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No amount of alcohol is good for the heart, says World Heart Federation

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Re: No amount of alcohol is good for the heart, says World Heart Federation

#32

Alcohol is one of the worst "drugs" on a personal/societal harm scale - if we're going to tolerate this at large, we should probably consider legalizing everything else that's less harmful to at least be consistent. While we're at it, let's de-stigmatize the abuse of substances and treat it like a real mental health issue.

> if we're going to tolerate this at large, we should probably consider legalizing everything else that's less harmful to at least be consistent. Please do not decide policy using this kind of reasoning. Maybe we should legalise more stuff, but “worse things are legal” is not a good reason. > A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. — Ralph Waldo…

Consistency in legal matters seems like a good and necessary thing for ensuring fairness. What is the basis for Emerson’s quote to apply here?

Re: No amount of alcohol is good for the heart, says World Heart Federation

#33
post #13

as someone who grew up i a community that has for many reasons, religious, social, economic that no one really does alcohol. when there is nobody who is drunk, we have 0 drunk driving cases, 0 cases of people ending up in wrong places, 0 cases of alcoholism, 0 cases of "well we will just mix a drink with something more recreational", no need for AA among a host of other things including not having to budget alcohol i…

Because alcohol has been purposely drunk by people for literally thousands of years, and the vast, vast majority of people are able to drink without having a problem?

No post body was provided.

Re: No amount of alcohol is good for the heart, says World Heart Federation

#34

Alcohol is one of the worst "drugs" on a personal/societal harm scale - if we're going to tolerate this at large, we should probably consider legalizing everything else that's less harmful to at least be consistent. While we're at it, let's de-stigmatize the abuse of substances and treat it like a real mental health issue.

While we're at it, let's de-stigmatize the abuse of substances and treat it like a real mental health issue.

Literally everyone involved in the treatment and support of substance abuse does that, whether it's treatment facilities or social groups like AA and Al-Anon. As they should. Every family I know has been affected in one way or another by drug or alcohol addiction and has firsthand knowledge that substance abuse must be treated like an illness and to forgive (but not forget) the damage it causes. So I'm not exactly sure your statement reflects reality.

Re: No amount of alcohol is good for the heart, says World Heart Federation

#36

Quoted post unavailable.

You know, most (Americans) drink little or no alcohol. The cult of alcohol is certain they cannot live without it, which is part of the problem perhaps. But most do live without it. And are not eating bugs.

Source that most Americans drink little or no alcohol? Apparently in 2019, 54.9% of respondents[1] had alcohol in the last month. And I would imagine polls like this are generally under-reported, not over.

[1] https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sh...

Re: No amount of alcohol is good for the heart, says World Heart Federation

#38
Alcohol is a carcinogen, it's bad for the liver, and while I didn't know, I'm not surprised it's bad for the heart.

Keep drinking to a minimum, and if possible keep it social. Life's short, enjoy a beer or glass of whiskey, but try to minimize it's harms, or just take mushrooms.

Also keep an eye out if you're a binge drinker, it's the second type of alcoholic, you don't drink everyday, but when you do drink you drink until you pass out.

Re: No amount of alcohol is good for the heart, says World Heart Federation

#39
post #28

I know of a man who had a shot of 96 percent alcohol (192 proof) every single day and died at the age of 96.

Yes that is an anecdote. We get better info by looking at large groups of people and that is what the recommendation is based on.

Re: No amount of alcohol is good for the heart, says World Heart Federation

#40

Quoted post unavailable.

You know, most (Americans) drink little or no alcohol. The cult of alcohol is certain they cannot live without it, which is part of the problem perhaps. But most do live without it. And are not eating bugs.

This sounded wrong to me, so I did a simple search. This study from the NIAA of the NIH seems to suggest what you said is incorrect. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sh...

Most Americans do drink.

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