Mekong Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 Here is the Socialist Republic of Vietnam alcohol is one hell of a lot cheaper than it is in Thailand but I drink a lot less here than when home in Thailand. Why when it is cheaper? Because SRV is where I currently work and as much as I enjoy to partake in an adult beverage or ten I limit my consumption depending on whether I need to get up at 5:30AM the next day for work as I am over here or party everyday (to a minimal limit) as I do when home in Bangkok, i.e. a couple of glasses of wine over lunch whilst on my downtime. I do enjoy an occasional glass of wine over a long lunch but I would never do it when at work, time and place for everything. Cav made an interesting observation previously in this thread about "Used to have a drinking problem then got a better paid job" there is so much truth in that comment, if someone has an addictive personality they will find a way to finance their addiction either legal or illegal (Cav not accusing you of being addictive but you made a good point), many a true word spoken in jest. As an ex alcoholic myself I can assure that the price has no correlation to consumption, as a guess most alcoholics in the medical term are people who can afford their habit and a 10% increase in duty would have little or no affect on them but it would hurt Somchai in BKK who is struggling to support his wife and two kids on minimum wage who enjoys sharing a bottle of Saemsong of a Thursday evening with his co-workers. Alcohol is one of the most addictive narcotics available, but if used in moderation can be a viable form of relaxation, similar to other narcotics which are deemed criminal by the governments who don't run the monopoly on them. Personally I have resolved design issues on the back of a beer mat, on a cigarette packet and on a napkin for Nuclear Power Plants, Oil & Gas Refineries and other shit over a couple of pints after work, the pressure is off but the mind is still working. Alcohol is probably responsible for over 50% of T360 Board Members, how many of us can say we were ever planned, most of us are a result of a drunken grope which went further and 9 months later we popped out. Alcohol is not the problem, it is learning how to control alcohol and being in control of it rather than it controlling you which is the problem. I openly admit that at one stage of life I allowed alcohol to take over and take control of my life, the dark days, but I got over it and took control again and made it my slave rather than myself being it's. IMHO an increase in duty will do little to change alcoholism, there are two types of alcoholics in my opinion, people like I was where the fiscal implications were not based on the price will have little or no affect upon the purchasing power until they become so dependent that they lose their source of income, or the lower social strata who will do whatever it takes to finance their addiction which even comes down to mugging and robbing their own type of people. In the UK this is already has been happening in the opiates for longer than I care to remember the "Smack Society" (Heroine), which in itself leads to an under culture. Alcoholism is an addiction which, IMHO, has to be treated as a (mental) health issue, rather than trying to price people out of the market which may lead to social unrest, offer advice and assistance. I am not the first person on this forum to admit to past addictions, and as with my fellow BM's I know that it is a difficult cycle to break, government enforced duty will not break the cycle if one can afford the habit, it comes from the person, do I want to live the rest of my life like this? As soon as one knows the answer then life can move on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpiceMan Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 I knew for years that I wanted to quit drinking but was never able to. Now I've been completely sober for almost 9 years and I'm sure if I hadn't quit I would be dead now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 Raising the price of alcohol...nahhh, look at the price of ciggies...in the USA, many places charging $10 USD a pack! but "they" still continue to smoke...same-same for alcohol, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 The National Prohibition Act http://en.wikipedia....e_United_States Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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