Morality of buying alcohol from the perspective of a drug user

[Juvenile]

After watching The American drug war the last white hope for the second time yesterday it once again got me thinking about the morals of drinking as a drug user.

I feel as though buying alcohol is supporting the industry that provides a lot of funding to anti-drug propaganda and other bullshit.

Stuff like studies that are guaranteed to either find that "drug X causes brain damage" or studies that extol some positive health benefit of drinking beer or wine. Think those health magazines that are always telling you that its ok to drink wine due to it having anti-oxidants or whatever. It always makes me think, fuck off, you could get more anti-oxidants from a cup of green tea, minus the neurotoxic chemical thanks8).

I am sure I have read that the alcohol and tobacco industry have donated piles of cash to Australian political parties too.


I only drink it because it's the socially acceptable thing to do with work colleagues etc. It is such a shit chemical really. Fun for a short while but then it tends to just make me wish I hadn't wasted my time and money on getting drunk to start with.

But at the same time as I am drinking it I feel like wtf am I doing this for, I'm supporting people who actively seek to prevent me from doing what I really like doing.

It's sort of like I am against a war, yet donating money to those waging it at the same time when I buy alcohol.

Anyone relate to this?

 

[Busty St Clare]

I don't think there is anything wrong with alcohol as a drug. I have often said that the best feeling in the world is that "first beer buzz" you get after a long, hot day of hard work. There are plenty of pleasures in this world that no other drug can go hand and hand with. Enjoying great food with a great wine is one of them. I can't think of any street drug that makes a cheese platter better. After a day on the slopes nothing counters the cold chill like a hot shot of yellow Vok. Standing around the BBQ with a spliff pales in comparison to an ice cold beer. I'd rather spray a bottle of French champagne when I win as opposed to spilling a bong.

There is a difference between drinking and getting drunk though. I would rather a comedown before a hangover most days. As for paying taxes, you can always brew or distill your own

 

[Crankinit]

It definitely has merit as a drug. For relaxing after a long day I'd prefer opiates without question, but alcohol is a lot more social than opiates, and goes well with stimulants in a party situation.

If you're going to start talking about the morality of the industry you're supporting, then you have to start asking who ultimately profits from most of the illegal drugs you buy? Alcohol companies certainly have questionable ethics at times, but more questionable than bikies, gangsters and drug cartels? I don't think so.

In the end, you'll drive yourself mad trying to ponder these questions, and one way or the other you're just one customer among millions, a drop in the pond. Your custom won't make much difference, so you might as well go with what you enjoy.

 

[drug_mentor]

If you're going to start talking about the morality of the industry you're supporting, then you have to start asking who ultimately profits from most of the illegal drugs you buy? Alcohol companies certainly have questionable ethics at times, but more questionable than bikies, gangsters and drug cartels? I don't think so.

In the end, you'll drive yourself mad trying to ponder these questions, and one way or the other you're just one customer among millions, a drop in the pond. Your custom won't make much difference, so you might as well go with what you enjoy.

Pretty much sums up my thoughts on the issue, like seriously it really doesn't matter what you buy the chances are some dodgy bastard somewhere is atleast getting a cut somehow whether its an illegal product or not.

The alcohol industry recieves more financial support from me than it should and I can honestly say I have never once questioned the morality of my actions while waiting in line at Dan Murphies with a couple bottles of Jack Daniels in hand.

 

[titstypedthis]

so i guess you're not gonna shout next round?




...cunt

 

[lil angel15]

I don't think there is anything wrong with alcohol as a drug. I have often said that the best feeling in the world is that "first beer buzz" you get after a long, hot day of hard work. There are plenty of pleasures in this world that no other drug can go hand and hand with. Enjoying great food with a great wine is one of them. I can't think of any street drug that makes a cheese platter better. After a day on the slopes nothing counters the cold chill like a hot shot of yellow Vok. Standing around the BBQ with a spliff pales in comparison to an ice cold beer. I'd rather spray a bottle of French champagne when I win as opposed to spilling a bong.

There is a difference between drinking and getting drunk though. I would rather a comedown before a hangover most days. As for paying taxes, you can always brew or distill your own

I always enjoy reading the thoughts of Busty. It may be frustrating to the horde, however, it tickles me in just the right spot.

 

[Juvenile]

... Alcohol companies certainly have questionable ethics at times, but more questionable than bikies, gangsters and drug cartels? I don't think so.

In the end, you'll drive yourself mad trying to ponder these questions, and one way or the other you're just one customer among millions, a drop in the pond. Your custom won't make much difference, so you might as well go with what you enjoy.

Yes fair point about the characters that my illicit drug money goes to as well. If anything they are probably worse lol. No doubt the amount I contribute is a drop in the ocean, even though I have contributed my share. I think some of my resentment for alcohol also comes from what I see its done to the music scene I used to love. Events that used to be full of happy people on MDMA now are full of rude drunk people.

