tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post2769176809676292109..comments2023-10-17T22:56:42.784-04:00Comments on Only in The Republic of Amherst: Blarney No BlowoverLarry Kelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-55057311420856670792014-06-04T23:09:01.659-04:002014-06-04T23:09:01.659-04:00Hey Kurt, was this what you had in mind when you m...Hey Kurt, was this what you had in mind when you mentioned <a href="http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20140603/after-making-millions-liquor-store-kotzebue-plans-open-city-owned-bar-and" rel="nofollow">a government monopoly on alcohol sales</a>?????<br /><br />And Larry, you gotta admit that this would be one way of balancing Amherst's EMS budget...Dr. Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-74325889671808588812014-06-04T02:16:14.816-04:002014-06-04T02:16:14.816-04:00Here we sell beer by units of six, up to 30 packs....<i>Here we sell beer by units of six, up to 30 packs. In Sweden you're more likely to buy what you intend to consume and not more, so "binge drinking" is reduced/discouraged.</i><br /><br />That is asinine. We sell <b>MILK</b> by the quart, half gallon and gallon. (At one point there was a 3-quart container as well.)<br /><br />So does Hood promote Binge Milk Drinking? Diet Coke is sold in 12-packs -- I guess that is to promote binge drinking too?<br /><br />And Advil comes in bottles of 160 -- I don't even want to touch that one...<br />Dr. Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-55588338356925748362014-06-03T23:35:56.247-04:002014-06-03T23:35:56.247-04:00Hey Geryk, you guys ever party hardy with the Bobb...Hey Geryk, you guys ever party hardy with the Bobby D? <br /><br /><br />http://amherstma.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/6192<br /><br /><br />Never mind little buddy, <br /><br />I already know the answer.<br /><br /><br />Morally yours,<br /><br />-Squeaky SqueaksBonnie, Clyde and a buncha clownsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-81826153650719041002014-06-03T21:38:04.683-04:002014-06-03T21:38:04.683-04:00Sweden drunk driving legal limits: 0.02% BAC (imp...Sweden drunk driving legal limits: <b>0.02%</b> BAC (imprisonment, up to 6 months), 0.10% (imprisonment, maximum 2 years).<br /><br />USA drunk driving legal limit: 0.08% BAC<br /><br />I did not dare even drink ONE beer and drive in Sweden! I drank a couple of 3.5% beers once we got home for the night.Kurt Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18064125906879612119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-76974353263902337462014-06-03T21:27:17.441-04:002014-06-03T21:27:17.441-04:00The Sweden Suicide Myth is just that: according t...The Sweden Suicide Myth is just that: according to the World Health Organization Sweden is ranked 43rd worldwide (11 Suicides per 100,000 people per year), USA 33rd (12 Suicides per 100,000 people per year). <br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_suicide_rate<br /><br />Alcohol consumption rates are very similar in Sweden and USA; We drink a lot more beer and Sweden more wine.<br /><br />There are no stats charting "ambition".<br /><br />Ike said those things 65 years ago and his speculations were way off...this is 2014 not the 50's, let's focus on the problem that happened 2 months ago here in our town (and across the nation.)<br /><br />One small thing Systembolaget does that makes a big difference: beer is sold by the can/bottle. Here we sell beer by units of six, up to 30 packs. In Sweden you're more likely to buy what you intend to consume and not more, so "binge drinking" is reduced/discouraged.Kurt Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18064125906879612119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-57692082627750432592014-06-03T20:40:26.046-04:002014-06-03T20:40:26.046-04:00Where I grew up, hard liquor is sold only by the c...Where I grew up, hard liquor is sold only by the county-run dispensaries; the practice is not that unusual here in the U.S.: <br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholic_beverage_control_state" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholic_beverage_control_state</a><br /><br />Sweden has extremely strict enforcement of drunk-driving laws. I think that's more important than the existence of the state-run liquor stores. Buying liquor from Systembolaget didn't stop people from getting blotto on Saturday night. I lived in Sweden for a year and my friends had these little devices that would allow them to calculate how many hours they had to wait before they could drive after they had some drinks. Even if they had to wait a whole day, they would do it. People were pretty law-abiding, from what I could see. Paying for public transportation was on the honor system.Nina Kochnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-6487130034425655592014-06-03T20:05:44.798-04:002014-06-03T20:05:44.798-04:00I think Ike summed Sweden up rather nicely:
