After all the media reports about the possible banning of Party Pills, I find it ironic that we dont look at some other recreational drugs of choice.
ALAC have an interesting pdf that has some interesting stats on New Zealand and drinking.
I find it sad that those who govern us decided to change the drinking age from 20 to 18, especially when you consider the damage this drug of choice does to our society. I dont blame a specific party for the outcome as this was a conscience vote - but you have to wonder what they were thinking....
The stats are amazing - Alcohol cost us a staggering 1 to 4 billion dollars a year in harm, with 655 million in public heath spending, 240 millon in crime, and over 1 billion in lost productivity each year.
When our top sports team is sponsored by alcohol, and sport stadiums are rife with alcohol sponsorship - you have to ask yourself why Doctors want to ban "Party Pills" that to this date have not killed a single person. You think they would have bigger fish to fry.
Now let me make a couple of things clear here - I drink on occassion, and I've never taken party pills. I just think its sad we dont put our energies where they are needed because we simply accept that alcohol is a necessity in our lives.
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