on heroin.
Drugs and criminals those thugs on the penny coloured will be the downfall of society
I've got all the anger pent up inside of me.

You know I don't see why I should be the criminal
How can something with no recorded fatalities be illegal
And how many deaths are there per year from alcohol
I just completed Gran Tourismo on the hardest setting
We pose no threat on my settee
Ooh the pizza's here will someone let him in please
"We didn't order chicken, Not a problem we'll pick it out"
I doubt they meant to mess us about
After all we're all adults not louts.
As I was saying, we're friendly peaceful people
We're not the ones out there causing trouble.
We just sit in this hazy bubble with our quarters
Discussing how beautiful Gail Porter is.
MTV, BBC 2, Channel 4 is on until six in the morning.
Then at six in the morning the sun dawns and it's my bedtime.

Causing trouble, your stinking rabble
Boys saying I'm the lad who's spoiling it
You're on drugs it really bugs me when people try and tell me I'm a thug
Just for getting drunk
I like getting drunk
Cause I'm an upstanding citizen
If a war came along I'd be on the front line with em.

Now Terry you're repeating yourself
But that's okay drunk people can't help that.
A chemical reaction happening inside your brain causes you to forget what you're saying.

What. I know exactly what I'm saying
I'm perfectly sane
You stinking student lameo
Go get a job and stop robbing us of our taxes.

Err, well actually according to research
Government funding for further education pales in insignificance
When compared to how much they spend on repairing
Leery drunk people at the weekend
In casualty wards all over the land.

Why you cheeky little swine come here
I'm gonna batter you. Come here.

I don't think there's anything wrong with alcohol as a drug, but the fact that it's legal means that most people never give much thought to doing it in excess or even show any caution about how they use it.

 

[tooky]

so the solution is to educate users and not ban it, like pretty much all drugs!

 

[nephil]

I'm frankly amazed at a lot of what I've read here. People saying that alcohol should be illegal because some people take too much and act stupid. Come on this is Bluelight, I thought everyone on here was forward thinking and understood that you can't blame a drug for the actions of its users. Just because people take it too far with alcohol, don't drink responsibly, that's no reason to demonise alcohol, just the wankers spoiling everyone else's night.

There's plenty of people who fuck up on other drugs, do stupid things on other drugs, and generally give those drugs a bad name. But that's one of the aims of BL, isn't it? To promote responsible use, so that the powers that be have less ammunition to use against our drugs.

Lets rise above this petty my drugs are better than your drugs bullshit.

its definitely not about my drug being better than yours...its about the way i see alcohol.

I have no interest in being elite here...im stating the facts. In my eyes...drunk people do things and act in a certain way that makes them undesireable for me to be around. There are other drugs out there that create that effect, but they are not socially acceptable or even legal for that matter.

Alcohol destroys a person. Physically, mentally, physiologically, socially, emotionally...definitely way more than a bowl a day or hell even a hit of acid once or twice a year. Alcohol does not belong in the body. But, in order to intoxicate someone alcohol must sit in the liver and wait to be metabolized...while its sitting there it is eating away at the tissue...destroying your liver... yes even in one night. Drunk = intoxicated = filled with toxins

getting drunk eats your life...its poison. And even for those that binge drink ...the "i only drink like once a week but get WASTED" type...you are doing more harm to your body than a person who drinks daily. Im not preaching...sensible consumption of a beer or a glass of wine a day is not what im talking about either...im talking about drinking to get drunk...its repulsive

I also know of many many people who get drunk "only socially" and think its ok. Well...they do it 4 nights a week...they can't function "socially" when they aren't drinking. They are moody, sad, tired...just not the kind of person i like to be around.

this is not a personal attack on anyone, I am not trying to be elite...they are all "drugs" and they all have their good and bad points...but alcohol to me is the exception. In my opinion it has no good side. It is a legal "drug" that is controllable by the government so there fore it is "ok" in the eyes of the law and society.

thats what furiates me

 

[Finder]

Nephil, I'm sorry, but I think you're generalizing here. Sure there are those that use alcohol irresponsibly, but there are also those that use marijuana, and plenty of other drugs irresponsibly. To say that

drunks...what do they do...get lazy, lose control, drive, swerve, fight, bicker, cry, argue, cause trouble, lie, lay, sleep, smoke cigarettes, fall, kill people, stumble, crash, talk shit, binge, get hungover, get fat...etc, etc...

is some extreme stereotyping.

