Australia's alcohol idiot problem

I think it's past time the Australian government treated the problems associated with alcohol as it has been doing for a long time with cigarettes and smoking because while smoking is harmful to a person's health it usually only affects the smoker in a serious way themselves, whereas the problems arising from grog harm many around the drunken idiot.

 

Heavy drinking results in public brawling to the extent where death occurs to both the drinker and others they see fit to harm.

Heavy drinkers also seriously abuse kids and partners, both physically and mentally.

Alcohol abuse is a growing issue among our young people.

Alcohol abuse costs the country millions of dollars every year through loss of productivity due to the drinker chucking sickies because they are hungover or suffering ill effects of grog the following day.

Alcohol abuse results in way too many deaths and injuries on our roads every year.

alcoholics cost our public health system millions every years due to the serious issues it causes to the abuser.

 

I could go on and on about the bad side of grog, but it will start sounding as though I'm totally anti-grog if I do, when in fact I have absolutely nothing against anyone enjoying a drink or two, but I have a hell of a lot against what abusing the stuff causes.

 

So, I think it's time that the Australian government takes a far more serious approach to the subject.

 

To do this they should start off with banning all alcohol/and alcohol related products from public advertising - just as they did with smoking products many years ago.

 

Next they should slap on an immediate minimum tax price rise of 10% for all alcohol and alcohol related products, to be followed up within 6 months with a further 10% price rise on the lot.

These price rises should also hit the home grog making products market too.

 

additionally all consuming of ALL alcohol products should be totally banned from all public venues and licensing hours over the entire country should be reduced to far more reasonable hours, say midnight in all clubs and pubs etc.

 

Do you think I'm goping over the top?

 

OK, you may think so, but I'm sick to death of seeing the results of alcohol abuse at all levels in this country, and I can see no good reason why my tax dollors should go toward fighting a losing battle against the problems arising from grog abuse.

I've also been forced to attend too many funerals of innocent bystanders killed due to bloody idiot's bad habits while they walk away from it all almost Scot free.

 

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Re: Australia's alcohol idiot problem

Haha, it probablly looks that way doesnt it. I dont allow my kids any alcohol at all, but I agree with the fact there are many other things kids consume that are far more detrimental to their health than a tiny bit of wine.

 

Its drinking to excess thats the problem and there are different ways parents approach the problem, martini and I raising our kids differently when it comes to alcohol consumption and both hoping we get it right.

 

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I actually think the small glass of wine with dinner is a good way to teach kids responsible drinking, but the vast majority of people in Australia dont drink wine every night so the opportunity isnt there.

 

I dont drink wine every night, so I cant very well use that as a way to teach my kids and in my experience kids that drink spirits or beer from a young age turn into heavy drinkers. Perhaps thats because the parents that allow it are often drinkers themselves, I dont know, I can only raise my kids the best way I know how and I hope they will hit 18 and not even be interested in drinking (or smoking, or taking drugs)

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That is where you and I disagree......kids can drink water or milk with dinner.

 

After all, they are children, not small adults...

 

Water and milk are a healthy  alternative to soft drinks, alcohol is not.  Replacing one sugar laden drink for another (Plus the alcohol) doesn't make sense.

 

Belief that it teaches to drink in moderation is a cop out (and wrong), and puts them at far greater risk of developing problems and will only increase the appeal of it.

 

Who would want to cause health problems for their kids - For example - Alcohol dependence, permanent neurological damage and liver damage.  Even small quantities can damage a developing brain.

 

By not serving alcohol to children, you would be protecting them from harm and the consequences of alcohol.

 

 



____________________________
"High and low pressure systems cause the day-to-day changes in our weather." ...Metoffice.......


siggie-reported-by-alarmists..............
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Re: Australia's alcohol idiot problem


@siggie-reported-by-alarmists wrote:

That is where you and I disagree......kids can drink water or milk with dinner.

 

After all, they are children, not small adults...

 

Water and milk are a healthy  alternative to soft drinks, alcohol is not.  Replacing one sugar laden drink for another (Plus the alcohol) doesn't make sense.

 

Belief that it teaches to drink in moderation is a cop out (and wrong), and puts them at far greater risk of developing problems and will only increase the appeal of it.

 

Who would want to cause health problems for their kids - For example - Alcohol dependence, permanent neurological damage and liver damage.  Even small quantities can damage a developing brain.

 

By not serving alcohol to children, you would be protecting them from harm and the consequences of alcohol.

 

 


 

Those are facts.

 

 

 

 

 

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I forgot to add.....teaching children to drink responsibly, doesn't require either the adult or child to have a drink in their hands.

 

Woman Happy)

 

 



____________________________
"High and low pressure systems cause the day-to-day changes in our weather." ...Metoffice.......


siggie-reported-by-alarmists..............
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Re: Australia's alcohol idiot problem

I dont disagree with those facts, however there are still more harmful things that children are consuming on a daily basis than a SMALL (1/4 glass martini said) glass of wine. My opinion would be vastly different if she was giving them a vodka cruiser with dinner.

 

There are certainly cases where wine with dinner has caused no long term harmful effects and although I dont really know martini, she is probably a good example of that. Just like there are many cases where complete abstinance from alcohol until 18yo can have the wrong effect and turn out binge drikers and alcoholics.

 

My choice is to not allow my kids any alcohol along with teaching them why, martini is allowing her her children very small amounts of alcohol along with educating them that excessive consumption is not acceptable.

 

We're both doing what we think is right based on our own experiences and lifestyles.

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@siggie-reported-by-alarmists wrote:

I forgot to add.....teaching children to drink responsibly, doesn't require either the adult or child to have a drink in their hands.

 

Woman Happy)

 

 


I'd  hope not, otherwise I would have to exclude my child from PDHPE classes.

 

 

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@**meep** wrote:

@siggie-reported-by-alarmists wrote:

I forgot to add.....teaching children to drink responsibly, doesn't require either the adult or child to have a drink in their hands.

 

Woman Happy)

 

 


I'd  hope not, otherwise I would have to exclude my child from PDHPE classes.

 

 


Woman Very Happy

 

Well, I see it like this....drug education classes, don't require the students to share a crack pipe with the teacher...because, well, that would be insane!



____________________________
"High and low pressure systems cause the day-to-day changes in our weather." ...Metoffice.......


siggie-reported-by-alarmists..............
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@siggie-reported-by-alarmists wrote:

Serve a child water......or milk......that's more age appropriate.

 

Saying it's apart of your culture, is another cop out, nor does it make it okay.

 

There are many cultural practices around the world that are being abandoned....because when people know better they change.

 

 

 


I also grew up in an environment with the belief that giving small amounts of alcohol to children was harmless, in fact, that it was beneficial.  My cousins were allowed to drink small amounts of beer.  We now know better.  

 

This is a good article providing links to studies and citing WHO.  One thing I hadn't considered is the possibility of greater risks of breast cancer.  http://www.medicaldaily.com/eu-report-warns-parents-against-giving-children-alcohol-245580  Children are often not old enough to make educated choices.  Its the parents' responsibility.

 

 

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@siggie-reported-by-alarmists wrote:

@crystal**flake wrote:

My brother died and they did an autopsy on him, well his brain, and we were told he was an alcoholic genetically.  He was 16 at the time.


That's so sad crystal....I am sorry for your loss.

 

If a child is an alcoholic genetically, no one should serve them alcohol at any age.

 

Genetics influence the likelihood of developing alcoholism, as do other factors. For example , environment.

 

.


Laughs at the lack of evidence of 'climate change'.........believes in an 'alcohol gene' which has less evidence......

 

Wow.

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