Alcohol could be substituted with safer alternatives such as benzodiazepines or marijuana
It is pleasing to see some rationality creeping into the debate on
the escalating alcohol problem [1]. The UK now combines internationally
high rates of alcohol consumption with the binge drinking patterns typical
of high latitude countries [2]. But it seems unlikely that traditional
means of controlling alcohol consumption by abolition, raising price and
restricting access will be viable in modern societies [2].
A radical new approach is required. Alcohol users should be regarded
as rational consumers who are drinking in order to attain specific
psychological effects - and who would substitute alcohol for safer
alternative drugs if these were legal, available and affordable [3, 4].
For example, benzodiazepines are a safer alternative for achieving
the relaxed sociability of slow, low-dose alcohol consumption, while
marijuana is a safer and less violence-inducing intoxicant than binge
drinking [4].
Preliminary economic analysis suggests that consumers will indeed
make these safer substitutions - when the choices are available [5]. All
that is needed is for public policy to swing away from being prohibition-
oriented to being choice-oriented.
1. Gossop M. Classification of illegal and harmful drugs BMJ 2006;
333: 272-273
2. The Economist. Drinking culture: in a pickle – Britons drink
southern European quantities in northern European style. The Economist
March 18 2004.
3. Nutt DJ. Alcohol alternatives - a goal for psychopharmacology? J
Psychopharmacol. 2006; 20: 318-20.
4. Charlton BG. Diazepam with your dinner, Sir? The lifestyle drug-
substitution strategy: a radical alcohol policy. QJM 2005 98: 457-459.
5. Chaloupka FJ, Laixuthai A. Do youths substitute alcohol and
marijuana? Some econometric evidence. Eastern Economic Journal. 1997; 23:
253-276
Rapid Response:
Alcohol could be substituted with safer alternatives such as benzodiazepines or marijuana
It is pleasing to see some rationality creeping into the debate on
the escalating alcohol problem [1]. The UK now combines internationally
high rates of alcohol consumption with the binge drinking patterns typical
of high latitude countries [2]. But it seems unlikely that traditional
means of controlling alcohol consumption by abolition, raising price and
restricting access will be viable in modern societies [2].
A radical new approach is required. Alcohol users should be regarded
as rational consumers who are drinking in order to attain specific
psychological effects - and who would substitute alcohol for safer
alternative drugs if these were legal, available and affordable [3, 4].
For example, benzodiazepines are a safer alternative for achieving
the relaxed sociability of slow, low-dose alcohol consumption, while
marijuana is a safer and less violence-inducing intoxicant than binge
drinking [4].
Preliminary economic analysis suggests that consumers will indeed
make these safer substitutions - when the choices are available [5]. All
that is needed is for public policy to swing away from being prohibition-
oriented to being choice-oriented.
1. Gossop M. Classification of illegal and harmful drugs BMJ 2006;
333: 272-273
2. The Economist. Drinking culture: in a pickle – Britons drink
southern European quantities in northern European style. The Economist
March 18 2004.
3. Nutt DJ. Alcohol alternatives - a goal for psychopharmacology? J
Psychopharmacol. 2006; 20: 318-20.
4. Charlton BG. Diazepam with your dinner, Sir? The lifestyle drug-
substitution strategy: a radical alcohol policy. QJM 2005 98: 457-459.
5. Chaloupka FJ, Laixuthai A. Do youths substitute alcohol and
marijuana? Some econometric evidence. Eastern Economic Journal. 1997; 23:
253-276
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests