[Hannibal]

Which is heathier? Which is better for you? Which is preferred drug of choice?
Where do you stand? You can drink indoors, but not on the street...you can't smoke indoors, only on the street?

Who smokes, who drinks?

Does anybody here neither smoke nor drink?(Nyquil counts)

[Chyld]

Tobacco does nothing for me, Alcahol does. They're both as bad for you as each other, so that's moot.

My drug of choice, however, is still green and smokable. There's compensation for ruining your lungs there...

[Jordan]

I like beer and fine wines. Hard Bar has never been my thing. I'm drug free america, unless a joint is passed in front of my face. I'd never buy the stuff.

[barend]

Alcohol vs. Tobacco? i thought they were friends...

i used to be a smoker... and for the last three months i took it back up to go with my drinking (esspecially in my 4 week vacation).

i've had to give up again because i'll be going back to kung-fu this week... so i'll be drinking less as well...

it sucks... as for anything else... i'm like jordan, i don't go and purchase drugs... but a large amount does come my way free for some reason...
and well, you know... no comment.

[Jane Sherwood]

I don't do either one. Smoking isn't an option even if I wanted to because of my hyper-sensitive sense of smell and I my lungs wouldn't be able to take it, and as far as alcohol goes, I generally try to avoid ingesting things that will later cause splitting headaches and lots of vomiting, as both of those are very unpleasant.

I'll admit, I'm a bit curious about weed, but I'm not about to go out of my way to acquire any.

Also, does all beer smell and taste like piss? Is it some kind of acquired taste? Is being drunk really that much fun?

[kdogg]

Tobacco is much worse for you than alcohol. It's one of the leading causes of death in the world.

[Jen]

Kdogg is right. While both are bad in large quantities, smoking does more damage per unit. And besides! Red wine is supposed to have some postive benefits, right? Healthy for the heart and all of that. That's what I tell myself as I pour anything glass of Shiraz! (cackles)

Jane -- Beer is, in my experience, definitely an acquired taste, but it can taste pretty delicious. And, I hate to say it, but being drunk can be ridiculously fun. You usually pay for it somehow, and it isn't always fun, but its inherent potential for funness cannot be denied!

[Chefelf]

I agree that smoking is undoubtedly far worse than alcohol. Both can be abused and when abused both are bad. However, I think it's pretty certain that it is easier to fall into cigarette abuse than alcohol.

Hangovers are vastly exaggerated, I feel. Maybe it is because I normally drink responsibly but I can count the number of hangovers I've had on one hand. I've never thrown up from alcohol (or anything since 1989 ) but if you don't know your limits that can certainly happen.

The worst hangover I've ever had was probably just a mild headache and general sense of being tired after a full night's sleep. Normally I never drink enough where I am in that sort of state the next day. I guess it's different for everyone but I think there is a general misconception of what A ) drunkeness and B ) hangovers are like to those who have never experienced either.

I blame TV for its grossly inaccurate portrayals of both.

[Chyld]

...or it might just be my portrayal of alcahol abuse/hangovers. I do come up with some good stories/bad hangovers. But there's nothing wrong with doing it in moderation, its just more hilarious when you don't...

[J m HofMarN]

Hannibal- Not a bad topic at all, and surelyl thought provoking, good show.

Alcohol: Has been manufactured by just about anyone since before the emergence of the Roman empire. In that time it has been made into innumerable flavourful beverages, some such as beer that taste like urine, some like cherry cordial that are pleasant, and some such as amaranth that are poisonous.

Tobacco: Has always been made by evil corporations since it was stolen from native americans as part of the European campaign to steal the best parts of their culture before Christianising them, deploying biological warfare, and systematically raping their cultural system.

Now it may look cool to smoke a cigarette but coughing up tar is not cool or funny. However poking your drunken friend with sticks IS funny (not that I've ever done this or anything... heh...) Moreover Alcohol is a great way to let loose your tensions whereas smoking dosnt seem to do anything similiar. I myself have never smoked (cigarettes) before and dont plan to.

And alcohol actually has health benefits and other uses. Alcohol:

In the form of red wine is good for the heart
Wines are very useful in cooking.
Liquers can be used in cooking as can beer.
Vodka makes a very good cleaning solution, and as with brandy it has a warming effect
Some liquers are good for topical anaesthetics
And some can even aid in sleep.

Tobacco has none of these advantages. Alcohol PWNs Tobacco.

[civilian_number_two]

I'll admit, I'm a bit curious about weed, but I'm not about to go out of my way to acquire any.

Ha ha Jane; you should come to Vancouver. Throw a rock in this town and you'll hit a grow-op.

Oh and do me a favor, Barton: throw it hard!

[Slade]

For some people, being drunk is fun. I am one of those people. It is also fun watching other people who are drunk. And I have yet to taste a beer that didn't give me a good guess as to what horse urine tastes like. The best I've found is stuff that is slightly less abysmal.

I've also tried marijuana, but the only differences I noticed were that I could see words in an afterimage on my friend's ceiling (although they didn't stay long enough for me to make anything out except my name written in quite proffecient cursive (not my hand writing!)) and I explained my thought processes a bit more. It was rather boring, and I decided it wasn't worth the eventual detriment to my brain at all.

I vote for alcohol over cigarettes. Although I haven't tried nicotine, it seems to be frightfully addictive, but doesn't seem to have many fun effects associated with it.

[Laughlyn]

Sadly I have to say that I'm inclined towards both, a clinging habit from my eternal student lifestyle, although alcohol is comsumed in far greater quanities than nicotine. Down to 3 a day now (all at work. Which is about equal to a glass of red wine in my twisted logic. Problem is, the smokers I know are away more interesting bunch of entertaining, sarcastic, twisted, people to hang around with than the non smokers; who seem to always be talking about their holidays and hairdressers. but hey I've resolved to quit again at some point.

As barend said, The smoking is to back up the drinking. That's when the whole 'I've quit' thing goes to hell on a regular basis. I wake up in the morning after consuming a small loch of whiskey, without a hangover, and discover I've got a voice like Darth Vader from chain smoking the whole evening.

Last point on the addiction of cigarettes. I found when I first quit that a lot of my mannerisms suffered. Not in the form of a bad temper, but it just doesn't feel right to engage in bar debates without a burning stub in your hand. All the gestures go out the window. Instead I sit there wondering what I did with my non-drinking hand before I discovered fake ID.

Alcohol on the other hand takes many forms, and many individual evils. Red wine, vodka, and Rum being my selection. Beer never features, because I'd have to second the point that it tastes like piss. - Try Cider instead Jane, far easier on the taste buds.

[Dr Lecter]

I have never smoked before in my live, I can't stand being around someone that is smoking. I almost got into a fight with someone because they were smoking near me, I could have taken him but he left as soon as i warned him. As for drinking: Alcohol rocks

[Chyld]

Cider, easier on the taste buds than beer? That'd get laughed out of court here. Personally, I'd suggest Snakebite - half beer, half cider, with a dash of blackcurrent which usually sufficiently masks the bitterness of the other parts. Failing that, there is the evils of alcopops...

And as for the long past weed curiosity comment? While I highly recommend anyone try the evil green herb, it needs tobacco mixed with it in order to burn properly, so that might provide difficulties...