Fair enough, I didn’t know much about it. But it sounds like that was based on a moral imperative impressed on those who weren’t on board. But what’s happening today isn’t a moral suppression, which is why I think it might go differently.

That’s why I’m comparing it to tobacco use. The decline in tobacco use isn’t based on a moral thing–younger generations are simply not interested. And it looks like it’ll only continue to decline for that reason.

It’s possible that it bounces back (the alcohol industry marketeers will certainly try), but it’s not just a matter of removing an artificial barrier, it would involve convincing people to want it again.

Maybe. I think the difference is that prohibition and the temperance movements were based on top-down authoritative control (at least as I understand it). Folks in charge forbade it, and people found ways to circumvent it–because they still wanted it. The younger generations today simply aren’t interested. It’s not being outlawed, it’s being left behind.

Add current research on top of that (and the messages young people receive based on that), and it might be in a serious decline for good. Or it could go the way of vinyl–a niche interest preserved by a dedicated community, but not mainstream. Or any number of things, who knows?

Thanks for sharing. I haven’t followed it as closely, but I understand the latest research suggests that any amount of alcohol isn’t really worth it. Similar to tobacco, how it was pretty much a given for one age, my generation grew up hearing about all the negatives.

Factor on top of that young people aren’t primarily socializing in drinking spaces anymore. Between COVID shutting that down for a while, and people having less money, there’s less reason to go out and get smashed.

I personally still enjoy a drink once in a while, but it’s not something I’d terribly mind seeing disappear, especially for how destructive it can be.

Fair enough. But when people find out I’ve never seen Forest Gump or some other classic, I get the second reaction.

Usually I don’t know about my knowledge gaps until someone fills me in, so it’s hard to say.

There are a lot of movies that I’ve never seen that apparently everyone else has seen. I usually just smile and nod when people talk to me as if I’ve seen whatever they’re referencing, it’s easier than dealing with the incredulity and making false promises about getting around to seeing it.

Also, relevant xkcd

Alcohol consumption. It’ll likely be viewed similar to how tobacco products are viewed today.

Also, pollution. How everyone was apparently just cool with it, even though we knew better. Dealing with it won’t be optional for future generations if they want to survive, and I imagine they’ll be cursing our generation for not doing more when it’s relatively easier.

Sometimes aesthetics trump evolution

I don’t trust the admiral. I think he’s gunning for my job.

That sounds equally inefficient. I’m sorry that you have to put up with such uncultured swine.

No dawg, you gotta flip it turn-ways.

I’m eating them top down like everyone else. So if you don’t get condiments along the side of the dog, they’re gone after the first few bites.

Under? So the first half is just plain dog?

Apparently they keep breaking into parked cars at campgrounds to steal snacks.

No, I eat a sub from the side. Otherwise you’d just be eating bread, then fillings, then bread separately.

Seems like it would save everyone some time

Uh yeah, I do throat it. Top down, like a normal person.

So you like eating all the mustard right away, and then having the second half be plain?

When you eat as fast as I do, everything is eaten the short way

You don’t eat your doner kebab right off the stick?