SO! Alcohol consumption accounts for hundreds of deaths, but probably not the alcoholic giving it the boot, but is responsible for others deaths.
We must all be aware some people thrive on booze, and it seems to do them no harm.
It can do a great deal of harm to relationships, but a real boozer does not become concerned over such a trivial matter.
A few drinks builds up a drinkers self esteem, and all of a sudden they have been everywhere and done everything, and are very important individuals. Surely this is proof brain cells have died-as the majority of drinkers are extremely boring. They have a tendency to get louder and louder , and consistently repeat themselves.
They have to drink with other drinkers, as sober people cannot put up with them.
Many get mean as they get drunk. Terrible for the spouse and offspring. They just want to get distanced from the drunk, if possible.
Alcohol destroys many homes, and not by causing a death.
We now have a major problem with alcohol consumption, which can develop quickly into an addiction.
We have a major problem with drug addiction, which is so debilitating, both for the user and associates-but horrible for families to deal with.
Now we have a gambling addiction surfacing with the addition of casinos to add revenue to government coffers. This will take its toll on many families, as we will see splits, thefts, suicides. etc.
All addictions lead to one goal for the user.
The alcoholic requires liquor. Costs money.
The druggie requires drugs. Costs money.
The gambler requires money to gamble.
All addictions destroy the quality of life for many.
The governments support two of the addictions, and supplies the druggies with needles and support drugs.
Are we a society to be proud of???
I hardly think so.

But what can be done about it? Should we close the bars? Prohibition showed that was a waste of time. Shall we close the casinos? Just you try, and listen to the howl of outrage. Do we forbid smoking the killer drug tobacco? Yeah, right! You might be able to close the needle exchange because they are "addicts" and drinkers, smokers and gamblers obviously are not and don't like those kinds of people (I *am* being sarcastic, folks). Do we just throw up our hands in disgust and give up?

These are ongoing battles. They have been around for centuries in one form or another, and I suspect we will not solve them in the near (or distant) future. I do think we should be using more of the tax money generated from use of this stuff to solve some of the problems their use causes.

The health effects are bad enough and cost society a lot of money, but how can we legitimately tell a member of society that he must pay thousands of dollars for lung cancer surgery and treatment just because he was addicted to tobacco and chose to smoke? How can we justify telling a mother that she must pay for her own liver transplant because she chose to drink too much gin? How can we not give free needles when it limits the spread of hepatitis and AIDS, even though people choose to use drugs?

The whole point, of course, is that there is little choice with an addiction, and it makes little difference whether it is slot machines, beer, gin, cigarettes or heroin. In each case there is a crying need for more support for those who want to control their addictions. More quit smoking campaigns are needed, for instance, and perhaps we should start with some anti-beer ads for a change of pace. After all, the people killed by drunks are Canadians too.

Thanks amm!!!
I forgot cigarettes-and they are so addictive and costly also-not to mention the harmful effects.
When one goes to the extent of considering the harm done by those four addictions alone, we surely must cover a major portion of the public guilty of one or the other.
I wonder how all those kids being raised are going to manage their lives, when they view so many permissive addictions in society.
I wonder if the "good old days" were really just that.

I think that the average person probably drinks on a regular basis. A glass of wine over dinner, a beer with the hockey game or a pizza. A cocktail or fancy coffee after a movie or the theatre. Let's face it, for many, it's a regular part of our daily habits.

And these are not the problem drinkers of our society. But, what kind of an example are we setting for our impressionable youth?

Who can blame them for acquiring the habit of drinking after watching their families and friends consume alcohol on a regular basis? Chester

Young people drink have fun and grow up this is what happens not a big deal 99% will finish school and be productive citizens I don't see the problem.I no lots of people who have drinks with friends maybe go gambling on a friday or saturday its called haveing fun we have to be able to let lose once and a while lifes to short.Sure some will push the limits but lets not take this to serious if its something you injoy and it isn't harming anybody whats the problem.1700 deaths from alcohol??? How many deaths due to driving we are not going to stop that are we?

All liberals want you to be addicted to something. Do you not recall the 'beer and popcorn' statement only a few days ago? The liberals want you drunk or stoned --poor and destitute so they can give you a handout and you will vote for them. Safe needle houses indeed! What the hell is safe about a needle full of drugs? Keep electing liberals and you will all be drunk, stoned or destitute. Middle class elimination is the goal of all liberals--always has been---always will. If you believe otherwise, you are deceived. That says a lot for the easterners who federally vote 'em in don't it? It also tells me there's a lot of dum-asses here too. (but not a majority)

No alcohol, no smokes, what next - no gambling or women? Nothing left to do but b!tch and talk about the good old days.

Yama, yama, nobody says you cannot go to the casino, gamble, get drunk, smoke, stick a needle in your eye , drop your drawers and maybe pick up a STD!!!
Of course you may do all these things at your leisure.
It is just an opinion it was perhaps better in the old days when all these activities were not so readily available.
I listened to a 15 year old scream and tell her father to f off when he was on the phone and she was insisting she wanted to use it, and immediately. He said, "I have to go, she wants the phone." I would not have even considered acting in this manner towards a parent when I was 15. I sat and wondered--what has gone so wrong in this world???? How do the parents survive raising children they have NO control over???
No, Yama, enjoy your vices, if that is what you consider important.
I, of course, have a totally different outlook.
I allow you your, principles, please do not undermine mine.
Merry Christmas!

And a Merry Christmas to you. The only adiction I have is to the outdoors. Each to his own, and that is why I pretty much stick out my toe and trip up "Big Brother" ideas anytime I see him coming. Enjoy.

It's interesting how only point of view can distort things. Excess "alcohol consumption was blamed", in part for more than 1700 deaths in BC.

Maybe one should look just a little deeper at the possible reasons for the excess alcohol consumption?

Loss of your job after 20 + years, loss of a loved one, breakdown of your marriage, born with alcohol fetal syndrome, raised in a family with a history of alcohol abuse, loss of your entire life savings from gambling, addicted to alcohol, driven to drink from stress, or just like hanging out at the pub with all of your friends.

There are many factors.

The reality is this, usually the booze is one of the outlets for other emotional trauma's in our lives. Drugs, gambling and sex are some others. But, it's just easier to blame it on alcohol. Chester

Good post Chester.
Kind of arrives at the same place I did, but from a different angle. Isn't that a two pronged approach?
And you didn't take a whole page to say it either! Good.