What it is with some people and alcohol?

We moved to Dubai about 5 years ago and one of the best things about living here is you do not have much crime, I think a lot of that reason is due to the lack of alcohol and drugs compared to the outside world. You can still go out to the clubs and pubs but very rarely do you see fighting or any form of agro.

The main reason is because they are quite strict on alcohol and public disorder, everyone knows it is fine to go out on a bender but cause trouble and you will be in cell before you know it, you have lost your job and your family are on a plane home.

People go out to have a good time not to go out, get rat @rsed and fight.

Drink driving, 0% alcohol limit, get caught with the slightest amount in you, go to jail and do not collect $200. Loose your job instead. :o

Something that will surprise most people is we can buy most of the main brand Australian beers here by the carton for about 2/3s of the price they are sold in OZ. In a pub or club you get ripped blindly, but by it by the carton from some of the grog shops here and it is cheaper than you can buy it in OZ duty free. :D Go figure. :p

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Originally Posted by willem

The lesser influence of religion, and particularly Christian religion in our society, and its inhibiting effect on the extremes of behaviour.

Willem

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Particularly Christian religion?.....not that your biased:p

Haha, that's funny

`Society has had an association with alcohol since day one, almost.I remember a program on tv. about stone age England, where the population drank beer as opposed to water[ for reasons that escape me at the moment], the adults had fullstrength home brew, the children a diluted version called " small beer", consumed like water.
I was in the Navy for 21 yrs., and there was a definite drinking culture ingrained in the service, but I did not encounter drug use, as opposed to the U.S. Navy, which had dry ships, and had issues with heroin and pot used on some of their ships [ vietnam War period] A reliable source has told me drugs are becoming a problem in the R.A.N. now, and if we believe the Armed Services reflect society, we must come to the conclusion that if drugs are a problem in what should be a controlled, disciplined Service, it must be a huge problem in the general population. Binge drinking causes problems, recreational drug use causes problems, binge drinking + recreational drug use? God help us.

I have seen first hand the end result of half a lifetime heavy drinking by more of my Service friends than I would like to admit, experienced it myself, and look back and sometimes think "I wish I had taken a different path". We as a society seem to be content to treat the end result, instead of the cause. How many millions have been spent on Govt. spin, in order to be elected, world cup soccer bids, etc.etc.. We need to educate the future generations, on the dangers of binge drinking, recreational drugs, and not just a 10 sec grab on tv. Make it a school subject, and hopefully in 50 yrs. time we wont have another generation thinking they wish they would have taken a different path. Just my 2 bobs worth, sorry about the rant, Bob :twobeers:

Alcohol was around at some party centuries ago!

It was 12 or so people, a few loaves of bread and some fish I think plus some 'watered' wine.

I drink like a fish... Often a litre of scotch per session. It's the way I behave that's the difference.

I'm a happy, relaxed drinker. And still have control of my morals even when intoxicated.

I don't go to pubs as I don't like agro dickheads which is the majority of people who drink now.

The line that ****s me the most...
"Jacks makes me agro when I drink" (insert other brand as necessary but JDs seems the most mentioned)

In the above case - Don't drink jacks!!!


On NYs we came home to find our 16 1/2 yo son **** faced. Had been to a friends house and was drinking 'Spiritas' vodka. This rubbish is 96% alcohol by volume.

We were unimpressed to say the least. At least he was a happy drunk, and had chosen to leave the party and walk home as a few there were getting aggressive.

Many moons ago, our local used to close at Mid-night. We all knew this, and the publican called last drinks around 11:45.

We NEVER drove home, but quite often would be given a lift in a powder blue Commodore with flashy lights on the top. Next day, we would walk back to the pub & collect the car.

Even if we went into town for a night out, we would usually end up walking home.

We were on a first name basis with the local publican. One night, he had a fire in the store room around 9pm. We got the call-out (SES) to assist the clean-up. It was one of the best turnouts ever. Job done by about mid-night, and cause he couldn't legally sell alcohol after mid-night, we drank from the top shelf until about 5 am, when the local coppers turned up to see how things were going. Couple of quick radio calls, and 3 cars turned up to take everyone home.

When I was a firey, we would often go to the pub after work to have a "de-brief". Especially if we had had a job that ended up as a fatal. It was good to be able to talk it thru with everyone. The alcohol seemed to relax everyone a little, and the normally quiet guys would open up a bit.

The whole point is, we drank in moderation. Sure, like others, I have had too much to drink at times, but being older, and hopefully wiser, I now know my limits.

These days, the kids are drinking at home, then hitting the pubs & clubs at about 10pm with a skinfull already in them.

Your right in saying that it has different effects on different people. I get happy. A mate of mine falls asleep. The alcohol tends to trigger the underlying emotions of the brain, and if someone is pre-disposed to violence, then the booze brings it out.

You only have to look at the sentencing remarks of the Supreme Court to see how often alcohol is "blamed" or involved in people doing illegal things.

Whats the solution? I don't know. Close pubs & clubs earlier? Reduce the amount of alcohol contained in the drinks? For every suggestion, there are a number of ways to get around them. About the only certain thing is, that alcohol fuelled violence is on the increase, and I fear for the next couple of generations...

There needs to be more of a penalty for causing problems whilst intoxicated in a public place. There is a $550 ticket if you fail to quit a licenced premises when refused service or entry, yet you can get drunk, punch someone in the face and get off with a bond or a $150 fine plus court costs. How does that work?