Contingency law suit against suppliers and manufacturers of alcohol
The argument that is coming out is that we should take responsibility for our own actions. I don't think there is a group of people who have that drilled into their heads more than those with addictions, particularly alcoholism.
Then, we find that people who make massive profits from this and advertise it as a lifestyle choice, and a great one at that, can watch as the people who consume their product die from it while others have to pick up the pieces.
That is the serious bit.
I worked with a lawyer whose job it was to keep track of accidents involving Cesna's. I expect there are lawyers out there whose job it is to defend the alcohol industry and keep an eye on liability issues. After all, any company which owns a distillery or brewery has to be concerned about its shareholders. If, for instance, a company decides to offer shares it has to file a prospectus so that buyers know what the shares are worth. They have to exercise due diligence in drafting the prospectus and if they don't, and there is actually a ?200 billion law suit on the horizon they can be sued for misrepresenting the value of the stock they are selling.
I suppose there is some big money out there which has an incentive to peddle this nonsense that alcoholism is a choice and everyone can beat it if they just wish it so. A bit like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Yes, some people can. But is no one addicted at all to it??
Maybe there is even money to be made by researchers who debunk baclofen and test it up to 30 mg a day and find it doesn't actually work very well. Maybe it would not be good for the alcohol industry to find out that there is a treatment because that would mean there were brain chemical issues involved and not just "will power" and that it does have a physical, addictive nature. Not that I am a conspiracy theorist but I wonder how the lawyers for the booze industry would look at this. Even where there people on public forums trying to desperately to stop, you get this wishy washy idea that a chronic, life threatening illness isn't an illness at all and really, ultimately has nothing to do with the booze industry.
I suppose what I find really sad is this. I am not an alcoholic and never was although I did drink and stopped, over a long period and with great difficulty. I am involved in this because I wanted to get help for someone and I got it. I get some satisfaction out of thinking I am helping others and encouraging an attitude that might result in more people doing something for others about this issue. Yet, I find myself being attacked over side issues about whether baclofen is or is not the only gaba b agonist or whether tobacco is addictive and alcohol isn't addictive.
There seems at times to be a parsimoniousness of spirit here. People see someone making a point which might help others and jumping in to bash it down just because they have nothing better to do than trying to get one over in an argument. A lot of what I say, I put here to try to encourage people. Maybe it would give someone some hope if they thought that lawyers, courts, legislators might actually be concerned about addiction and do something about it if they realized alcohol was an addiction, and there is ample evidence of that. But, hey, no, post something that says its all wrong, insult someone because of their profession. Some people people become lawyers because they they have a deep seated desire to help people.
The argument that is coming out is that we should take responsibility for our own actions. I don't think there is a group of people who have that drilled into their heads more than those with addictions, particularly alcoholism.
Then, we find that people who make massive profits from this and advertise it as a lifestyle choice, and a great one at that, can watch as the people who consume their product die from it while others have to pick up the pieces.
That is the serious bit.
I worked with a lawyer whose job it was to keep track of accidents involving Cesna's. I expect there are lawyers out there whose job it is to defend the alcohol industry and keep an eye on liability issues. After all, any company which owns a distillery or brewery has to be concerned about its shareholders. If, for instance, a company decides to offer shares it has to file a prospectus so that buyers know what the shares are worth. They have to exercise due diligence in drafting the prospectus and if they don't, and there is actually a ?200 billion law suit on the horizon they can be sued for misrepresenting the value of the stock they are selling.
I suppose there is some big money out there which has an incentive to peddle this nonsense that alcoholism is a choice and everyone can beat it if they just wish it so. A bit like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Yes, some people can. But is no one addicted at all to it??
Maybe there is even money to be made by researchers who debunk baclofen and test it up to 30 mg a day and find it doesn't actually work very well. Maybe it would not be good for the alcohol industry to find out that there is a treatment because that would mean there were brain chemical issues involved and not just "will power" and that it does have a physical, addictive nature. Not that I am a conspiracy theorist but I wonder how the lawyers for the booze industry would look at this. Even where there people on public forums trying to desperately to stop, you get this wishy washy idea that a chronic, life threatening illness isn't an illness at all and really, ultimately has nothing to do with the booze industry.
I suppose what I find really sad is this. I am not an alcoholic and never was although I did drink and stopped, over a long period and with great difficulty. I am involved in this because I wanted to get help for someone and I got it. I get some satisfaction out of thinking I am helping others and encouraging an attitude that might result in more people doing something for others about this issue. Yet, I find myself being attacked over side issues about whether baclofen is or is not the only gaba b agonist or whether tobacco is addictive and alcohol isn't addictive.
There seems at times to be a parsimoniousness of spirit here. People see someone making a point which might help others and jumping in to bash it down just because they have nothing better to do than trying to get one over in an argument. A lot of what I say, I put here to try to encourage people. Maybe it would give someone some hope if they thought that lawyers, courts, legislators might actually be concerned about addiction and do something about it if they realized alcohol was an addiction, and there is ample evidence of that. But, hey, no, post something that says its all wrong, insult someone because of their profession. Some people people become lawyers because they they have a deep seated desire to help people.
Comment