To wonder why people would never defend smoking in the same way they do drinking?

[facemaskhate]

It's completely baffling to me.

I think part of the issue is that most people who smoke are addicted, whereas a minority of those who drink any alcohol are alcoholics. So (as well as passive smoking issues etc) there is a problem and stigma around smoking that does not apply to drinking in moderation.

However, I do think that the extent of problem drinking in this country is not often acknowledged. There still seems to be a widespread culture that encourages drinking more than the recommended amount. There is a thread running at the moment for people who have given up alcohol (some who were alcoholics and others who just felt they were drinking more than is healthy). A common topic of discussion seems to be how to explain to other people that you are not drinking alcohol. Many seem to fear either being persuaded to have 'just one', or seen as boring/judgemental.

I personally have 2 people close to me who died in their 40s as a result of alcoholism. Neither drank more than their peers in their 20s and I doubt that most people were aware of the extent of their drinking. I also have 3 people close to me who died as a result of smoking, but they were in their 70s/80s.

Yes OP please cite your sources.

@bigbaggyeyes

Any amount of alcohol is bad for health. It's just not publicised

If it's not publicised where are you getting your information from?

I mean in the mainstream media. Various studies are available. The Lancet is a good place to look.

@cheezy

Yes OP please cite your sources.

Ok.

time.com/5376552/how-much-alcohol-to-drink-study/

www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)31310-2/fulltext

Smoking is a waaaay bigger killer than alcohol.

You clearly haven't been on the smoking MN threads. People act like smokers are some marginalised oppressed group being deprived of their human rights.

I think the big factor actually is the smell and how it transfer - because no one ever seems to care if someone is vaping and booze doesn't make another person smell. If someone with a cigarette simply walks past me I stink of fags for the rest of the day and that seriously fucks me off

There still seems to be a widespread culture that encourages drinking more than the recommended amount. There is a thread running at the moment for people who have given up alcohol (some who were alcoholics and others who just felt they were drinking more than is healthy). A common topic of discussion seems to be how to explain to other people that you are not drinking alcohol. Many seem to fear either being persuaded to have 'just one', or seen as boring/judgemental.

Alcohol is the one drug you have to justify not taking

I know we are talking about two specific vices here, but I often feel I have to justify and defend not eating sugary and fatty desserts or treats when out with friends or at work. It's not just alcohol.

I teach secondary school and word on the street is drinking isn't the big "must do" thing these days among their generation - my sixth formers really are into healthy eating, going to the gym etc. Loads of them are actively tee total. Far cry from my sixth form days of chucking as much 50p vodka and lemonades Down my neck in a student bar from age 16

@moynomore

Smoking is a waaaay bigger killer than alcohol.

Smoking may kill more, but alcohol costs the nhs more and has double the amount of hospital admissions per year

www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/head-to-head-uk-smokers-vs-uk-drinkers/

@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop I agree. It's very heartening to see this attitude in young people.

@moynomore

I know we are talking about two specific vices here, but I often feel I have to justify and defend not eating sugary and fatty desserts or treats when out with friends or at work. It's not just alcohol.

That's true too

OP - are you a smoker?

Well when the man downstairs smokes he stinks out our entire flat, our clothes, our linen. I sold something on eBay and the buyer complained it smelled like smoke.

When we had a glass of wine it has literally no impact on his life.

@facemaskhate

I'm really more thinking about the affects on health, rather than the anti-sociability

One cigarette will cause damage, one drink does not.

In moderation alcohol may be good for the human body.

Moderate alcohol consumption may provide some health benefits, such as: Reducing your risk of developing and dying of heart disease. Possibly reducing your risk of ischemic stroke (when the arteries to your brain become narrowed or blocked, causing severely reduced blood flow) Possibly reducing your risk of diabetes
Source Mayo Clinic

@LifeinPieces21

OP - are you a smoker?

No.

@TwoAndAnOnion

Did you even read the link I posted

[quote facemaskhate]@TwoAndAnOnion

Did you even read the link I posted [/quote]
I did - then I looked elsewhere - I thought this was a debate forum, I didnt realised we were supposed to agree with you. Perhaps you could put that caveat in your next topic of conversation.

www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-alcohol-health-benefits

I think it’s an interesting discussion. I agree that there’s an issue in that there is a wide variance of the definition of low to moderate when it comes to alcohol consumption. I used to work for a hepatologist and was privy to the notes of quite a few people whose myriad of health issues were down to their liver health at relatively low levels of alcohol consumption but over sustained periods (at a rough guess most were perhaps just over the recommended guidance and every week). It was rare to come across a patient who actively pointed out that their consumption wasn’t consistent over a month. Weight was probably the second most common cause of liver disease/fatty liver. I think there’s quite a dangerous belief that the liver regenerates; I mean it does but only to a point and this lessens with age. Scarring of the liver is irreversible.

I always think that in the smoking vs alcohol argument it’s interesting that it’s not often highlighted that nicotine doesn’t affect your cognitive function and it doesn’t take much alcohol to have a noticeable effect on it. As addictions go it has the lowest effect on people around you socially. obviously second hand smoke is a thing but I’ve never felt the need to weigh up whether a smoker was aggressive or argumentative because they were smoking.

In the interests of transparency I used to drink and smoke but very rarely do either now. I enjoy both despite knowing the risks but just don’t have the opportunity anymore.

Cause they are not the same thing.

[quote Anonymous48]www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-alcohol-health-benefits[/quote]
None of that listicle is referenced

As addictions go it has the lowest effect on people around you socially.

I dunno. I would much rather be around my friends when they are drinking moderately (not irritatingly drunk) than when they are smoking.

OP it is actually - sources button underneath the picture on the left.