Category Archives: Alcohol

Alcohol, Jihad on Drugs™

Alcohol is a Class C controlled drug analogue

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Wine drinkers may be imbibing illicit drug

Drinkers of wine, sherry and port may be unknowingly breaking the law and consuming small doses of the party drug fantasy, an illegal class B drug.

The revelation has brought calls for wine to be tested to see if there are traces of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), or its precursor gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) – the active ingredient in fantasy.

The Ministry of Health has only just been made aware of the issue and is working through how to deal with it.

But alcohol is already a Class C controlled drug analogue.

The substance at the top is 1,4-butanediol (“Fantasy”), a class B controlled drug.

The substance at the bottom is ethanol (“Alcohol”).

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 states that

controlled drug analogue means any substance … that has a structure substantially similar to that of any controlled drug …

Alcohol, Martin Luther

I shall drink

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I remember that a certain man whom I once comforted on the loss of his son said to me, “Wait and see, Martin, you will become a great man.” I have often thought of these words, for, as I have said, such utterances have something of a prophetic quality. Be of good courage, therefore, and cast these dreadful thoughts out of your mind. Whenever the devil pesters you with these [anxious and despondent] thoughts, at once seek out the company of men, drink more, joke and jest, or engage in some other form of merriment. Sometimes it is necessary to drink a little more, play, jest, or even commit some sin in defiance and contempt of the devil in order not to give him an opportunity to make us scrupulous about trifles. We shall be overcome if we worry too much about falling into some sin.

Accordingly if the devil should say, “Do not drink,” you should reply to him, “On this very account, because you forbid it, I shall drink, and what is more, I shall drink a generous amount.” Thus one must always do the opposite of that which Satan prohibits. What do you think is my reason for drinking wine undiluted, talking freely, and eating more often if it is not to torment and vex the devil who made up his mind to torment and vex me? Would that I could commit some token sin simply for the sake of mocking the devil, so that he might understand that I acknowledge no sin and am conscious of no sin. When the devil attacks and torments us, we must completely set aside the whole Decalogue.

— Martin Luther, letter to Jerome Weller, 1530.

[Cross-posted to SOLO.]

Alcohol, Jihad on Drugs™, Labour Party, Slavery

Let them drink Rheineck

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Palmerston North MP Iain Lees-Galloway remembers fondly the days when his cultured palate was enriched with vast quantities of 50 cent cans of Rheineck beer.

I remember this from my student days. We would always look at the cheapest product that week, whether it be Tui, or Rheineck, or some of those other quality products. I remember Rheineck being 50c a can – it was disgusting.

And this is the prime example of buying something for one purpose only, and that is for its alcohol content and its cheapness, because you wouldn’t buy Rheineck on the taste …

… from the NZ Herald.

Quite right, too. You wouldn’t buy Rheineck on the taste. Why would you buy Rheineck?

You can still buy Rheineck. It’s currently on special at Foodtown, Woolworths and Countdown. $13.59 for a 12-pack of 330ml cans. Today’s price per can is $1.29, compared to 50 cents circa 1999. That’s a 250% price increase in 12 years.

… So, yes, we do need to increase the price

So, no, Iain. We don’t.

Alcohol, Jihad on Drugs™

Police arrest 300 in alcohol crackdown

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Police arrest 300 in alcohol crackdown

More than 300 people have been arrested in a two-month crackdown on liquor outlets.

Police carried out 301 search warrants as part of Operation Wowser, a nationally coordinated operation focusing on “bottle stores” – those where alcohol is sold.

They made 311 arrests, seized 3,220 litres of alcohol and 139g of methamphetamine.

Alcohol was found warehoused at 44 locations, with 2657 bottles and cans seized.

Officers also seized $111,154 in cash, 19 firearms and ammunition.

A wide range of charges have been laid, including conspiracy to supply beer, wine and spirits, manufacturing methamphetamine, participating in an organised criminal group, unlawful possession of a firearm and threat to kill.

“This was a sustained programme of enforcement to combat booze and disrupt organised crime groups” said Assistant Commissioner Malcolm Burgess.

“Bottle stores are hubs for criminal offending. The people who run them are often not only dealing alcohol, but also methamphetamine.

They invariably receive stolen property, take payments for booze and are involved in organised crime groups.

“Such outlets cause misery in communities and we are sending a clear message that they won’t be tolerated.

“We will continue to protect our communities from the harm caused by booze merchants and stamp out the anti-social behaviour they create.”

Police are trying to seize assets from 47 of those arrested. They will have to prove they are not the proceeds of criminal activity.

Mr Burgess said he was confident the operation had caused “significant disruption” to liquor outlets and warned dealers they would continue to be the subject of close police attention.