Is America Drunk?
I found a lot of truth in what Dr. Ablow wrote in this article, although I can't totally relate since I'm a "triple non" (non-drinker, non-drug user, non-smoker). But these kinds of articles always get me thinking and doing some logic gymnastics. Some of the highlights: Can a society drink itself into disaster? Can a civil, free society be maintained if everyone is tanked at least 10 percent of the time? What if all adults became addicted, could order be maintained? I realize Prohibition didn't work but I can't ignore the fact that if everyone were like the people detailed in this article the USA and elsewhere would be an ugly place. Is there a fine line between allowing adults to drink to excess and maintaining a free society? I don't believe we've passed that line . . . yet. But, could we?
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Jun '10
Re: Is America Drunk?
Yes. Russia. They are surviving on oil revenues. In 1980, the life expectancy for a Russian male was about 61 years. By 1984, it had risen to its all-time high of 65 years. Since then, it has fallen to as low as 57.5 years in 1993 before rising slowing back to 61 years, the same rate as 1980: the primary reason is endemic alcoholism. At the same time, the fertility rate is at a catastrophic low (1.4), so low that Russia is already experiencing year over year population loss. Why? No sane woman would want to marry a lush.
Edited on Jan 16 at 8:17amNov '10
Re: Is America Drunk?
Well, according to this article, Americans are still under 3 US gallons per year of pure alcohol per capita - which still sounds a lot to me (being a very light drinker), but does put the country at the bottom of the developed world in terms of per capita consumption. It's also well below the binge from 1790 to 1830, which saw per capita consumption rise from 5.8 gallons to 7.1 (see the table towards the bottom of this page). And as far as I know, that period of American history was considered to be pretty free. However none of this takes into account the growing dependence on both legal, and illegal drugs - from anti-depressants (which I consider to be a major scourge) to crack.
That said, I do agree with what Dr. Ablow said,
Aug '10
Re: Is America Drunk?
There is a theory that the introduction of coffee and tea in Europe helped to kick-start the renaissance.
Prior to coffee and tea (in an age when water was untreated and could kill you) the only "safe" drinks were alcoholic. Beer, wine, mead, etc. So everybody was intoxicated pretty much all the time.
The introduction of coffee and tea, non-alcoholic drinks that do not kill you because you boil the water first, had the effect of sobering an entire continent up.
Once they sobered up, they were able to focus on things like literacy, science, and revolution.
That being said, I do not believe that alcohol use has increased in recent years to the point where it rivals pre-coffee Europe.
Oct '10
Re: Is America Drunk?
tabula rasa
Yes. Russia. They are surviving on oil revenues. In 1980, the life expectancy for a Russian male was about 61 years. By 1984, it had risen to its all-time high of 65 years. Since then, it has fallen to as low as 57.5 years in 1993 before rising slowing back to 61 years, the same rate as 1980: the primary reason is endemic alcoholism. At the same time, the fertility rate is at a catastrophic low (1.4), so low that Russia is already experiencing year over year population loss. Why? No sane woman would want to marry a lush. · Jan 16 at 8:14am
Edited on Jan 16 at 08:17 am
The legacy of the USSR socialist society. From numerous trips to Russia, I was impressed by how the loss of hope and initiative had reduced the population to a bunch of old drunks. In fairness, many Russians are struggling to come to grips with their loss of humanity from 1917 to 1989.
America has done well, but our embrace of socialism and loss of hope will pay the same dividends. Moderation is a product of self control born of hope and strengthened by a belief in the Creator.
Edited on Jan 16 at 9:44amJun '10
Re: Is America Drunk?
raycon
tabula rasa
Yes. Russia. In 1980, the life expectancy for a Russian male was about 61 years. By 1984, it had risen to its all-time high of 65 years. Since then, it has fallen to as low as 57.5 years in 1993 before rising slowing back to 61 years, the same rate as 1980: the primary reason is endemic alcoholism. . . . .
The legacy of the USSR socialist society. From numerous trips to Russia, I was impressed by how the loss of hope and initiative had reduced the population to a bunch of old drunks. In fairness, many Russians are struggling to come to grips with their loss of humanity from 1917 to 1989.
America has done well, but our embrace of socialism and loss of hope will pay the same dividends. Moderation is a product of self control born of hope and strengthened by a belief in the Creator.
Raycon: I am in total agreement with your observations. And I hope no one took my comments as proposing Prohibition. We already proved that doesn't work.
Jul '11
Re: Is America Drunk?
I think you always see an increase of drinking and drug use during bad times. This is just people trying to feel better, relieve boredom and relieve stress from the impossible situations they find themselves in. Also since there is a high level of unemployment, a large number of people do not have to worry about going to work in the morning or employer drug testing so these normal restraints have now been removed from their behavior at this time.
When the economy turns around usage should go back down. With the exception of those that become addicted to something during these times. That will be the new subject for the author of this story to be alarmed about.
Dec '10
Re: Is America Drunk?
Speaking as someone who hasn't had a drink or illegal drug in seven and a half years-- as I had hit my quota-- I have to proffer that this is a self-correcting problem:
Either a person realizes catastrophe is ahead, and sobers up, or that person dies or finds him or herself institutionalized, thereby limiting the propagation genetic dispositions encouraging a self-destructive use of such substances.
This sort of thing only works over long periods of time, though, which is frustrating to folks who would prefer correctives that work a little more quickly. But I think it really does explain why you have more alcoholics-- to take two examples-- amongst native Americans and Russians-- than amongst Italians and Greeks. The latter populations have been drinking longer. Evolution has had time to work.
Note: I am mostly Latvian, Polish, and Russian. Genetically speaking. And while I have sobered up, I have no children, and am not likely at this point to father any. Which is sad to me. But you see? Evolution at work.
