Why is Alcohol a necessary grocery item?

[Fleur]

@Geof_Cox

hospital in France

Years ago we visited a neighbour in hospital recovering from a serious accident. He already had a visitor, an elderly man, who, on leaving, surreptitiously passed the patient a bottle-shaped brown paper parcel which quickly went into the bedside cabinet. I reckon our grapes were pale in comparison.

[Mark]

A day without whiskey is decidedly risky😁

[ChrisK]

A day without Merlot?
No choice I’m on furlough.

[Mat_Davies]

A day without red?
May as well stay in bed.

[letstryagain]

I do not understand why somebody is accused of being anti-social in some way and issued with a threat to ban them from the site simply because they make a point that not everybody needs alcohol.
We are generally all brought up to accept that it is normal social behaviour to drink alcohol but whether you choose to use it as a survival tool or not it is blindingly obvious that pouring poison down your throat on a regular basis does us no good at all no matter what arguments we use to convince ourselves.
If shooting up heroin had become the norm in our society instead we would all be doing that with gay abandon and looking pityingly at alcohol users.
Alcohol is just another drug which has become socially acceptable so no matter how much we ‘think’ we are in control of our consumption just accept that we are using. Even if you only have one or two G and T’s a day you likely have an addiction. Medically called ‘maintenance alcoholic’.
It is interesting to note that between 50 and 60% of the worlds population de not need alcohol to get by so there is no reason to berate somebody on here who is actually in the majority.

[Eddie]

@cat

Point 2 is not being made in jest and is not being solely directed at you but it seems a good moment to stress the following point.

We are just embarking on what is going to be a long and stressful period for everyone. SF is meant to be a ‘nice’ and safe place to post. Anyone who detracts from that is going to get binned

That’s not a threat to ban the OP, it’s a comment to everyone

[SuePJ]

@letstryagain Perhaps worth remembering though, there but for the grace of God go I.

[letstryagain]

Point 2 may not have been ‘solely’ directed but whatever you say it was still directed otherwise why make it.
I have seen far more contentious arguments on this site that have passed unchallenged.
I suppose I am simply defending freedom of speech…all the rage.

[letstryagain]

Frankly, I do not see how this impacts on the point I was making.

[Eddie]

Perhaps @Cat just thought it was time for a reminder

[letstryagain]

I’ll accept that Eddie.

[vero]

@letstryagain

It is interesting to note that between 50 and 60% of the worlds population de not need alcohol to get by so there is no reason to berate somebody on here who is actually in the majority.

I don’t drink alcohol, (I don’t particularly like it, I don’t drink fruit juice or sodas or any of that sort of thing either) that doesn’t entitle me to have a fit of the vapours because it is possible for people to buy and consume a legally available substance which fits into the broad definition of food.
I don’t smoke either, does that mean I should be horrified tabacs are open? Of course not. Chacun son truc.

[boilerman]

@letstryagain

I do not understand why somebody is accused of being anti-social in some way and issued with a threat to ban them from the site simply because they make a point that not everybody needs alcohol.
We are generally all brought up to accept that it is normal social behaviour to drink alcohol but whether you choose to use it as a survival tool or not it is blindingly obvious that pouring poison down your throat on a regular basis does us no good at all no matter what arguments we use to convince ourselves.
If shooting up heroin had become the norm in our society instead we would all be doing that with gay abandon and looking pityingly at alcohol users.
Alcohol is just another drug which has become socially acceptable so no matter how much we ‘think’ we are in control of our consumption just accept that we are using. Even if you only have one or two G and T’s a day you likely have an addiction. Medically called ‘maintenance alcoholic’.
It is interesting to note that between 50 and 60% of the worlds population de not need alcohol to get by so there is no reason to berate somebody on here who is actually in the majority.

This is the painful truth, a nerve or two is being touched here. Brave man you are

(not sure about the accusation side of it though, it seemed even handed to me,) no offence

[Stella]

I can’t find anyone being threatened.

I think you might have misunderstood a post…
As @Eddie suggests.

[cat]

@letstryagain

Point 2 may not have been ‘solely’ directed but whatever you say it was still directed otherwise why make it.

Because it is my site and I can choose to do so.

In this case, I felt, as someone else (@Eddie?) wondered, that it was time for a timely reminder.

[letstryagain]

Well as you say it is obvious that I touched a nerve boilerman.

[John_Scully]

With all due respect Annie, hic, that a shoopid post, hic.

@Annie2

I am locked in with a 5 month old German Shepherd puppy

Plush… you’ll be barking mad by the time this is all over… hic, burp, stagger.

[SuePJ]

@letstryagain

whether you choose to use it as a survival tool or not it is blindingly obvious that pouring poison down your throat on a regular basis does us no good at all no matter what arguments we use to convince ourselves.

I felt that there was a hint of “why don’t you just pull yourself together and stop”. I think those of us who are not addictive personalities are fortunate. Addiction rarely is a life choice. I was born into a family where addiction to alcohol is within the gene pool. I am fortunate in that alcohol gives me migraines, so I rarely if ever drink. Hence there but for the grace of God.

[John_Scully]

With this confinement we’re all having give up things Damian. I’ve decided to give up being judgemental about others people’s habits (not that I ever was)

[letstryagain]

I understand what you and others are saying spj. My initial posting was not to moralize or pontificate but simply to support another member who most obviously has tenets which are contrary to the majority.
I am well aware of the horrors of alcohol through personal and family experience and the tragic deaths of several friends. On reflection therefore, and although usually conciliatory by nature, I feel that I have every right to expound my personal thoughts even if it so obviuously upsets so many people.
We do have freedom of choice and who am I to determine which life choices each individual makes. Nonetheless, as my comments obviously raised such indignation I would be interested to see if several parties on here would mount such a righteous defence of smokers, dopeheads, smackheads, junkies and stoners.