On 29/08/2011 14:11, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In , Steve Walker
wrote:
Do you think everyone who drinks alcohol is an alcoholic?

It was in reply to the addicts part. And yes, many who claim to simply
just enjoy a glass of wine - and it's always wine - are addicted.

The difference is that smoking is highly addictive (any regular smoker
that stops will experience cravings/withdrawal symptoms); serves no
useful purpose and is afflicted on averyone around.

The same can be thought of alcohol if you co to many town centres of an
evening.

Except that in moderation, no-one around is affected, unlike smoking.

Drinking is far less addictive (those who succumb generally have
addictive personalities anyway and can become addicted to a whole range
of things - even exercise - the rest suffer no effects on doing
without);

Hmm. Interesting the way you bend addiction to rule out a drug you use and
turn it to others.

It's simple fact, most people can drink all their lives without ever
devloping an addiction (defined as producing withdrawal symptoms when
they don't drink), most smokers who try to give up struggle and do
suffer physical withdrawal symptoms.

in small quantities it can have health benefits and certainly
does no harm;

You'll find plenty of 'authorities' who disagree with this statement:
likely just as many as on passive smoking.

There are frequent scientific reports of health benefits of small
quantities of alcohol, whereas the reports on cigarette smoke show harm
beginning at even the lowest levels.

it's only afflicted on those around by those who
overindulge - which we do have laws against, but somehow fail to enforce.

Indeed. The snag with the smoking laws is most reasonable people think
them unfair as well as not actually doing what was wanted.

Oh, I think that the smoking laws are unfair to an extent - smoking in
company vehicles, etc. but I can't see any way to allow smoking in pubs,
restaurants, etc. without affecting either other customers or staff.

SteveW