May '11
Re: Is America Drunk?
I'm disturbed by how much more advertisement there has been for hard alcohol. It's interesting that our society has banned cigarette ads but places no limits on alcohol ads. Maybe my view is biased since someone near and dear to me is a recovering alcoholic, but I would say alcohol does much more damage to our society than smoking. How many times has a man beaten his life partner (being polically correct) because they smoked too many cigarettes. I've never heard of cigarette impaired driving. All it takes is going to an A.A meeting to see how many lives alcohol has shattered. Not trying to start a new temperance movement but it seems our society turns a blind eye to all the problems alcohol creates.
May '11
Re: Is America Drunk?
If the marijuana lobby could ever rouse itself from the munchies in the manner that the liquor lobby has, we'd have leagalized pot in months.
Dec '10
Re: Is America Drunk?
It has been my experience, Thelonius, that the vast majority of folks involved in 12-step programs tend to see State intervention in this arena as largely futile. Both developing an alcoholic drinking habit and recovery are inside jobs.
Jul '10
Re: Is America Drunk?
This is human nature. I don't think it's specific to anything new. As Karl has said, it's a matter of the individual deciding to arouse himself from his stupor and make a change. And it's not just alcohol or drugs. We numb ourselves medicinally, yes, but we find all sorts of ways to isolate ourselves from the worries of the world and from having to deal with other people whether it's alcohol, drugs, TV, video games, movies, and so on. We have a remarkable capacity for tuning out life with whatever we can distract ourselves with.
May '11
Re: Is America Drunk?
KarlUB
It has been my experience, Thelonius, that the vast majority of folks involved in 12-step programs tend to see State intervention in this arena as largely futile. Both developing an alcoholic drinking habit and recovery are inside jobs. · Jan 16 at 1:22pm
Agreed. I'm not advocating a government run system to fight alcoholism. I just think we turn a blind eye to all the problems alcohol creates.
May '11
Re: Is America Drunk?
It's all a matter of degrees. It's healthy to isolate from our worries from time to time. If one becomes addicted to a vice it becomes a problem.
Aug '10
Re: Is America Drunk?
I agree with Thelonius. Why our society bans cigarette advertising but not alcohol advertising is beyond me. I'm not advocating a return to prohibition but a ban on alcohol advertising would save thousands of lives and billions of dollars in lost productivity and social services.
Alcohol has ruined more lives and cost our society more money than tobacco and illegal/prescription drugs combined It's not even close...
Dec '10
Re: Is America Drunk?
Frozen Chosen
Why our society bans cigarette advertising but not alcohol advertising is beyond me. I'm not advocating a return to prohibition but a ban on alcohol advertising would save thousands of lives and billions of dollars in lost productivity and social services.
Alcohol has ruined more lives and cost our society more money than tobacco and illegal/prescription drugs combined It's not even close... · Jan 16 at 2:00pm
Actually, this teetotaler suspects the answer is more speech, not less. With tobacco, to take one example, the manufacturers of Snus and eCigarettes are forbidden from advertising their products as cigarette replacements. How many lives does that cost?
And like I suggested before, I doubt Spuds McKenzie or Captain Morgan ever encouraged anyone who wasn't wired to be an alcoholic to become one. That sort of advertising is for market share. And, actually, if we loosened how freaked out we were about the subject the whole taboo allure of puking your brains out on flat keg beer in a smelly basement in one's late teens-- often a prerequisite for alcoholic drinking-- would likely dissipate.
Dec '11
Re: Is America Drunk?
OK.
So if I take my bottle of elijah craig 18 yr old bourbon, and drink 3 Tbsp of bourbon every 30 min for 4 hours on a friday or saturday night, I should be ashamed of myself?
Hell, you can get all classic like and add 1 Tbsp of Sweet Vermouth and have those EVIL manhattans which are going to make me........ get sleepy and goto bed early.
Or heck drink a bottle of white wine over the course of a friday night, and you are hitting 6-8 drinks over a course of a few hours. I got myself this bottle of chocolate infused wine from a local vineyard which sounds pretty good right now.
A bunch of overwrought hysteria over not a lot.
Edited on Jan 16 at 2:14pmRe: Is America Drunk?
Dr. Ablow said:
Lighten up, Francis. You are exaggerating.
Throughout the entirety of history, humans have altered their state of consciousness. It's not just because they are depressed. I'm sure some are. However, some just find it fun.
Edited on Jan 16 at 2:33pmJul '11
Re: Is America Drunk?
Frozen Chosen
I agree with Thelonius. Why our society bans cigarette advertising but not alcohol advertising is beyond me. I'm not advocating a return to prohibition but a ban on alcohol advertising would save thousands of lives and billions of dollars in lost productivity and social services.
Alcohol has ruined more lives and cost our society more money than tobacco and illegal/prescription drugs combined It's not even close... · Jan 16 at 2:00pm
While we are banning things why not just ban all advertising? Think of all the wasted time and money that would be saved!
Dec '11
Re: Is America Drunk?
A bigger drain on society, by far, is obesity.
Nov '10
Re: Is America Drunk?
The Renaissance got going in the 14thC, the Reformation in the 16th, and neither coffee nor tea became popular until the 17th (partly due to Pope Clement VIII acceptance of it as a Christian drink in 1600). But quibbles aside, I think that both were hugely important in the origins of modern society - aside from the international trade aspect (and all that brought to Holland and England especially), there's the social interaction effects, like coffee houses (which were notorious levelers of society) and coffee's rather natural effect on encouraging free speech (Bach's Coffee Cantata's real name, in German, means Be Still, Stop Chattering). Put those two together - social commingling & free speech - it always spells trouble for established authorities.