Like I bet if alcohol was something you had to snort, or just like a pill you take, I think a lot of people might not dig it as much.
I have a friend who was addicted to both cocaine and alcohol. While he, of course, is convinced that cocaine is one of the worst substances to have ever existed, he is even wearier of alcohol because of: (I’m obviously both paraphrasing AND excluding most countries with a Muslim majority here)
a) Social acceptance. No one is ever going to judge you for quietly sitting in the corner of a bar drinking your beer. Try snorting a line on the same setting and see what happens.
b) Availability. Even in sparsely populated areas, you are never too far away (say, a 10 minute walk) from a bottle of wine/spirit/beer.
c) Practicality (which is what answers your question). You don’t need a syringe, spoon, knife, bill, bong or lighter, not even another recipient, to start binging on booze. Once you buy/steal the stuff, you’re all set - and drinking something definitely IS more ‘natural’ (as in, it’s a reflex) than injecting or smoking something.
DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 15 hours ago
When people say, “I don’t use drugs”, almost never do they include alcohol in that. Alcohol, which is a drug, is always referred to separately, in large part because it’s a beverage. Most people, if asked, will agree that alcohol is a drug, but it’s not really categorized as one in their mind on a day-to-day basis. No one has a glass of wine at lunch and thinks, “I’m doing drugs now.” But, if alcohol as a liquid simply didn’t exist, but exactly the same effect could be had in pill form, I don’t think people would be taking a pill with their dinner, and washing it down with water.
radix@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
For many people, “drugs,” with no other qualifier, is just short-hand for “illegal drugs.” Plenty of people who say they don’t use drugs also take prescriptions or OTC medications.
It will be interesting in the next few years to see where marijuana ends up on that spectrum. Still largely illegal (federally), but if that changes, will people still consider it a “drug” in the same way they do now, or will it fall into a separate category like drugs that are mostly legal?
DarkDarkHouse@lemmy.sdf.org 2 hours ago
You’ve inspired me. Next time I decline a drink I’ll say no thanks, I don’t do drugs.
nesc@lemmy.cafe 14 hours ago
Alcohol is something that for a very long time was associated with civilisation itself, it was and is very important. It’s just embedded into most societies of course people don’t consider it drug.
FistingEnthusiast@lemmynsfw.com 14 hours ago
It was the only way to make water drinkable in many places
“Small beer” wasn’t made for funsies
spankmonkey@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
Also coffee, which is a stimulant.
FistingEnthusiast@lemmynsfw.com 15 hours ago
I agree, but there’s a significant difference
I love wine, beer and whisky and pretty much anything except vodka (because it’s boring)
I love it because of the flavours, the mouth-feel, the way I can pair drinks with food to enhance the enjoyment of both
I’ve never had coke, mushrooms, ketamine, weed or anything else that made me think “wow, this is yum! I reckon it’d go beautifully with a nicely aged cheddar, or oysters, or a perfectly cooked lamb shoulder”
TheLeadenSea@sh.itjust.works 14 hours ago
The only drug I do is either prescription drugs, or the caffeine I get from the occasional chocolate.