Financing Alcoholism

[britjojo]

This is something I wonder about from time to time. How in crap do these people afford to keep up their habit? I know that drug users tend to steal to do so, but alcohol is somewhat cheaper. So do they just put every free penny into it, or does it end up being the same as drugs?

[mtajim]

Its too same as drugs, once a addict need more dose he or she starts stealing or do illegal things to satisfy there needs

[QuietLunatic]

I know people here in my village who are on welfare and who go to the foodbank for food because they've spent all their money on alcohol. It's insane.

[britjojo]

Yeah, I agree that is insane. Especially when you consider the state of food banks in this area, and the state of your diet if you are living out of food banks.

[QuietLunatic]

Our local food bank is pretty good, surprisingly, considering we're a dinky little village. There's usually quite a good variety, including chicken and meat, but still, I'd rather see it go to someone who just can't make ends meet, rather than someone who is pissing away their money. Seriously, welfare should sometimes just print tickets instead of issuing cheques, so that the recipients can trade in the tickets for rent, food, et cetera and not spend it on alcohol or drugs.

[britjojo]

I think for some types of benefits, here in the US that is what they do. For those receiving food coupons, you now get a rechargeable card like a debit card, that you pay for groceries with. You cannot buy alcohol, cigarettes or paper products with it. Same I think with WIC-you get coupons.

I have no experience of social security however.

[QuietLunatic]

I like the idea of a refillable credit card. After I posted yesterday, it occurred to me that coupons could be sold to someone else for cash. I suppose technically, a card could be used for someone else's benefit and then whatever was purchased sold for cash, but it seems more complicated. I suppose as well that welfare/social services/whoever could also opt to pay the landlord/power company/etc. directly. There must be a sensible solution, but I don't have it.

[britjojo]

Nor I. But the card would definitely slow people down. All you can buy with it is food, you can't even buy loo rolls or a newspaper with it. Yes, you can buy candy, but no alcohol.

The limits would make it hard to sell off the things; who would buy groceries from an alcoholic? There is little reason to when most people would just go to the store themselves. I guess it is possible if you sell them REALLY cheap, but still, I wouldn't trust the person.

[mtajim]

Yes most people wont want to buy from a alcholic but a person who is himself a alcholic might buy from him

[easternbrain]

I think this phenomenon is quite harmful to other persons in large because if an alcoholic doesn't finds any other means to finance his addiction he could even go to the extent of robbing, killing etc.

[Roxy]

addiction to any stuff lead to only one thing and that is end. If a guy is addicted to alcohol then he is going to spend every thing he have and end up in deatructing him.

[easternbrain]

Yes, and by the time he realises his mistakes he would be totally broke.

[websurfpro]

I`ll tell you how people here in my country earn the money for buying alcohool: they either beg for th money, or they do all sort of works for different people like carring building materials, taking care of gardens and many more. They are not accepted in a real job because of their alcoolism.