For the Avoidance of Doubt - a Wicked Lie Squashed Once Again

A Mr 'Iam' alleges: 'Alcohol cannot be controlled, according to Hitchens'.

This is demonstrably false. Indeed, it is a contemptible flat lie for which I can find no excuse. If I thought this pseudonymous person likely to return here, I would require a withdrawal and apology from him. But I expect he is a hit-and-run raider.

I believe alcohol can and should be controlled and have long argued for this to be so. I just don't think that it would be practicable to make possession of alcohol a criminal offence. I do think that it would be practicable to make the possession of cannabis a criminal offence. I think he does too, which is why he fears what I say, hates me for saying it and tells lies about me.

The stringent controls I advocate (disorderly drunkenness a criminal offence, driving while drunk a criminal offence, the keeping of disorderly premises a criminal offence, alcohol licensed for public sale only during limited periods of the day and at a limited number of outlets, alcohol forbidden to minors etc) are aimed at those who use alcohol as all dope smokers use cannabis.

In the unlikely event that I and Mr 'Iam' ever shared the same bar, he would find that I, and many other people, do not drink to get drunk, or stupefied, or intoxicated. There is no other purpose in smoking or eating cannabis, apart from self-stupefaction.

Prejudice or Postjudice? Common Sense, Cannabis and Hypocrisy

'Ben Johnson' writes, quoting me 'Further, I would say that many if not most of these drug apologists are themselves users of alcohol and tobacco, probably excessive ones, and have no genuine disapproval of them'.

And comments 'Does anyone believe that the phrase 'probably excessive ones' is based on anything more substantial than simple prejudice against the wrong sort of person?'

No, It's based on postjudice and common sense. By definition, most dopesmokers are tobacco smokers, and I think it would be very rare to find a dopesmoker who didn't also smoke tobacco. And by definition dopesmokers are people who seek self-stupefaction, so if they drink alcohol you might reasonably expect that they drink it with that purpose too.

I am called upon to campaign on tobacco and alcohol with equal vigour to that which I use when campaigning against cannabis, so as to prove that my purpose is genuine, and so that the dope lobby can listen to what I say. My purpose is genuine and disinterested, and I defy anyone to show otherwise, whereas they are in all cases self-seeking.

They never will listen to what I say, and seek to prevent others from doing so too. They hate anyone who opposes their greasy pleasure, and seek to harry me into silence with lies and hypocritical propaganda of this sort (much like the BNP, who have a similar loathing for me and have made similar attempts to overwhelm me with hostile comment) .

There is no logic in this argument - that I must campaign equally on all three for my campaign on one to be valid. Huge government-sponsored efforts are made to reduce tobacco smoking, efforts I support. Many forces are willing to campaign for restrictions on drinking, restrictions I support and have always supported. I am, on the other hand, almost alone in continuing to resist what I regard as the dangerous introduction of a third legal poison in our civilisation. And it is extremely urgent.

What cannot be escaped is that the alcohol and tobacco diversion is a cynical and unscrupulous piece of hypocrisy by people who would in fact be horrified and severely personally inconvenienced if anyone took them at their word.

I am accused of being rude to the dope lobby. They deserve much more severe vituperation than I have at my command. By comparison with the human evil which they promote, the abuse which I justly heap on them is mild. The irreversible and tragic damage they are condoning, to many young lives, is appalling. They are happy to let this continue for the sake of their own selfish enjoyment, a classic instance of moral evil. I repeat my hope that at some point they will eventually meet justice face to face.