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AIBU?

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Original poster

Why isn't alcohol treated like a class A drug?

76 replies

treacleturkey · 07/02/2015 17:51

It makes people drunk and violent, many people become alcoholics/unable to function without drink, it causes liver failure and alcohol poisoning on some occasions.
Yet it's perfectly fine compared to stick drugs like MDMA (I'm not talking heroin or cocaine here) under the Class A category when they don't cause nearly as much harm.......

OP posts:
Original poster
treacleturkey · 07/02/2015 17:53

Oops! Ignore the word 'compared' in there!

OP posts:
TRexingInAsda · 07/02/2015 17:55

Hmm Confused Biscuit

wetbehindtheears · 07/02/2015 17:58

Lots of reasons, I guess.

Look at the revenue that alcohol brings in from the government for a start.

FWIW, I agree with you that alcohol is trouble.

wetbehindtheears · 07/02/2015 17:59

brings if for the government

Cookiecake · 07/02/2015 17:59

I think it's because it's so socially acceptable and most people do not misuse it and also enjoy it. I do drink myself but very occasionally but my mum was an alcoholic and died of it after years of drinking took its toll. I think in a way I understand what you mean as it is just bad for people really, also after seeing the devastating effects it had on someone so close and my whole family I do think I see alcohol quite negatively.

wetbehindtheears · 07/02/2015 17:59

argh! brings in for the government

PeruvianFoodLover · 07/02/2015 18:00

In a word, history!

There are a lot of things in life that would be far more heavily regulated if they were "invented" now; alcohol, nicotine, aspirin to name a few.

It takes generations of social engineering to undo the precedents set. Draconian measures drive it underground. Alcohol is far more regulated now a days than years ago - purchasing, sake, manufacturing etc is controlled, for instance.

HollyBdenum · 07/02/2015 18:03

Apart from anything else, can you imagine the job losses?

DurhamDurham · 07/02/2015 18:04

A close family is an alcoholic and is in a terrible mess. However I enjoy a very occasional drink as do other members of my family and friends, I don't see why we shouldn't be allowed to enjoy this. I am a fit and healthy person without any health problems.
I don't think the answer is to treat alcohol as a class A drug, I think the answer lies in education and support for those people who abuse alcohol.

It sounds heartless but I can see it from both sides. If alcohol was classed as a class A drug my brother would turn to crime to get alcohol, I'm not entirely sure how this would help him.

SardineQueen · 07/02/2015 18:10

Agree that it's historical reasons.

The table that the drugs advisory thingy made was good, you know when the govt said don't care and they all resigned. Had them ranked by actual relative harm.

DrDre · 07/02/2015 18:11

Cultural / historical reasons. It is far more damaging than some other illegal drugs. The below image is interesting:

Why isn't alcohol treated like a class A drug?
SardineQueen · 07/02/2015 18:11

here's one thing about it

SardineQueen · 07/02/2015 18:12

I think that one is absolute there's a relative one as well btu can't be arsed to google Grin

Suffice to say that treatment of different drugs is utterly illogical.

Thisishowyoudisappear · 07/02/2015 18:13

Yes, if it was 'invented' today it would be heavily regulated.

It is a massive factor in all kinds of social problems.

I believe licensing laws should be tightened and minimum pricing should be introduced, but I'm not holding my breath for that to happen any time soon.

LeSaor · 07/02/2015 18:19

It only make you violent if you're an individual predisposed to violence.

caroldecker · 07/02/2015 18:21

The problem with banning alcohol, as they found in the US, is that it is so easy to amke at home with just sugar and yeast - therefore, unlike most drugs it is practically very difficult to ban.

ghostyslovesheep · 07/02/2015 18:23

because wine Wine

SardineQueen · 07/02/2015 18:23

I think there are lots of drugs that it is relatively easy to get hold of at home / make / find though. Mushrooms for eg and you can grow hash quite easily. I hear it's quite easy to make speed and meth also, don't have details on that though.

mousmous · 07/02/2015 18:24

alkohol ocurs naturally (yeast, overripe fruit...) and also is in many medicines.
so very difficult to eliminate.

SardineQueen · 07/02/2015 18:35

Loads of drugs occur naturally.

SardineQueen · 07/02/2015 18:36

Oh for me I would prefer decriminalisation and better assistance for addicts etc maybe legalise the whole shebang and tax it make loads of money to help addicts.

For eg ecstacy is miles safer than booze. Makes no sense to have one illegal one not.

Catzeyess · 07/02/2015 18:45

Because for the vast majority of people who enjoy alcohol across the world do it safely and without a problem. There is massive industry with wine, whisky, beer etc which there isn't with MDMA etc and other drugs (mainly for historical reasons).

Tbh I don't think it's fair to ban the majority of people who do enjoy alcohol safely because of the people who don't. It's like saying let's ban all refined sugar because some people become overweight/have diabetes, even though many people enjoy it safely and don't have health problems due to it.

WineWineWine · 07/02/2015 19:02

Because the vast majority of people who enjoy it, do so without any serious ill-effects
Alcohol is only a problem if it is misused
And I do love a glass of wine.

trufflesnout · 07/02/2015 19:05

Alcohol is only a problem if it is misused

But surely that could apply to anything.

Cynical answer: taxation.

OwlinaTree · 07/02/2015 19:06

I'm with the legalise everything way of thinking. All taxed and above board. Enables drug addiction to be dealt with and stop criminal gangs profiting.