Live data from Hacker News

Alcohol-Related Deaths Surge to Nearly 500 a Day, CDC Says

nytimes.com

41–50 of 85 posts

Re: Alcohol-Related Deaths Surge to Nearly 500 a Day, CDC Says

#41

Too many people working... I mean drinking from home.

Probably some mental health damage from Covid lockdowns as well.

To the downvotes - I’m not saying lockdowns were a bad thing, but they did take a toll on many mentally. I’m personally still struggling to recover to my pre-Covid levels of mental health. It was very tough personally on me, and I took the lockdowns very seriously.

Re: Alcohol-Related Deaths Surge to Nearly 500 a Day, CDC Says

#42

this is quite an anti-drug article. Raise prices? Limit access? Research shows that even a little bit can mutate DNA..? Drinking 100 years ago was way worse and that's how we got prohibition. Hope we don't go back in that direction.

Prohibition cut alcoholism rates nearly in half in the states and also greatly reduced domestic violence rates, especially among poorer people. I'm not advocating for a return to this particular approach to societal management but the idea that it was some kind of obvious catastrophe is nothing short of ridiculous.

Re: Alcohol-Related Deaths Surge to Nearly 500 a Day, CDC Says

#43
post #28
post #26

Similar to vaping, is there a safer way to consume alcohol or get drunk in a similar way?

No. Alcohol can't work independently of its downsides. The next-best but also-bad thing is probably GHB or ketamine or something like that. Basically any CNS depressant is going to have some significant dangers, short or long term.

Maybe meditation can get you there safely?

Re: Alcohol-Related Deaths Surge to Nearly 500 a Day, CDC Says

#45

Too many people working... I mean drinking from home.

Probably some mental health damage from Covid lockdowns as well. To the downvotes - I’m not saying lockdowns were a bad thing, but they did take a toll on many mentally. I’m personally still struggling to recover to my pre-Covid levels of mental health. It was very tough personally on me, and I took the lockdowns very seriously.

Lockdown was the first time I'd ever drunk heavily in my life. Still have some weird hangups from being treated like a criminal for wanting to do normal human things.

Re: Alcohol-Related Deaths Surge to Nearly 500 a Day, CDC Says

#46
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could you share any evidence-based arguments against the evidence-based statements and recommendations summarized in the article? What fatal flaws undermine the research in the linked CDC page[1] establishing a causal link between alcohol consumption and DNA damage and increased risk of cancers of the mouth and throat, larynx, esophagus, liver, colon and rectum, and breast in women? [1] https://blogs.cdc.gov/cancer/2…

All sorts of things elevate all kind of risks of cancer, but this is one of the few we moralize this way.

? Really? Neuroticism about health is one of the most common vectors for modern secular americans to moralize at all. Just look how worked up people get about obesity and smoking, both of which are very high risk factors for (among many other health risks) cancer. Alcohol is actually uniquely celebrated by people who are otherwise very concerned about health from my perspective.

Re: Alcohol-Related Deaths Surge to Nearly 500 a Day, CDC Says

#47

this is quite an anti-drug article. Raise prices? Limit access? Research shows that even a little bit can mutate DNA..? Drinking 100 years ago was way worse and that's how we got prohibition. Hope we don't go back in that direction.

Prohibition cut alcoholism rates nearly in half in the states and also greatly reduced domestic violence rates, especially among poorer people. I'm not advocating for a return to this particular approach to societal management but the idea that it was some kind of obvious catastrophe is nothing short of ridiculous.

It also literally created the mafia. Single-factor analysis is really not smart.

Re: Alcohol-Related Deaths Surge to Nearly 500 a Day, CDC Says

#48

this is quite an anti-drug article. Raise prices? Limit access? Research shows that even a little bit can mutate DNA..? Drinking 100 years ago was way worse and that's how we got prohibition. Hope we don't go back in that direction.

Could you share any evidence-based arguments against the evidence-based statements and recommendations summarized in the article? What fatal flaws undermine the research in the linked CDC page[1] establishing a causal link between alcohol consumption and DNA damage and increased risk of cancers of the mouth and throat, larynx, esophagus, liver, colon and rectum, and breast in women? [1] https://blogs.cdc.gov/cancer/2…

talking past each other...

I don't think anyone here seriously doubts whether alcohol consumption carries health risks or whether increasing excise tax decreases consumption (although they might quibble on the degree for each). the question is more around how much the government should intervene to limit poor personal choices. there aren't enough peer reviewed studies in the world to answer that.

Re: Alcohol-Related Deaths Surge to Nearly 500 a Day, CDC Says

#49
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Prohibition cut alcoholism rates nearly in half in the states and also greatly reduced domestic violence rates, especially among poorer people. I'm not advocating for a return to this particular approach to societal management but the idea that it was some kind of obvious catastrophe is nothing short of ridiculous.

It also literally created the mafia. Single-factor analysis is really not smart.

No, that's just not true. And besides, that seems like a small concern compared to the enormously destructive effects alcohol has far from any organized crime. A wildly entertaining effect to be sure, but not one that touches the lives of every day people like alcohol does.

Re: Alcohol-Related Deaths Surge to Nearly 500 a Day, CDC Says

#50

Anyone else give up drinking? I only do it for work events to fit in with the bosses but that's about it. Might have a glass of really good red wine once or twice a year. Ages the hell out of you.

I used to have one or two pints most nights. During a yearly checkup, my doctor grabbed my belly and said, “You need to make this smaller” (as he jiggled it in demonstration)

I decided the easiest 3-400 Calories I could cut were those beers, and stopped right then.

I still drink on occasion, but it’s like twice a month. Sometimes more, sometimes less. Those were the easiest calories to cut.

Post reply on HN