Comments on: What is it with the left and alcohol? http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/ now with extra source Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:41:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Frank Birchall http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9158 Frank Birchall Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9158 Good article, Geoff! Note that it effectively refutes the implication in the "Dear Sole Subscriber" intro that Kevin Rudd's views on binge drinking are not supported by evidence. Good article, Geoff! Note that it effectively refutes the implication in the “Dear Sole Subscriber” intro that Kevin Rudd’s views on binge drinking are not supported by evidence.

]]> By: Wendy Wilson http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9159 Wendy Wilson Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9159 Bingeing does incredible damage to the developing brain and is encouraged by our drinking culture. My daughter tells me about kids in her year level bragging about getting "smashed" every weekend. They are 13 years old! Let's start with our own attitudes. Bingeing does incredible damage to the developing brain and is encouraged by our drinking culture. My daughter tells me about kids in her year level bragging about getting “smashed” every weekend. They are 13 years old! Let’s start with our own attitudes.

]]> By: YM http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9160 YM Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9160 Some of your points have merit, as far as I can tell, but... Keane and Farmer "lefty social critics"?! Where was I when that was decreed? Attacking a whole section of society ("the left") for the views of a few is hardly constructive, anyway. Some of your points have merit, as far as I can tell, but… Keane and Farmer “lefty social critics”?! Where was I when that was decreed? Attacking a whole section of society (“the left”) for the views of a few is hardly constructive, anyway.

]]> By: David http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9161 David Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9161 Richard Farmer and his brother once owned & operated the appropriately-named Farmer Bros liquor outlets in Canberra. He knows the A-Z on grog. Richard Farmer and his brother once owned & operated the appropriately-named Farmer Bros liquor outlets in Canberra. He knows the A-Z on grog.

]]> By: Glenn http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9162 Glenn Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9162 Nice response to the flaws in the per capita premise. Geoff could have mentioned that more recently the ready access to gaming machines has reduced theaverage drinkers 'drinks budget' and still no drop in per capita consumption! Nice response to the flaws in the per capita premise. Geoff could have mentioned that more recently the ready access to gaming machines has reduced theaverage drinkers ‘drinks budget’ and still no drop in per capita consumption!

]]> By: Lucy http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9163 Lucy Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9163 Re "older people drink less": Actually, the ABS seems to think 35-44 and 45-54 y.o. are now more likely to drink at risky levels, not Our Impressionable Yoof. So can the snarkiness about "the left" until you, too, have your facts straight. Link next post. Re “older people drink less”: Actually, the ABS seems to think 35-44 and 45-54 y.o. are now more likely to drink at risky levels, not Our Impressionable Yoof. So can the snarkiness about “the left” until you, too, have your facts straight. Link next post.

]]> By: John James http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9164 John James Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9164 Typical of the left. Stop teens having a glass of wine but passing out needles for their iv heroin and condoms for their"safe" ( read suicidal ) sex. Typical of the left. Stop teens having a glass of wine but passing out needles for their iv heroin and condoms for their”safe” ( read suicidal ) sex.

]]> By: Patrick Brosnan http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9165 Patrick Brosnan Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9165 "[he'd be] subject to a range of acute harms". Wrong, he's subject to the risk of being subject to a range of acute harms. If the harm was automatic then there'd be a lot more harmed drunken people. Try to be less alarmist. “[he’d be] subject to a range of acute harms”. Wrong, he’s subject to the risk of being subject to a range of acute harms. If the harm was automatic then there’d be a lot more harmed drunken people. Try to be less alarmist.

]]> By: Lucy http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9166 Lucy Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9166 http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/ProductsbyReleaseDate/DA2EE6E951E4F948CA257242001B1AFF?OpenDocument http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/ProductsbyReleaseDate/DA2EE6E951E4F948CA257242001B1AFF?OpenDocument

]]> By: mike smith http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9167 mike smith Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9167 An alcoholic is not 'one who drinks' - it is one who has difficulty in stopping drinking once they start. Should governments regulate this? I think not, we have enough nanny state crap as it is. An alcoholic is not ‘one who drinks’ - it is one who has difficulty in stopping drinking once they start. Should governments regulate this? I think not, we have enough nanny state crap as it is.

