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rt
Joined: 27 May 2009
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 Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 12:43 am Post subject: Why don't Koreans consider alcohol and cigarettes drugs? |
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| It seems to me that they cause more death/social problems than any other "substance" in Korea." Why isn't this problem addressed more proactively? It would seem the logical thing to do; to me anyway! |
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littlelisa
Joined: 12 Jun 2007
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:02 am Post subject: |
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Because it's too much the norm and pretty much anyone making the laws uses one or both of those, especially in Korea. Easier to make a demon something that few people use than something that most people do.
BTW, I agree with you. They DO cause more problems. Funny thing, though, logic doesn't always win. |
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orosee
Joined: 07 Mar 2008
Location: Hannam-dong, Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:16 am Post subject: |
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| And how exactly is that different from any other country in the World? Be happy that there are at least 2 legal drugs left to enjoy. Personally I find Koreans much more approachable when drunk (that is, them and myself) so please don't start anything missionary now please. Instead just Wiki or Google the Volstead act. |
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Joe666
Joined: 19 Nov 2008
Location: Jesus it's hot down here!
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:35 am Post subject: |
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The normal definition of a drug is anything you put into your body, other than food and beverages. They sell Ibuprofen etc. at any pharmacy and I believe they are labeled "drugs" in Korea. I believe they just haven't caught on to the idea that a "drug" is something other than the "plague of the west". I'm sure millions of Koreans are on some sort of anti-depressant. I know I may be very shortly. Your trying to comprehend the infinitely incomprehensible. Your wasting your time!!
These are the same people who can not comprehend the difference between fat density and muscle density. Be patient. Give them a few millenia to catch up. |
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thurst
Joined: 08 Apr 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:50 am Post subject: |
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| probably for the same reasons americans don't consider them *real* drugs. |
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GoldMember
Joined: 24 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:55 am Post subject: |
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The difference between "legal" and "illegal" drugs is government revenue.
Governments collect taxes from the sale of legal drugs, and are unable to collect taxes from the sale of illegal drugs. If they can't collect revenue, then its illegal. |
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Rusty Shackleford
Joined: 08 May 2008
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:59 am Post subject: |
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| GoldMember wrote: |
The difference between "legal" and "illegal" drugs is government revenue.
Governments collect taxes from the sale of legal drugs, and are unable to collect taxes from the sale of illegal drugs. If they can't collect revenue, then its illegal. |
Certain substances are only illegal because the govt decrees it to be so. There is nothing stopping them legalising weed or coke or whatever and taxing it.
As to the OP, most people back west don't consider them drugs either. Caffeine is a drug, too. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 3:26 am Post subject: Re: Why don't Koreans consider alcohol and cigarettes drugs? |
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| rt wrote: |
| It seems to me that they cause more death/social problems than any other "substance" in Korea." Why isn't this problem addressed more proactively? It would seem the logical thing to do; to me anyway! |
As opposed to the West? |
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djsmnc
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 4:08 am Post subject: |
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| I suppose if I couldn't read the huge signs posted on the Seoul city buses that list all the hazardous chemicals in ciggys and the effects of alcohol on pregnant women, I wouldn't think Koreans are very proactive about it either! |
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tiger fancini
Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Location: Testicles for Eyes
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:13 am Post subject: |
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| Cigarettes and booze are cheap here. It's definitely good for the wellbeing. What social problem? |
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littlelisa
Joined: 12 Jun 2007
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:41 am Post subject: |
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| djsmnc wrote: |
| I suppose if I couldn't read the huge signs posted on the Seoul city buses that list all the hazardous chemicals in ciggys and the effects of alcohol on pregnant women, I wouldn't think Koreans are very proactive about it either! |
Posters don't really mean that they're being proactive about stopping smoking! Slap a poster on the bus and now Korea's proactive about stopping people from smoking?
Even in Montreal they've banned smoking in bars/clubs. Here, from what I've heard, they ban smoking in various places but don't actually enforce it. Also, the male teachers at my elementary school smoke right at the side of the building, where kids could easily see them. As a grade 1 teacher, the smell often wafts into my classroom. How nice. Heck, I've seen kids going around in the morning with brooms etc picking up the butts (the kids "clean" the stairs etc at the front of the school also. By "clean" I mean push dust around and throw it into the air).
Proactive could be steep taxes on cigarettes to discourage people smoking, banning smoking in more places (and actually enforcing it), etc.
To be fair, though, there are places where it's much worse. *cough* Jordan *cough* |
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Pwillig
Joined: 26 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:51 am Post subject: |
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| Because alcohol and cigarettes are the only things causing this country from committing mass suicide. |
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crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 6:16 am Post subject: |
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Posters don't really mean that they're being proactive about stopping smoking! Slap a poster on the bus and now Korea's proactive about stopping people from smoking?
Even in Montreal they've banned smoking in bars/clubs. |
Limiting it doesn't mean they're being proactive about stopping smoking. You want to be proactive about stopping smoking? get a government with the fortitude to stand up and make it illegal nationwide and ban their sale rather than just shuffling it around while sucking in the tax dollars. |
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Old Gil
Joined: 26 Sep 2009
Location: Got out! olleh!
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 6:49 am Post subject: |
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| I'd imagine they turn the other cheek in regard to uppers as well. Anything to make you more productive, and alcohol is too ingrained in human culture to really stamp out. Weed would be great for this country, but encourages too much 'what if' thoughts to be of great use to the slavedrivers. |
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littlelisa
Joined: 12 Jun 2007
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 12:56 pm Post subject: |
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| crossmr wrote: |
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Posters don't really mean that they're being proactive about stopping smoking! Slap a poster on the bus and now Korea's proactive about stopping people from smoking?
Even in Montreal they've banned smoking in bars/clubs. |
Limiting it doesn't mean they're being proactive about stopping smoking. You want to be proactive about stopping smoking? get a government with the fortitude to stand up and make it illegal nationwide and ban their sale rather than just shuffling it around while sucking in the tax dollars. |
I agree to some extent. I think that that might cause some other problems if you ban it outright. I think the best would be so that it's not only considered a "bad" thing to do, which strangely attracts some people, but a plain stupid thing to do. Making it harder to buy cigarettes (available only at a certain type of store that's not as common as corner stores, for example) and also making it expensive is one way. If you combine that with severe restrictions on where you can smoke (that are actually enforced), a lot of people will quit because of the bother. If you just make it illegal, you might have problems with smuggling, etc. You have to cut down on the percentage of people who smoke at the very least before you make it illegal. So the first step of a proactive government who wants to make it illegal or be proactive about it is to limit where you can buy it and where you can smoke, IMO. |
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