Health | December 12, 2008 | 14 comments

Cheers! We're killing ourselves

source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4791407a11.html

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covelogibbs
A massive hike in alcohol prices is the key solution to a national booze problem which kills nearly three people every day and injures many more, say doctors and counsellors.

Alcohol is a contributing factor to 70 per cent of emergency hospital admissions and well over half of all crime.

Wellington Hospital chief medical officer and drug and alcohol specialist Dr Geoff Robinson said New Zealand had a "huge problem" with alcohol.

His research showed that if alcohol were put through the drug-scheduling committee now, it would be a class B drug, sitting alongside Ritalin and morphine and more dangerous than ecstasy.

"There's 107 medical disorders associated with excessive drinking. It affects nearly every organ."

Dr Quigley said the harm done by alcohol compared to the damage from methamphetamine was 100-1. "Alcohol is by far and away the overwhelming problem."
  1. groups:
    Health,   Money,   Alcohol
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    Health,  World,  Money,  Alcohol,  5 more
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14 comments // Cheers! We're killing ourselves

  • Pepperdog
    • 0
      Pepperdog  

    • I think this is a good solution.
      Some people will not care that they are wasting more money, but a lot of people will realize it is costing too much and stop drinking large amounts.

    • 3 years ago
  • MiguelSanchez
  • nazbags
    • 0
      nazbags  

    • I agree, ClareW - it might keep moderate drinkers from having three pints and opt for two, but it won't stop alcoholics

    • 3 years ago
  • Neowind
  • cantucwearebrothers
  • richjm
    • 0
      richjm  

    • The doctors know that people won't stop drinking if the prices go up and nor will the resulting problems disappear. What does happen though is there's more money in the pot through tax to be spent on equipping the docs to deal with the issues and the health problems.

    • 3 years ago
  • DwinD
    • 0
      DwinD  

    • Three cheers for cerealforever! This is EXACTLY the situation. I, for one, am wondering if and when people will wake up and smell the roses!

    • 3 years ago
  • ClareW
    • 0
      ClareW  

    • Is boosting alcohol prices really a feasible solution though? For people with a full blown alcohol addiction, the prices won't deter them, it'll just get them into more financial trouble.

    • 3 years ago
  • arcticspirit
    • 0
      arcticspirit  

    • In moderation it's still fine. But to some there is no such animal. Then it's like, why bother? Spend the money on something that isn't consumed in a day. I'd rather have art supplies or goodies for my computer.

    • 3 years ago
  • cerealforeal
    • 0
      cerealforeal  

    • The government will never ban it (again). It kills brain matter, why would the government not want people dumbing down so that they don't ask questions on controversial topics like who really "masterminded" and "planned" out 9/11? Why is marijuana still illegal? Why are our constitutional rights being taken away from us? The government wants people as narrow minded as possible. And they could care less about how many people are dying too. It'll stop the population from growing to unstable numbers.

    • 3 years ago
  • JohnA
  • mik661
    • 0
      mik661  

    • If you raise the price of booze anough it will just be sold on the black market like other drugs fueling crime and violence.

    • 3 years ago
  • pjacobs51
  • cantucwearebrothers
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