]]> By: Michael http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9168 Michael Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9168 The Dutch have it right! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/05/nhealth105.xml The Dutch have it right!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/05/nhealth105.xml

]]> By: Sean Baker http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9169 Sean Baker Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9169 thank you for your thoughtful and considered response to Farmer and Keane's braying. The socialisation of the cost is something we all need to deal with - Government through thoughtful responses, and us through a consideration of our alcohol use. thank you for your thoughtful and considered response to Farmer and Keane’s braying. The socialisation of the cost is something we all need to deal with - Government through thoughtful responses, and us through a consideration of our alcohol use.

]]> By: steve martin http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9170 steve martin Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9170 The figures quoted for 12 to 17 year old binge drinking are horrific if corect, but they are not legally entitled to drink period. How about tackling the suppliers,be they parents or publicans? The figures quoted for 12 to 17 year old binge drinking are horrific if corect, but they are not legally entitled to drink period. How about tackling the suppliers,be they parents or publicans?

]]> By: Matt C http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9171 Matt C Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9171 If 'patterns of drinking' are the most important consideration, then why the proposals for fewer bars? Surely a proliferation of smaller bars would be more conducive to healthy drinking patterns than concentrating people in endless beer barns? If ‘patterns of drinking’ are the most important consideration, then why the proposals for fewer bars? Surely a proliferation of smaller bars would be more conducive to healthy drinking patterns than concentrating people in endless beer barns?

]]> By: Dr Harvey M Tarvydas http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9172 Dr Harvey M Tarvydas Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9172 Journalist, reporter doesn’t = philosopher although report with opinion explored is more interesting than blank reporting. Complex patient eclectic ploughing of the soil is needed for the seeds of philosophy to yield valuable & handsome product. Left =0 Journalist, reporter doesn’t = philosopher although report with opinion explored is more interesting than blank reporting. Complex patient eclectic ploughing of the soil is needed for the seeds of philosophy to yield valuable & handsome product. Left =0

]]> By: John Purcell http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9173 John Purcell Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9173 In my experience Farmer has been around for forty years at least and has yet to make a sober judgement. Both he & Keane are characterised in the last paragraph - possibly as shareholders but that is not the only characterisation that befits - work it out. In my experience Farmer has been around for forty years at least and has yet to make a sober judgement. Both he & Keane are characterised in the last paragraph - possibly as shareholders but that is not the only characterisation that befits - work it out.

]]> By: Amir Abadi http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9174 Amir Abadi Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9174 Thank you Geoff Munro for this article. Hope this is a lesson to Richard and Bernard who stand to ruin the reputation of Crikey which I turn to because of the low quality of so many other media agencies. Thank you Geoff Munro for this article. Hope this is a lesson to Richard and Bernard who stand to ruin the reputation of Crikey which I turn to because of the low quality of so many other media agencies.

]]> By: Tom http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9175 Tom Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9175 On a very human level it's easy to be in denial at the cunning effect of alcohol on one's health and well being, mood, IQ. An ABC show called it "the great deceiver". Basically alcoholic is crap, not least depressed Irish after the Famine woes. On a very human level it’s easy to be in denial at the cunning effect of alcohol on one’s health and well being, mood, IQ. An ABC show called it “the great deceiver”. Basically alcoholic is crap, not least depressed Irish after the Famine woes.

]]> By: Dr Harvey M Tarvydas http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9176 Dr Harvey M Tarvydas Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9176 to WENDY: Yes; 2 YEARS low level (2 beers) regular exposure in early teens maketh an ALCOHOLIC = to adult heavy drinking exposure for 20 years. The young brain is severely damaged by binge drinking but unoticed (such is the brain) till specially tested to WENDY: Yes; 2 YEARS low level (2 beers) regular exposure in early teens maketh an ALCOHOLIC = to adult heavy drinking exposure for 20 years. The young brain is severely damaged by binge drinking but unoticed (such is the brain) till specially tested

]]> By: David Sanderson http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/02/28/what-is-it-with-the-left-and-alcohol/#comment-9177 David Sanderson Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9177 This article neatly encapsulates the problems alcohol and alcohol companies can cause. It also highlights the inadequacies of the left-libertarian response to an alcoholic culture that glorifies bingeing and normalises the damage to brains and bodies. This article neatly encapsulates the problems alcohol and alcohol companies can cause. It also highlights the inadequacies of the left-libertarian response to an alcoholic culture that glorifies bingeing and normalises the damage to brains and bodies.

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