Live Poll: Dry January - What's Your Take on Alcohol?

Dry January Bump, the second.

True. I see Americans like, for example, morejps on YouTube (Joel), who seem to have a mindset of “let people do what they want” and doesn't wants to be so overcontrolled (my own word) as things often are elsewhere. You can also see how much he enjoys drinking - he mentions it frequently in his reaction videos. To me, he looks like someone who could easily slide into it. If he doesn’t take care, he could become an alcoholic sooner or later.

From my experience, people who really like alcohol won’t listen to warnings anyway. Alcoholics usually only agree that there is a problem when they have hit rock bottom and their life is seriously broken. That’s what makes it so sad.

Personally, I disagree with the strict approach in some Arabic countries, but there are also countries where alcohol is treated far too loosely. Russia is probably the best example: before having a conference, people first drink half a bottle of vodka. It’s considered impolite to refuse alcohol in Russia. Poland is close to that mentality, Germany is close to Poland, and Italy and France are not that far behind Germany either.

In the Northern countries, I think alcohol is regulated in the best way overall. The movie 'One for the Road' shows very well how some people behave in Germany when they are drunk.

The Nordic model works due to specific demographic, cultural, economic, social, etc. conditions unique to those locales.

It will not work in the Anglosphere, Eastern Europe, Africa etc.

Where are our resident Nordics? @Jessica , @Peter_PBN ?

[I don't know whether to be glad or concerned that AI can express this more lucidly than I can, but here it is:

Nordic alcohol policies work because they’re embedded in high-trust, low-corruption societies with cultural consensus; without those conditions, similar controls tend to produce black markets and greater harm.

@NYVKE​ 

I just researched a little. Seems like Russia and Poland have strongly changed in the last decade. Seems like Germany now has the most loose control. It's a boozer paradise. At least until they hit the bottom.

@NYVKE​ 

You may be right, I don't know.

I read that moonshine used to be more common in Sweden, but now people are more likely to get cheap, regular liquor from other countries (legally or not).

Denmark doesn't have monopoly stores like the other Nordic countries, and I think our taxes and prices are lower. We also drink more than them and have more alcohol-related deaths.

@Peter_pbn​ 

I know Elephant Beer. That's a strong sort of beer, I can tell you!

They say beer in Germany is strong, but that delicious poison kills!

Peter, Danish people are known for also speaking German, mostly them close to the border.

Do you also speak German?

I learned German in school, but I don't speak it well now.

NYVKE, Breu, and Peter, the three of you just renewed my faith in humanity. : )

@rubyfruit76​ 

Dude, it must have been pretty low if someone like me could contribute to renewing it 😂

@NYVKE​ 

We try give our best, isn't it?

Please correct:

18: (indigenous territories): Many indigenous communities 

And maybe the movie representing Sweden shouldn't be Danish?

@Peter_pbn​ 

Peter, thank you. I've corrected it.

@Jessica​ 

It's difficult to fnd a movie that is only from Sweden. 'Druk' ('Another Round' was made from Denmark, Sweden, France, Netherlands and Belgium. It plays in Denmark. That's right. I've changed it with 'Svinalängorna' which plays in Sweden, but also is produced by Sweden, Finnland and Denmark.

@Jessica​ 

Corrected #18. :D

@dan_dassow​ 

Thank you, Dan. Thank you, Buddies. :D

@NYVKE​ 

Surely a point. I think the most necessary point is education. It's best when parents live dry. That's the best prevention. Next is schooling. There should be awareness campains about alcohol and drugs in school. Best with shockingly sad images.

Kids should face the fact that alcohol is only a short term fun or relief, afterwards it comes double, three and four times as hard. It slowly sneaks into life and after some time, it won't go away. Some even lose their health, wealth, social bonds and at least their lives.

But it's also useless to completely ban alcohol. We saw prohibition was contra-productive in the US. Afterwards, people got drunk even more. Watch movies of the 40s, 50s, 60s, ... Only brainpower and education can force it back. That's my conviction.

I switched my vote to Italy since its the leading "Mediterranean Option"