On: WHO: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for o...

[TedDoesntTalk]

> refuse a beer in Germany is an affront that I would like to weigh against the risk of cancer

Refusing a cigarette used to have a similar insult; and also you weren’t cool if you refused

That’s changed after decades of press and cancer warning labels on tobacco.

Let’s hope the same happens with alcohol.

[shanebellone → TedDoesntTalk]

"Let’s hope the same happens with alcohol."

Why? You have all the required information to make an educated decision for yourself. Others do too. Allow them to decide without harassment.

I quit smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol years ago now. As the calculus changed, my habits followed suit. Everyone should be allowed to choose how they live.

[krisoft → shanebellone]

> Allow them to decide without harassment.

vs

> To refuse a beer in Germany is an affront that I would like to weigh against the risk of cancer.

Who is harassing who if someone feels that their choice of not drinking beer will cause affront? Hoping that cultural norms will change and it will cease to be an affront to refuse a drink is not harassing. People exerting social pressure on others who refuse a beer is. That is why I'm hoping any such practices disappear.

Exactly for the reason you state, to allow each to decide without harassment.

[shanebellone → krisoft]

"Who is harassing who if someone feels that their choice of not drinking beer will cause affront?"

The responsibility of "feeling" belongs to the individual.

[TOMDM → shanebellone]

I think the parent comment agrees with you?

They want to be able to choose whether to engage with alcohol without the attached stigma.

[endisneigh → shanebellone]

If you believe in socialized health care you would hope the trend on unhealthy habits is going down, right?

[shanebellone → endisneigh]

I believe socialized healthcare is an eventuality. But I couldn't care less about other people's habits.

[TedDoesntTalk → shanebellone]

I didn’t say outlaw it. Cigarettes are not outlawed. Let’s change the peer pressure around drinking like we did with cigarettes

[shanebellone → TedDoesntTalk]

"Let’s change the peer pressure around drinking like we did with cigarettes."

This is precisely what I was referring to. If peer pressure to use [insert substance here] is wrong; the antithesis is wrong too.

[TedDoesntTalk → shanebellone]

It may be wrong, but it is reality that peer pressure exists. Society judges many actions. That’s going away; it even exists in some animal culture.