 

[my innerself]

I don't think there is anything wrong with alcohol as a drug. I have often said that the best feeling in the world is that "first beer buzz" you get after a long, hot day of hard work. There are plenty of pleasures in this world that no other drug can go hand and hand with. Enjoying great food with a great wine is one of them. I can't think of any street drug that makes a cheese platter better. After a day on the slopes nothing counters the cold chill like a hot shot of yellow Vok. Standing around the BBQ with a spliff pales in comparison to an ice cold beer. I'd rather spray a bottle of French champagne when I win as opposed to spilling a bong.

There is a difference between drinking and getting drunk though. I would rather a comedown before a hangover most days. As for paying taxes, you can always brew or distill your own

very well said busty.

I think we should be lucky that alcohol is even legal. Personally I love drinking bourbon, scotch, vodka, beer etc etc. I especially love the way it combines with other drugs. A good example is having a couple of cones after downing a six pack.

Though I do understand where you are coming from. The whole alcohol industry and the taxes which we pay the government reaks of hypocrisy.

 

[perthboy]

I don't really bother drinking at all these days. If there's a few mates around and everyone's just passing around few bottles, I'll have one to hold onto and get the buzz.
I usually DD now if we're heading out, I hate spending out heaps just to get drunk, and when I'm just gonna feel like shit the next day

 

[mgmt&mdma]

It's sort of like I am against a war, yet donating money to those waging it at the same time when I buy alcohol.

i was JUST thinking the same thing yesterday.

 

[ColtDan]

yeah its messed up, but the world is fucked up, its just one of the many fucked up things in the world, not worth bothering pondering this sort of thing

 

[psytaco]

I've never felt guilty about proping up a corrupt system when it comes to alcohol. I would much rather give a legitimate company money than organised crime. tobacco companies I do have some moral objection too.

However, the fact that drugs are illegal, mean their wholesale distribution and production is managed by some very ruthless people. One only has to look at what is happening in mexico or in south america. Pablo Escobar was responsible for killing thousands of people including innocent civilians, police officers, journalists and even presidential candidates. All because it is illegal and so damn profitable.

you don't even have to look abroad - carl Williams, the Morans, Mokbel to name a few.

Drug money is used to corrupt political systems, finance wars, buy weapons, and butcher people. you should feel more guilty next time you buy coke or heroin. Same can be said next time you drive your car anywhere too, or buy your missus some diamond earrings.

I am going to Colombia soon and was talking to a Colombian friend about cocaine. One thing he said struck me: 'In Australia they call cocaine a recreational or a party drug. But there was nothing fun about hearing car bombs go off in your home city, and reading the news about people being killed everyday because of cocaine and greed'.

 

[Urbie]

'In Australia they call cocaine a recreational or a party drug. But there was nothing fun about hearing car bombs go off in your home city, and reading the news about people being killed everyday because of cocaine and greed'.

Not just cocaine, any illict substances. Watched a docomentary last year about cocaine, said something like every kilo or so of cocaine comes out of South America, least 10 or something people have died....

 

[Juvenile]

I've never felt guilty about proping up a corrupt system when it comes to alcohol. I would much rather give a legitimate company money than organised crime. tobacco companies I do have some moral objection too.

Ideally I would rather give my money to a legitimate business too. However the reality is that people have taken that choice away from me when it comes to the drugs I like.

However, the fact that drugs are illegal, mean their wholesale distribution and production is managed by some very ruthless people.

Yes and whose fault is it that they are illegal? Neither the users or the people who live in the countries in which they are produced.

 

[psytaco]

^ hey man. your preaching to the choir here. I am in full favour of legalisation of all substances, from a harm min standpoint and to stop alot of the world's problems. but at the current time, that is not the situation you find yourself in when buying any illicit drugs.

take cocaine. its grown somewhere in Colombia, Peru or Bolivia. there is a good chance that some of the area used to grow it may have been part of the amazon basin. the person growing it receives very little money. probably just a bit more than most other crops.

the guy buying it, and distributing it makes a lot of money. these groups are connected to other organised crime, terrorist or guerrilla groups (eg. FARC) etc. the money made of these drugs is used to pay politicians, buy guns to be used against armies, other groups or civilians, and to bribe policeman and engage in other criminal activities (like arms trafficking, corruption, people smuggling, assisinations etc).

Once it gets to Australia, more organised criminal groups make large amounts of money off it. again it used in corruption, violence and other criminal activity. Finally the final product trickles down to the end user. Whilst a gram of pure cocaine cost about $1 to make in South America, we buy a gram here, for well I can't mention prices, but it could easily be half of alot of people's weekly salaries. that 'gram' is not even a gram anymore, but is cut with unknown substances, and we don't know how strong the cocaine is anymore. making it more dangerous.

So anyway, me having a beer doesn't involve all this kind of misery, trickery, corruption and violence, that went into making the line of coke I may have after I finish that beer.

 

[titstypedthis]

^^ the growers and pickers of coca get paid in food.


give people what they need, not what they want.
simplest method of controlling people and building loyalty.

 

[Mr Blonde]

Fair trade cocaine?

 

[titstypedthis]

Fair trade cocaine?

in a perfect world
in teh meantime junior gets his kicks licking the table

 

[psytaco]

^ ah the days of being young. when you could entertain yourself for ours chewing on a table, rolling around in the grass or picking your nose.

 

[titstypedthis]

*continues picking nose*