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Comment by rawoke083600 | Hacker News Reader

We here in South Africa, we have actually banned the sale of alcohol and cigarettes while in lock-down for almost a month now.

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That seems like a bad idea. Many people will die without any alcohol. Forcing people inside and then stopping the sales of cigarettes seems like it would create more agression in the short term.

Part of the idea is to curb domestic violence and reduce the strain on emergency services [0]. I personally think that it will also help people budget, as most expected a three week lockdown but the reality is that many could be with reduced income for far longer

[0]: https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/why-alcohol-sale-banned...

The cigarette ban would increase domestic violence as people without any support aid would be forced into limit spaces with partners. How do they justify that decision?

Out of curiosity how exactly would people die without any alcohol?

People can be severely addicted to alcohol to the point of physical dependence.

https://www.medscape.com/answers/819502-79121/what-is-the-mo...

"The mortality rate from severe alcohol withdrawal and delirium tremens (DT) historically has been as high as 20% if untreated. Early recognition and improved treatment has reduced the mortality rate from DT to approximately 1-5%"

So this means people either die or go to emergency care with severe symptoms that require hospitalization, which obviously is to be avoided at a time like this.

Alcohol withdrawal can be fatal in some cases. I have a childhood friend who had multiple seizures from alcohol withdrawal and is it in a semi vegetative state.

Withdrawal symptoms of alcohol addiction can be pretty severe.

Withdrawal symptoms (primarily seizures, I believe) can be lethal.

I think the OPs point would be it would lead to more aggression and that then would lead to the more deaths.

Now I don't know if that link exists and in fact I suspect it could be the opposite, as many people become more aggressive the more they drink.

No, they're talking about severe withdrawal.

I've heard this can cause methanol blindness and increase in black market but who knows. Soon we will learn.

Here is a prohibition against learning history.

That sounds like a terrible decision

Though the social results will be fascinating... I'm sure there are researchers salivating over this opportunity.

If only there was a similar ban on alcohol which was supposed to help, but ended up making the situation worse. Maybe it even overlapped with a financial crisis.

If it goes on long enough, black markets and protests, nothing new.

And suddenly grocery stores are setting up displays of pineapples, sugar, and yeast.

Everything old is new again!

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ingenious-brick-he...

I’ve heard some of the arguments against alcohol consumption during the pandemic, and I don’t buy it.

Sure, it’s true that alcohol lowers your immune system and requires trips to stores. But a big portion of whether or not we’ll make it out of this with lower fatalities will be about our ability to maintain quarantine. And honestly, people are bored and freaked out, recreational substances give them one more thing to do that’ll keep them inside and safe-ish.

Yep. If anything alcohol has helped me maintain quarantine, since if I'm too drunk or high to drive then I'm that much more inclined to stay home.

The only thing stopping Americans from seriously protesting is cheap beer & cigarettes & sports on TV.

One is already gone, there is no way they'll take away the others.

Yep. Thankfully I've got enough booze stocked up that even if the liquor stores shut down I'd be good for awhile, and I don't smoke so that's a non-factor for me. The lack of hockey and NASCAR is annoying but manageable.

Curious what you have stocked up, mind sharing?

Sure! Current inventory:

- 1 box and 3 bottles of cheap moscato

- 1.1 bottles of rum

- 4-ish bottles of various whiskeys

- 0.7 bottles of brandy

- 1 giant bottle of tequila

- Half a gross of bottles/cans of beer

Good stuff, cheers!

You'd think that other countries would learn from America's historical mistakes.

On the other hand, I look forward to someday watching the South African version of NASCAR this will surely spawn.

Same in a lot of parts of India, sale of liquor is prohibited in the union COVID guidelines, although I'm told there are some states where liquor stores have been reopened.

Try and pry me out of my Shabeen

Bold move... I've resorted to smoking because I can't buy eliquid for vaping heh.

On that note there was a whole thread on Reddit with people saying they might kill themselves if lockdowns go on for months.

That would be hilarious, "cause of death: Covid-19"

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