[mutchdutch]

Having grown up in a home where my Dad had a drinking problem, I am glad for every limiting factor there was. The state ran the liqour stores then so the only thing in Iowa bars was beer. AND BELIEVE ME, THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE WHEN HE DRANK BEER AND WHEN HE DRANK THE HARD STUFF.

I am also glad there was limits on gambling. If the lottery existed then, he would have lost the farm.

If you make it easy for people to do it, they will do it, if you make it hard, they won't.

[Fifth Business]

Overindulgence can be committed with many things. You use drinking and gambling as your examples because of personal familiarity, but what about eating? Many people overindulge with food. I don't think artificial scarcity is the answer there, do you?

In my estimation, prohibiting minors from drinking and restricting the sale and advertising of alcohol only creates a forbidden fruit that encourages young adults to develop drinking problems.

[NittanyLion]

First of all, I'm very sorry to hear about your father's problem. That said, I think we as a nation can deal with the issue one of three ways:

1. Encourage government to get involved in restricting the sale of advertisement of the "dangerous" good in question. I wouldn't agree with this (and it appears neither does James Dobson), but the liberals certainly do. They use the same argument all the time for gun control and the environment.

2. Encourage citizen involvement in encouraging companies to voluntarily curb advertising or sale of the "dangerous" good in question. Activism certainly seems to be the American way, and it probably makes us stronger as a whole. It appears that's what Dobson is in favor of doing - petitions, calling and the like. In my view, he would be better served to restrict these efforts to causes in dire need of his energy; I do not see alcohol ads as one.

3. Encourage all citizens to act responsibly and exercise control over their own lives, including control over any "dangerous" good. This is the path I would personally choose. Instead of restricting my focus to one thing I find dangerous, I'd sooner everyone realize they have a debt to their family and to those around them. The best way to settle the debt is to exercise restraint over their own activities - because in the end they're the only ones who can make a difference. I view it like a diet; it only works if someone commits themselves to the cause for internal reasons.

[Eagle Eye]

If you make it easy for people to do it, they will do it, if you make it hard, they won't.

Thank God we hav a government to make decisions for the masses and to limit people's choices for them. To hell with those who can handle life with responsibility, we need a government that rules for the least responsible among us.

[ThinkLikeWaterAndReeds]

"If you make it easy for people to do it, they will do it, if you make it hard, they won't"

You of all people should realize that an alcoholic will drink whether it be easy or difficult, legal or illegal.

[SamAdams76]

If you make it easy for people to do it, they will do it, if you make it hard, they won't.

Really. I knew of an alcoholic once who would drink rubbing alcohol from CVS. He was even known to pry the top off an AquaNet (hairspray) can and drink that. It is sad to see somebody ruin their lives over alcohol. But trying to deny alcohol to everybody else isn't going to help those people. The fact is, most people who drink alcohol do so moderately and have little or no ill effects from it.

[southern rock]

Having grown up in a home where my Dad had a drinking problem, I am glad for every limiting factor there was.

Pay close attention folks. This is why we are losing our freedom in America. Legislation based on personal experience is becoming the norm.

"It happened to me, so I must stop it from happening to anyone else."

[southern rock]

I am also glad there was limits on gambling. If the lottery existed then, he would have lost the farm.
If you make it easy for people to do it, they will do it, if you make it hard, they won't.

I mean seriously, can you believe the mentality here? No accounting for personal responsibility, no blaming of the actual person with the problems. Just an all out advocating of government, nanny-state control to save people from themselves.

[riley1992]

I am sorry to hear you had to grow up like that but for you to promote denying all other individuals of having drinks if they choose is simply wrong all over the place. Your father had a problem. The rest of society should not have to pay for that.

[Fraulein]

Same here. My father is a hardcore alcoholic of 35 years with a fondness for vodka. Strange that it's okay to advertise alcohol, but not cigarettes. My father's cigarette smoking was the least of our worries...