Alcohol Drinking: Is It A Matter of Choice?

Please Note:- This article has been revised, updated and put forward newly in this post.

The “alcohol authorities” make the general public to believe that the alcohol drinkers have been given the “Choice” to select and consume any alcohol drinks made available in the market under their license! But at the same they seriously warn them not to “misuse” or indulge into high amount of (excessive) alcohol consumption that could lead them into serious alcohol(ism) problems including the drunk driving accidents! It would be their own fault if they fall into it so should take its full responsibility of its terrible consequences! They should not blame it on anyone else except on themselves!

However the basic facts about the alcohol drinks “choice” that the public doesn't know is: all the alcohol epidemiological research and the surveys basically points to the fact that almost all those alcohol(ism) problems caused by the “High Alcohol” drinks having around and above 5% alcohol content, licensed by the authorities under the banner of “Standard Alcohol Drinks(SADs). On the other hand there are absolutely no such research evidences that fundamentally proves that the consumption of “Low-Alcohol Drinks ” (LADs) having alcohol around and below 2% causes any of these alcohol(ism)

However quite contrary the above research fact the alcohol authorities proclaim; “all alcohol drinks irrespective of the alcohol content in them high or low potentially cause the alcohol(ism) problems”. It is mainly due to their “alcohol research misconduct” <http://alcohol-research-misconduct.blogspot.com/2008/01/alcohol-prohibition-mission-failure.html> so they don’t distinguish or demarcate between the high-alcohol drinks that causes serious alcohol(ism) problems and the low-alcohol drinks which does not and callously license both those drinks under the guise of providing the public with so many alcohol drinking choice!

The alcohol authorities who put forward such argument seems to completely forget the principles of safe drug policy. Alcohol is a statutory drug therefore its licensing and marketing (safety aspect) strictly monitored. If any drinks that contains this drug over a given safe limit that becomes dangerous for the public consumption then its license immediately needs to be revoked or cancelled!--- It is only below that dangerous levels when it is proven safe for the public consumption then only it should be licenced and made available for the general public consumption. Therefore any alcohol drinking factors or elements, which causes that causes the dangerous health (alcoholism) problems stand to be eliminated!

Indeed there are some very strict alcohol drinks regulations or the measures placed over the alcohol drinking . The most important among is its consumption strictly being prohibited to the alcohol vulnerable young or the underage people! Any adult who provide alcohol drinks to those young considered to be committing a serious offence specially when it involves drunk driving/accidents! The place and the times of its sales severely restricted, its consumption not allowed in the public places. Its drinking banned in all work places, academic institutions, etc. & etc.

Now comes the following question.--- If the alcohol is considered to be such a dangerous substance then why the alcohol authorities license it for the public consumption? Why not enforce total ban (prohibition) on all alcohol drinks so to eliminate the entire alcoholism problem?

There are two main reasons, which keeps away the authorities from imposing total alcohol prohibition! ---The first one is; majority of people who consume the alcohol drinks said to be consuming it safely or moderately without any such alcohol(ism) problems. Moreover the “Moderate” alcohol consumption provides great drinking pleasures considered as beneficial in many respects! The second main reason that is equally important is; it is a very well established fact that total prohibition or banning of all alcohol drinks gives raise to so many of the underground, illegal, alcohol smuggling trade, bootlegging criminal mafia, corruption etc., which are far worse than not having the alcohol prohibition!—---I have explained this matter extensively in my latest blog post titled; “Alcohol prohibitions: Mission Failure Reason” http://alcohol-research-misconduct.blogspot.com/2008/01/alcohol-prohibition-mission-failure.html

Therefore the authorities license the alcohol drinks and permit its consumption in order to prevent the criminalization of the total prohibition and on the other hand to allow the drink for a safe, moderate or healthy alcohol consumption. To ensure this it places heavy supervision, stringent rules and regulations to prevent its misuse or the alcohol(ism) problems!

So now comes the most critical question; if the main objective of licensing the alcohol drinks is to fulfill the above mentioned purpose then instead of licensing the extremely dangerous high-alcohol content drinks why not license only the low-alcohol drinks as it totally fulfills the main objective of the licensing the alcohol drinks. It specially provides maximum drink satisfaction pleasures with less alcohol consumption so mostly prevent the people inadvertently consuming excessive alcohol consumptions and prevent them from falling into the alcohol(ism) problems including the drunk driving/accidents.

However the authorities still stick to their old irresponsible position and argue that “we or any one do not force or compel any people to consume the high-alcohol drinks. It is primarily the drinkers choice if they want them! ----It is not right to impose ban or severe restriction on the high-alcohol drinks just because it leads the vulnerable people into excessive alcohol consumption and into the alcoholism problems.--- The vulnerable people should not drink the alcohol at all if they have any problems with it! Or to drink whatever Low-alcohol drinks if they find it safe at all!

It is mainly to defend or justify their “Alcohol Research Misconduct” that authorities put forward such unscrupulous argument. ---- However it is the alcohol industry that stands to mostly gain from it! Higher the alcohol content in the drink higher price and the profit margin they get!

To attain their super high profit margins, the alcohol industry mainly focus on manufacturing the high alcohol content SADs. The highly promote it in their marketing campaign, advertisements, hoardings, banners, sponsorship movies etc., All of them glamorize the high alcohol content SADs. They attribute all the imaginary qualities to it that boosts about its high powers, super strength that can provide great pleasures and make its drinkers super heroes.

In front of this SADs grandeur the image of the LADs becomes dwarfed, insignificant, inferior below the alcohol drinking standards. It is been made to look like it is mainly for those who can not handle their alcohol drinks, for the weak and the frail! The stronger adults do not choose such insignificant LOW alcohol content drinks, which lower their status!

Among its target are those alcohol vulnerable, gullible drinkers who easily fall into such high-alcohol drinks marketing ploy! The advertisements of the SADs captivates and beguiles them so much so that they readily make a choice of opting to it. But unfortunately the high alcohol content in the drink makes them to loose control over the drinking and consume alcohol in excessive amount get highly intoxicated , drunk that seriously impairs their judgment. In this state so many of become inadvertently suicidal and get behind the wheels and get into drunk driving. Here they not only endanger their life but most terribly endanger other innocent people to whom without warning they suddenly bring total devastation's deaths on thousands of those innocent peoples life.

Now suddenly the law enforcement authorities wake up and heavily come upon the drunk drivers. ---But it is already too late for the innocent victims! The authorities invariably catch the drunk drivers punish them in whatever ways possible. See to it that they are being publicly humiliated, branded as criminals, killers, murderers and sentenced to long years of imprisonment! Meanwhile the alcohol drink governing bosses who licenced and marketed such extremely dangerous alcohol(ism) problem causing drinks, totally exempted from any of its blame on the basis that drinkers have been provided with the choice of many kinds of alcohol drinks. If any of its proved dangerous then they should be entirely blamed for it and should face all its consequences.

The high-alcohol content drinks in essence extremely dangerous DRUGS far more deadlier than the illegal narcotic drugs especially when it comes to causing the fatal DUI accidents. Therefore the authorities should not permit it for the public consumption as a matter of customer’s choice.

Two most important blog post to read in this regard;

http://alcohol-research-misconduct.blogspot.com/2008/01/alcohol-research-misconductcause-drunk.html
http://alcohol-research-misconduct.blogspot.com/2008/01/alcohol-prohibition-mission-failure.html


Valerian Texeira
Alcoholics Curewell