Comments on: Everyone loves a moral panic

By: David Sanderson

David Sanderson — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Alcoohol and gambling has always been socially regulated but that regulation is being overwhelmed by the volume and sophisticaion of modern marketing. As a teacher I am aware of how much teenagers are drinking (binge usually) and the damage it is doing

By: Glenn Brandham

Glenn Brandham — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Another point I’d like to make is this: if government wants resposible citizens, then gov policy should be responsible. Following BushCo into Iraq, with the mealy mouthed “reasons” which they gave us, simply gives the youth a good excuse for pissing up.

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I wonder what cave these people lived in as teenagers ? 99% of us had lost weekends, peeked at p-rn, one night stands etc. Did this destroy us ? How quick we forget ! Young people have to be able to let off a bit of steam without all this moral humbug

By: Tom McL

Tom McL — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I just reckon science has moved ahead re adolescent brains more vulnerable into the early 20ies, and then there is the economic productivity/ambition imperative of undamaged brains given economics is really the national secular religion.

By: andrej panjkov

andrej panjkov — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

RF’s ABS stats are equivalent to an annual average of 10 slabs of beer, 40 bottles of wine and 8 bottles of spirits, maybe $800 worth. If some people aren’t drinking, someone else is drinking an awful lot.

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Sorry Catherine, I posted before I read your post.
IMHO “The Grog” is just being used as an excuse to hide the real intention. I’m sorry but banning or restricting alcohol will not prevent violent crimes. Drunkeness is NOT a mitigating factor for a crime

By: David Sanderson

David Sanderson — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

It is irritating to have concerns about significant social harms mindlessly labelled as moral panics. No-one thinks it is a moral panic to deal with the massive harm done by alcohol in indigenous communiies so why should we not face up to ‘our’ problems?

By: Glenn Brandham

Glenn Brandham — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Maybe you are right, David, maybe I’m wrong. Personally, I don’t see how we, as a society, have educated the youth to be respectful of other peoples rights and property. This is Howard’s legacy, he actively undermined institutions left, right and centre.

By: charmaine

charmaine — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

The behavoiurs and habits that we form as teens often stay with us for all our lives. Look at the number of adults who smoke who started as teens. That violence and alchohol are intrisically linked is beyond question, communities in NT will testify to it

By: steve martin

steve martin — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Apparently I am indulging in binge drinking when I have a bootle of wine, how shocking!

By: David Sanderson

David Sanderson — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Glenn, you really know how to throw those smelly red herrings around. I can just imagine the fellas hanging out and saying to each other other: “That lying Howard really pisses me off so much only a dozen tinnies will give me any relief.”

By: Catherine

Catherine — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Moral panic, er? Just trying to spoil people’s fun, er? I might find that easier to take as argument if my daughter had not been raped on Friday night by a male acquaintance totally off his face on grog. Getting plastered affects more than just the drunk.

By: Lucy

Lucy — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Moral panic is right, but given the senate election results it’s hardly surprising that Rudd is sucking up hard to Steve Fielding and Nick Xenophon. This wowser stuff is far more pernicious than some tosser-ish experts’ conference. Nicely pointed out.

By: Glenn Brandham

Glenn Brandham — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Spare a thought for the returning veteran soldier, back from wars for treasure and oil. Take the grog off him and/or her and you might just regret it. How can we judge the youth, when the old are quite happy to invade other countries and kill and torture?