I have no interest in being elite here...im stating the facts. In my eyes...drunk people do things and act in a certain way that makes them undesireable for me to be around. There are other drugs out there that create that effect, but they are not socially acceptable or even legal for that matter.

Where are the facts? This is an opinion. I rarely have more than three drinks when I go out, I don't drive when I'm too intoxicated, I don't get beligerant, I don't cry, I don't bicker, I don't start fights, I don't cause trouble or any of those things you mention.

There are plenty of people like me that do not fit into this stereotype. You can't completely demonize something just because you don't like it. That's why marijuana is illegal today!

 

[alasdairm]

^ i agree with finder. i think there's a lot of emotion in your response, nephil.

you said:

Alcohol does not belong in the body.

it's increasingly accepted that a small amount of alcohol is actually a good thing. for example, from iVillage:

"Several recent studies have shown that one drink a day really isn't bad for you. In fact, having a few drinks a week may reduce your risk of coronary heart disease and stroke."

theer are extremes with all drugs and alcohol is, in my opinion, no exception.

all the best

alasdair

 

[nephil]

^^^you know you are absolutely right...i am generalizing

i apologize for that but lemme say im not talking about just drinkers in general...my bitching goes towards those who do it irresponsibly...its just something i loathe and it fires me up to see it around me.

 

[nephil]

^ i agree with finder. i think there's a lot of emotion in your response, nephil.

you said:



it's increasingly accepted that a small amount of alcohol is actually a good thing. for example, from iVillage:

"Several recent studies have shown that one drink a day really isn't bad for you. In fact, having a few drinks a week may reduce your risk of coronary heart disease and stroke."

theer are extremes with all drugs and alcohol is, in my opinion, no exception.

all the best


alasdair

hey! thats why i said being intoxicated...one drink per day gets metabolized just as fast as anyother substance

it is more than that which makes us drunk (intoxicated)...

 

[Finder]

^^^you know you are absolutely right...i am generalizing

i apologize for that but lemme say im not talking about just drinkers in general...my bitching goes towards those who do it irresponsibly...its just something i loathe and it fires me up to see it around me.

It's cool. I understand you're probably frustrated about certain individuals...I just wanted to point out that not all of us who enjoy a frothy brew are drunken baffoons.

And for the record, if I had to choose, I'd give up alcohol before herb in a heartbeat.

 

[tooky]

i apologize for that but lemme say im not talking about just drinkers in general...my bitching goes towards those who do it irresponsibly...its just something i loathe and it fires me up to see it around me.

I don't disagree with your opinion of the way alcohol is abused by so many people everyday, but all I was trying to say is that it is those people that are the problem, not alcohol. It is the users that need education, like with any other drug.

Its sad that one of the few legal drugs is also one of the drugs that governments educate people about least.

And for the record, if I had to choose, I'd give up alcohol before herb in a heartbeat.

I can't choose between the two, they both have their place in my life; I can't imagine eating a fillet steak without a decent red wine, and who would want to live without "beneficial herbs."

 

[MzAnthroP]

I enjoy alcohol, but I love weed so much more. Alcohol is good for certain parties and gatherings with people who you don't respect or care what sort of lasting impression you leave on them. I don't like smoking with large groups or even being around a lot of people while I'm high. Alcohol makes all of this tolerable and even enjoyable, though.

However, in light of what I have read in this thread, I've just decided I'm going to quit drinking indefinately. Alcohol is a hole in my pocket that I don't need right now and it seems like someone is always pissed off when I drink. Besides, it will help me quit smoking cigarettes.

herb > poison

 

[Jimmy the Gun]

Drunk assholes are funny unless they put people at risk. I can say this from both sides of the issue, for sure.
In other news, one reason ganja remains illegal is the alcohol companies. They donate plenty of money to anti-"drug" campaigns, not to mention political parties. Did I mention the ciggaret, fertilizer, paper/lumber, cotton, and insecticide industries as well? Cause I should of.
Just say no to bitchass assmonkeys, whatever they are influenced by.

