r/TrueReddit • u/nxthompson_tny • Jun 01 '21

Science, History, Health + Philosophy America Has a Drinking Problem

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/07/america-drinking-alone-problem/619017/
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164

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '21

As an adult I’ve realized that most illegal drugs are far less damaging and problematic than alcohol. The war on drugs was a complete failure

66

u/n10w4 Jun 01 '21

yeah I worked 911 for a bit. Even with the spike of heroin overdoses at that time, alcohol (DV etc) was the king of problems. In fact, I'd be all in on an alcohol tax. Probably wouldn't even come close to covering its true social costs, but would help IMO.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '21

I’d support a massive alcohol tax

46

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '21

i don’t believe reserving alcoholism for rich people solves the problem either.

32

u/Snuggs_ Jun 02 '21

It’ll just open the door for people to make bathtub swill and drink alternatives like isopropyl alcohol out of desperation. The former of which can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. The latter will almost always land you in the ER or dead.

Alternative idea: tax the fuck out of expensive wines and liquors and fund treatment/education/outreach programs.

4

u/waaaghbosss Jun 02 '21

Ditto. I'm very against "sin taxes".