Interesting Reading...

[CelestialBody]

 

[OUTSIDER]

Couldn't you find something longer to post...?

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[ShyGuy68]

Coming from Denmark myself, where we have a very liberal view on alcohol, I think it's a good thing that the monopoly is going away in Sweden. I don't know if we have more or less problems than other countries in the world, but my opinion is that if people what to drink, they'll be able to get a hold of it no matter what day of the week it is. And people aren't forced to drink at all, nobody is going to pour it down their throats.

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[Myrrdin]

Well prohibition didn't work so well for the U.S of A either.
The rules Sweden seem to be falling foul of are the ones designed to aid free movement of goods and people between European countries, without national Governments trying to protect their own industries by handicapping their competitors.
And EU attempts to lower internal borders, between member countries.
But national governments still set their own tax rates and decide licencing hours. For instance, in large parts of Wales, pubs are shut on Sundays.

 

[Ally C]

It's more about self-control. A drink or two is nice, but what's the point of drinking until you pass out or puke? Why would anyone do that consistently? That's one thing I've never understood. Why would you want to impair your senses and endager yourself?

It depends what you're used to. I used to wonder why people go mountaineering or do any extreme sports where danger is emphasised. In the Swedish case, their own strict laws may appear to keep drink related problems in check. Actually they don't. The lifting of trade restrictions by the EU means that there will be more access to alcohol, for sure. This doesn't mean that the EU is intrinsically wrong either. The only argument that could decide on a clear solution would be whether alcohol should be banned entirely. This won't happen, and it's clear that the problem is not the alcohol and its effects, but a lack of cultural and social measures to aid those most prone to the effects of alcohol. As the article says, these are slowly finding their way into Swedish life. It's a 'drug' too; in most cases people think they need it, think they want to do this or that, when in fact 'reasons' over-ride common-sense. The idea of drinking to get drunk is a common feature here too. The difference that has occurred over the last few years is that instead of having drunks staggering around at all hours, there are now smack-heads. The Swedish social worker was so very right.