# Should Everclear be banned? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 10, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830 "2011-09-10T15:54:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/101 "2013-02-18T04:52:50Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > That was almost 100 years ago and we have learned so much since then! Learned what? Explain why it will work better now than it did then. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/102 "2013-02-18T11:59:59Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Learned what? Explain why it will work better now than it did then. Shhh. Attempted gun analogy. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/103 "2013-02-18T12:50:02Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Learned what? Explain why it will work better now than it did then. “Alcohol-Related Deaths Kill More Than AIDS, TB Or Violence, WHO Reports” > **[Alcohol Kills More Than AIDS, TB Or Violence, WHO Reports](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/alcohol-related-deaths_n_821900)** > > Alcohol Kills More Than AIDS, TB Or Violence, WHO Reports So if a total ban on alcoholic drinks is not feasible maybe we should compromise and just ban drinks with a alcoholic content above 4%. That would be a good start at least, don’t you think? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/104 "2013-02-18T13:02:26Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > “Alcohol-Related Deaths Kill More Than AIDS, TB Or Violence, WHO Reports” > > [Alcohol-Related Deaths Kill More Than AIDS, TB Or Violence, WHO Reports | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/11/alcohol-related-deaths-_n_821900.html) > > So if a total ban on alcoholic drinks is not feasible maybe we should compromise and just ban drinks with a alcoholic content above 4%. That would be a good start at least, don’t you think? [Deaths due to alcohol. Cook County 1910-1926](http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/History/e1920/chicagodeaths.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/105 "2013-02-18T13:12:28Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > “Alcohol-Related Deaths Kill More Than AIDS, TB Or Violence, WHO Reports” > > [Alcohol-Related Deaths Kill More Than AIDS, TB Or Violence, WHO Reports | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/11/alcohol-related-deaths-_n_821900.html) > > So if a total ban on alcoholic drinks is not feasible maybe we should compromise and just ban drinks with a alcoholic content above 4%. That would be a good start at least, don’t you think? Yeah, but AIDS doesn’t help me sing karaoke. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/106 "2013-02-18T13:20:37Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > [Deaths due to alcohol. Cook County 1910-1926](http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/History/e1920/chicagodeaths.htm) Your graph is almost 100 years old. Like I said, if we can’t ban all alcoholic drinks we should just limit the alcoholic content to less than 4%. Then people won’t be able to get drunk so fast. Surely you can’t be against that. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/107 "2013-02-18T13:23:20Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > Your graph is almost 100 years old. Like I said, if we can’t ban all alcoholic drinks we should just limit the alcoholic content to less than 4%. Then people won’t be able to get drunk so fast. Surely you can’t be against that. Drinking went _up_ during Prohibition and people made their own booze at home. Ever hear the term “bathtub gin”? That’s where it came from. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/108 "2013-02-18T13:35:49Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Drinking went _up_ during Prohibition and people made their own booze at home. Ever hear the term “bathtub gin”? That’s where it came from. That’s great, and people make meth at home, but that does not stop us from outlawing it. But I’m not taking about an outlawing alcohol right now, just regulating the alcohol content. People don’t need drinks like vodka and everclear to get a buzz. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/109 "2013-02-18T14:06:50Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > Your graph is almost 100 years old. Like I said, if we can’t ban all alcoholic drinks we should just limit the alcoholic content to less than 4%. Then people won’t be able to get drunk so fast. Surely you can’t be against that. Yes, I am against that. The vast majority of people in the US are against that. Your ideas are bad and you should stop having them. Everything I drink is higher than 4% alcohol and I haven’t been hammered in years. You’re saying that anything that isn’t a horse piss macrobrew from AB-inBev should be banned. That’s pants on head retarded. