Thursday, 16 April 2009

I’ll Drink To That

If alcoholics really are to have their benefits cut, then where will that leave the newly unemployed Damian McBride? He didn’t get to look like that at 35 by overdoing it on the lemon barley water.
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7 comments:

  1. JohnJGMooney16 April 2009 at 18:45

    As a lifelong tea-totaller (and member for over 37 years of a Total Abstinence Society) I refuse to acknowledge that alcoholism is a disease or illness.
    While smoking is clearly like hang gliding a prelude to illness....I cannot understand the tolerance shown to alcohol consumption, leading as it often does to crime and violence.
    I advocate no treatment on NHS for alcoholics .....nor should they receive any kind of benefits.

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  2. David Lindsay16 April 2009 at 18:47

    You must have fun as an Irish Catholic...

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  3. JohnJGMooney16 April 2009 at 18:51

    A stereotypical and racist remark which does not reflect well on you.

    Of course Bernard Manning was an English Catholic....so I guess its to be expected.

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  4. David Lindsay16 April 2009 at 18:56

    I knew you would...

    Seriously, though, while I know that there is a strong tradition of total abstinece among Irish Catholics, well, it's a distinct minority view, isn't it? And opinions quite as hardline as yours must make you controversial?

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  5. JohnMooney16 April 2009 at 19:15

    so......no apology then?
    Ah well.
    I suspect its the least controversial of the controversial views I have.
    There is a strong tradition of total abstinence among Irish Catholics and of course other Christian and other faith groups.
    Minority? certainly.
    "Distinct" or "small" minority? No

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  6. David Lindsay17 April 2009 at 16:53

    Yes, I apologise.

    It must be said that Irish Catholic teetotalism doesn't seem to travel much. There is quite a bit of it in Ireland, but hardly any in Irish-descended communities elsewhere.

    You are of course quite right: addiction is a myth. If people drink too much, or eat too much, or take drugs, or whatever, then that is because they want to do it more than they want to stop.

    But the medical conditions that result are nevertheless medical conditions, to be treated as such.

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  7. JohnJGMooney17 April 2009 at 21:55

    Oh I think Irish Catholic abstentionism travels at least as well as English heterosexuality :)

    And I apologise. LOL

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