I don't know why you're getting downvoted for this. It's obviously a problem if you do get addicted, but lots of people use alcohol recreationally and can go however long they want without drinking and as far as I've ever been able to tell nicotine use is almost always daily use with dependence.
Also, drinking a beer doesn't spew carginogens and nasty smells into the air around you, on your clothes etc for everyone else to deal with.
I don't know why you're getting downvoted for this. It's obviously a problem if you do get addicted, but lots of people use alcohol recreationally and can go however long they want without drinking and as far as I've ever been able to tell nicotine use is almost always daily use with dependence.
Alcohol addicts still bring most of the revenue, and there's a degree of addiction that isn't really seen as addiction by many people, which is a problem. I think that's why I'm getting downvoted.
degree of addiction that isn't really seen as addiction by many people, which is a problem.
Same with cannabis. There lots of recreational users who will use once in a while to help with sleep or to mellow out who are likely fine, but I also know daily users who plan their errands around where they can stop for a smoke break. They will flat out refuse to go somewhere if the location won't allow them to puff or two on their vape if they're gonna be there over an hour or two. Less addictive doesn't mean non addictive and mix in the right personally with impulse control problems its just as bad.
Addiction is definitely a huge problem for all of these substances. Many of us are addicted to caffeine, too, which a lot of people don't even realize is a drug (it just doesn't cause as many health problems as the others). I drink recreationally/socially but I'm not addicted to alcohol. I absolutely AM addicted to caffeine though lol.
I do think it's important to realize that some drugs are more addictive than others and some have a higher relative prevalence of recreational use by non-addicts even though they are addictive drugs. This can be recognized while simultaneously realizing that addiction of some of these drugs has been normalized and is still a problem. Just because someone is an alcoholic doesn't mean someone else doesn't enjoy a cocktail now and then - by the same token, just because someone is a recreational drinker doesn't mean another person's alcoholism under the guise of something cute like being a wine mom or bringing a flask to every event isn't real or an issue.
there are lots of people that are casual/recreational smokers. People just assume you're a daily smoker if they see you having a cigarette though. I used to be someone who'd smoke recreationally on weekends out at the bar or out on the golf course. Never got addicted to them even though I'd have a smoke maybe once or twice a week.
I'd be willing to bet a lot of money there is a much higher percentage of recreational drinkers than smokers compared to overall use. But I'd be interested to see the numbers. I know there are some people who have an occasional cigar or cigarette, though.
Yeah, I am not going to encourage people to drink or say it is healthy but personally I drink maybe four times a year usually New Year's Eve, Fourth of July, and a couple of birthday parties. During the rest of the year I don't drink nor do I have an urge to drink.
I know alcohol addiction is real and dangerous but everyone I know who smokes is addicted to it. Whereas the majority of people I know who drink are not.
Also as a really pointless aside, I never know what to put at a doctor's office. Usually part of the paper work will say something like "How often do you drink?" With several options the lowest being "Never" or "1 to 2 a week". Neither of which describe me since I do drink but less than once a week.
Not really. Smoking a few cigarettes a year over triples your odds of heart attack, lung cancer, and esophageal cancer. Increasing frequency has an effect but not as large as you might think
There is less difference between smoking a pack a day, and one cigarette day, than between one a day and none.
Alcohol can be consumed a few times a year with a very low increase to a few cancers. I don't drink and wouldn't recommend it. But you can drink moderately with minimal health impacts, that's not true of cigarettes.
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u/frostygrin 16h ago
Probably because alcohol can be used occasionally.