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/110 "2013-02-18T14:10:53Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > That’s great, and people make meth at home, but that does not stop us from outlawing it. But I’m not taking about an outlawing alcohol right now, just regulating the alcohol content. People don’t need drinks like vodka and everclear to get a buzz. But alcohol is easier to make than meth, and people will do it. 4% is a low alcohol content even for beer. I don’t think that any wine comes that low without being watered down. If beer were limited to 4% legally, I’d whip myself up a batch of 8-9% beer this afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/111 "2013-02-18T14:13:48Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Yes, I am against that. The vast majority of people in the US are against that. Your ideas are bad and you should stop having them. > > Everything I drink is higher than 4% alcohol and I haven’t been hammered in years. You’re saying that anything that isn’t a horse piss macrobrew from AB-inBev should be banned. That’s pants on head retarded. So you are happy with 75,000 deaths per year so you can have a stronger beer? ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/112 "2013-02-18T14:16:00Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > So you are happy with 75,000 deaths per year so you can have a stronger beer? Hell, I’d kill that many myself for a good imperial stout. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/113 "2013-02-18T14:16:32Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > But alcohol is easier to make than meth, and people will do it. 4% is a low alcohol content even for beer. I don’t think that any wine comes that low without being watered down. If beer were limited to 4% legally, I’d whip myself up a batch of 8-9% beer this afternoon. Are you honestly invoking the “if guns are outlawed, I’ll become an outlaw” argument? Are you an alcoholic? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/114 "2013-02-18T14:30:55Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Yeah, but AIDS doesn’t help me sing karaoke. But if you get it reallly helps you sing the blues as well as the more depressing country songs. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/115 "2013-02-18T15:15:31Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > Are you honestly invoking the “if guns are outlawed, I’ll become an outlaw” argument? > > Are you an alcoholic? If you define an alcoholic as someone who likes beer at higher than 4% abv, and knows how to make it; sure, I’m an alky. If I wanted to get tight in a hurry, I’d add some weed to the hop bag! Since you seem to be making a list of my shortcomings, I also: drive too fast, masturbate, stay up too late at night, have played a bass solo, am partial to computer o/s religious wars, and often eat fried foods (no, not all at the same time). I dunno if I’m extending it as an argument. Brewing beer, (ok, ok, ale in Texas), is what I already do. When making laws, you almost always create outlaws. ETA: I’ve never brewed a beer that would be legal under your regime. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/116 "2013-02-18T15:27:50Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > You’re saying that anything that isn’t a horse piss macrobrew from AB-inBev should be banned. And even that is almost always above 4%. Guinness almost makes the cut at 4.2%, but still would have to be reduced. And wine? Who wants 4% wine? ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/117 "2013-02-18T15:34:19Z")
Just to further the thought that 4% is a horrible cut off. Naturally fermented apple juice can produce a cider int he 5-8% range so that proposed law would make it illegal to let fresh pressed apple juice sit out. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/118 "2013-02-18T15:36:51Z")
OK, how about 6%. If it saves just one child isn’t it worth it? ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/119 "2013-02-18T15:39:36Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > If you define an alcoholic as someone who likes beer at higher than 4% abv, and knows how to make it; sure, I’m an alky. If I wanted to get tight in a hurry, I’d add some weed to the hop bag! Since you seem to be making a list of my shortcomings, I also: drive too fast, masturbate, stay up too late at night, have played a bass solo, am partial to computer o/s religious wars, and often eat fried foods (no, not all at the same time). > > I dunno if I’m extending it as an argument. Brewing beer, (ok, ok, ale in Texas), is what I already do. When making laws, you almost always create outlaws. > > ETA: I’ve never brewed a beer that would be legal under your regime. But 75,000 people in america die due to alcohol per year. Doesn’t something have to be done? ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830/120 "2013-02-18T15:48:12Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > OK, how about 6%. If it saves just one child isn’t it worth it? No. By the way, do you imagine people don’t get drunk on \<6% beer? I don’t have stats, but I imagine that 75% of binge drinking in the US is done on beer that has a lower abv than 6% [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everclear-be-banned/595830.md?page=7)