peace

 

[nephil]

Drunk assholes are funny unless they put people at risk. I can say this from both sides of the issue, for sure.
In other news, one reason ganja remains illegal is the alcohol companies. They donate plenty of money to anti-"drug" campaigns, not to mention political parties. Did I mention the ciggaret, fertilizer, paper/lumber, cotton, and insecticide industries as well? Cause I should of.
Just say no to bitchass assmonkeys, whatever they are influenced by.

peace

hi neighbor!:D

interesting info I should know all this but sometimes i just stop thinking about it before i end up pissing myself off

 

[alasdairm]

my bitching goes towards those who do it irresponsibly...its just something i loathe and it fires me up to see it around me.

i understand. apologies if my response came off patronizing.

irresponsible use of any drug annoys me too and, with alcohol, i can understand how it's perhaps more annoying because of the legal status of this particular drug.

alasdair

 

[Dan1584]

Also:

How many people do you hear about going to Detox Clinics, Rehab, Drug Abuse Meetings, Anger Management Courses because of marijuana?

There was actually a funny article in the newspaper in my city that said something along the lines of a politician saying, "Alcohol has been used for hundreds of years and the world has stayed intact...Prohibition was already tried and failed miserably."

^^^
My response to him would be...."hey jack ass hallucinogenic mushrooms have been used for 1000's of years why don't we make that legal too?"

Canada has the right idea....they allow smoking weed to an extent because they realize that there are more dangerous drugs out there that ARE destroying lives like crack, cocaine, and heroine.....now Canada has even allowed homosexual couples to get officially married and be recognized as a holy union...Canada is more free than America...actually it seems like a lot of places are lightening up and the U.S. is just trying to make life more difficult....one prime example the RAVE act, which allows police to shut down ANY event where drug use/selling may be taking place, and then the state can sue the promotors of the event EVEN if they did routine "pat downs"....fucking bull-shit!!!!

Sorry I got off topic a little.

 

[jdude3]

There are quite a few really. Check out an MA meeting sometime.

 

[Petersko]

Alcohol destroys a person. Physically, mentally, physiologically, socially, emotionally...definitely way more than a bowl a day or hell even a hit of acid once or twice a year. Alcohol does not belong in the body. But, in order to intoxicate someone alcohol must sit in the liver and wait to be metabolized...while its sitting there it is eating away at the tissue...destroying your liver... yes even in one night. Drunk = intoxicated = filled with toxins

I really, really hate when anti-alcohol types use this ridiculous line of thinking.

You directly compare the huge amounts of alcohol required to destroy a person with "a bowl a day or hell even a hit of acid once or twice a year".

Do you not see how one-sided and incorrect that is?

Compare a bowl a day to a glass of wine a day and you're being reasonable. Last time I looked, there is NO long-term negative impact from a small amount of alcohol taken each day.

As for toxins, marijuana has quite a stack of them.

 

[Petersko]

people drink alcohol simply to get fucked up.

I drink occasionally. I haven't been drunk in 10 years. Maybe university party animals drink specifically to get fucked up, but a great many do not.

how many times do you hear people say...thats a good drink! they arent referring to flavor there...they are refferring to it's strength.

No... they are not. If they like the taste, they call it a good drink. If it's strong they call it a strong drink.

Why can you buy $100+ bottles of wine, expensive old scotches, and expensive martinis? Why are there thousands of brands of alcohol when any cheap-ass bottle of crap liquor will do the job?

Why do people order paralyzers, bartenders root beers, and and Long Island Ice Tea's? Doesn't make much sense when shooters are clearly the best choice according to you.

Why? Because people like the taste of drinks.

I had a gin and tonic the other day, and I said, "That's a good drink." It was perfectly balanced, and I enjoyed it.

People drink because it makes them a different person....legally
people drink so that they can do things out of their element...and have an excuse for going too far.
people drink and drive because they are fucked up and lost their sense of inhibition...not to mention their common sense...

These generalizations only apply to that subset of people you hang out with apparently. Perhaps you should get some friends without all the emotional baggage.

Maybe I hang out with more secure people than you do, but my friends don't need drugs or alcohol to be outgoing - they don't need an excuse to open up.