Drinking behind 1 in 10 deaths of working-age adults
1–10 of 144 posts
Re: Drinking behind 1 in 10 deaths of working-age adults
#2The actual study is: http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2014/13_0293.htm.
It's also available as a PDF: http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2014/pdf/13_0293.pdf
Re: Drinking behind 1 in 10 deaths of working-age adults
#3You have to wonder what the economic impact would be if government policy were driven by a top ten list of quality-of-life issues. Would there be PSAs on TV suggesting a bong hit instead of a drink? Would soda pop be locked up behind the counter? "Got more milk than you can digest?" How many points of GDP would it be worth to do the necessary social engineering?
The other side of the coin is: What is the total cost of successful industry lobbying that makes harmful products seem normal to the public?
I suspect that fascination with experiments in optimizations is what drives interest in things like Soylent.
Re: Drinking behind 1 in 10 deaths of working-age adults
#4You have to wonder what the economic impact would be if government policy were driven by a top ten list of quality-of-life issues. Would there be PSAs on TV suggesting a bong hit instead of a drink? Would soda pop be locked up behind the counter? "Got more milk than you can digest?" How many points of GDP would it be worth to do the necessary social engineering? The other side of the coin is: What is the total cost o…
Or David Nutt's suggestion that, as a public health issue, we should be trying to engineer a drug with the same subjective effects as alcohol but without the toxicity or addictiveness: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/11/alcohol...
(such a chemical would, in practice, be immediately banned in most countries)
Re: Drinking behind 1 in 10 deaths of working-age adults
#5You have to wonder what the economic impact would be if government policy were driven by a top ten list of quality-of-life issues. Would there be PSAs on TV suggesting a bong hit instead of a drink? Would soda pop be locked up behind the counter? "Got more milk than you can digest?" How many points of GDP would it be worth to do the necessary social engineering? The other side of the coin is: What is the total cost o…
Or David Nutt's suggestion that, as a public health issue, we should be trying to engineer a drug with the same subjective effects as alcohol but without the toxicity or addictiveness: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/11/alcohol... (such a chemical would, in practice, be immediately banned in most countries)
Isn't this what quaaludes were in the 70s and 80s? (and they were quickly banned)
Re: Drinking behind 1 in 10 deaths of working-age adults
#6You have to wonder what the economic impact would be if government policy were driven by a top ten list of quality-of-life issues. Would there be PSAs on TV suggesting a bong hit instead of a drink? Would soda pop be locked up behind the counter? "Got more milk than you can digest?" How many points of GDP would it be worth to do the necessary social engineering? The other side of the coin is: What is the total cost o…
Or David Nutt's suggestion that, as a public health issue, we should be trying to engineer a drug with the same subjective effects as alcohol but without the toxicity or addictiveness: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/11/alcohol... (such a chemical would, in practice, be immediately banned in most countries)
Synthehol! http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Synthehol
Re: Drinking behind 1 in 10 deaths of working-age adults
#7I'm not sure this is all that surprising.
Turn it around: what do we expect to be the causes for those adults between age 20 and 64 who die? I really should read up on the relevant actuarial facts, but isn't it the case that by and large those from 20 to, say, 50 plus or minus are fairly healthy?
Re: Drinking behind 1 in 10 deaths of working-age adults
#8You have to wonder what the economic impact would be if government policy were driven by a top ten list of quality-of-life issues. Would there be PSAs on TV suggesting a bong hit instead of a drink? Would soda pop be locked up behind the counter? "Got more milk than you can digest?" How many points of GDP would it be worth to do the necessary social engineering? The other side of the coin is: What is the total cost o…
The tricky part in my mind is determining what exactly a quality of life issue is in the first place. I know plenty of moderate, sensible drinkers who would consider their quality of life lowered if there were any more restrictions placed on alcohol.
It's not just a price issue, but all sorts of things like not being able to buy alcohol on a Sunday, despite not being religious. Or one that I personally still experience from time to time - being asked for ID despite being 12 years over the age limit.
These are all quality of life issues in my mind. If we were to solely go on doctors guidelines, life would be pretty boring. No sport - too dangerous. No drinking - too much liver damage. No sailing, no cheerleading, no mountain climbing, etc...
There comes a point at which you just have to tell the doctors that it's all well and good pointing out the risks, but ultimately, life is about risks. I can barely see the point in living if we deny ourselves all the slightly risky things just because of the potential downsides. It's cowardice wrapped up in a fresh new label for the modern age.
Re: Drinking behind 1 in 10 deaths of working-age adults
#9And yet HN is still full of people that act like I'm the scum of the Earth for working 50 hours a week and then consuming pure THC/CBD in vapor form after work.
LOL.
Re: Drinking behind 1 in 10 deaths of working-age adults
#10You have to wonder what the economic impact would be if government policy were driven by a top ten list of quality-of-life issues. Would there be PSAs on TV suggesting a bong hit instead of a drink? Would soda pop be locked up behind the counter? "Got more milk than you can digest?" How many points of GDP would it be worth to do the necessary social engineering? The other side of the coin is: What is the total cost o…
The tricky part in my mind is determining what exactly a quality of life issue is in the first place. I know plenty of moderate, sensible drinkers who would consider their quality of life lowered if there were any more restrictions placed on alcohol. It's not just a price issue, but all sorts of things like not being able to buy alcohol on a Sunday, despite not being religious. Or one that I personally still experien…
This is all covered by standard models of quality of life - including medical ones - to be found everywhere, including wikipedia or in your favourite journal.
Any sane doctor won't tell you to stop playing soccer if you like it, even if is a rather dangerous sport in the lower leagues.