Only ...I think Ike summed Sweden up rather nicely:<br /><br /><i>Only in the last few weeks, I have been reading quite an article on the experiment of almost complete paternalism in a friendly European country. This country has a tremendous record for socialistic operation, following a socialistic philosophy, and the record shows that their rate of suicide has gone up almost unbelievably and I think they were almost the lowest nation in the world for that. Now, they have more than twice our rate. Drunkenness has gone up. Lack of ambition is discernible on all sides.. Therefore, with that kind of example, let's always remember Lincoln's admonition. Let's do in the federal Government only those things that people themselves cannot do at all, or cannot so well do in their individual capacities. </i><br /><br />http://pages.citebite.com/w2q1j0x3m2wuxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-89061030607018756552014-06-03T19:54:06.454-04:002014-06-03T19:54:06.454-04:00Systembolaget, a monopoly of government run liquor...<i>Systembolaget, a monopoly of government run liquor stores, started there in the 1950's</i><br /><br />As opposed to the <b><i>New Hampshire State Liquor Stores</i></b> that we all love??? <br /><br />(The nearest one is in Rindge next to the <i>Market Basket</i>, there is also one in Hinsdale.)<br /><br />As opposed to Maine's "Greenfronts" -- the <i>Maine State Liquor Stores</i>? Kurt - those are controversial because people want to know why Maine is in the liquor business.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-6060153224788987702014-06-03T18:44:23.077-04:002014-06-03T18:44:23.077-04:00And Larry's picture illustrates one other thin...And Larry's picture illustrates one other thing: What a dumpy-looking town. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-58172810752773179962014-06-03T18:35:57.763-04:002014-06-03T18:35:57.763-04:00Ed, you are certainly nuts enough.Ed, you are certainly nuts enough.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-79801108064473844342014-06-03T18:19:24.188-04:002014-06-03T18:19:24.188-04:00Visiting family in Sweden last summer I was expose...Visiting family in Sweden last summer I was exposed to Systembolaget, a monopoly of government run liquor stores, started there in the 1950's. Of course the concept is too radical and runs contrary to our core capitalistic values to institute fully in USA, but maybe there are concepts that can be modified to work here.<br /><br />"Systembolaget exists for one reason: To minimize alcohol-related problems by selling alcohol in a responsible way, without profit motive."<br /><br />Their mandate: http://www.systembolaget.se/English/Our-mandate/<br /><br />An international group of researchers on what would likely happen were the monopoly to be abolished: http://www.systembolagetkampanj.se/forskarrapport_en/Kurt Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18064125906879612119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-39629890507674444022014-06-03T18:00:26.910-04:002014-06-03T18:00:26.910-04:00Richard, if you are worried about cops getting kil...Richard, if you are worried about cops getting killed, may I suggest <b>TELLING THEM NOT TO DRIVE SO DAMN FAST?!?!?</b> I mean 80+MPH in a 25MPH zone -- I've seen it more than once.<br /><br />Richard, telephone poles kill cops too...<br /><br />And one kid with the guts to fight the charges to the SJC level will toss out what is a British Colonial Charter <b>that the SJC REFUSED to uphold the one time it was asked to</b> and that will be the end of your fascist little gulag.<br /><br />Although you may be right, I already have my "I told you so" press release ready for national release in the event of fatalities. Heck, I've even got a briefing book that goes to selected "friends" -- profiles of specific people along with "gotcha" questions....<br /><br />And yes, I'm mean enough to do that....Dr. Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-22851200713222111982014-06-03T16:24:18.940-04:002014-06-03T16:24:18.940-04:00That'll teach 'em... NOT.
The courts and ...That'll teach 'em... NOT. <br />The courts and the town are just determined to wait for someone to be killed before they get serious. Just hope it's not a cop or an innocent. Richard MarshAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com