I’ve always thought Lemmy-folk were pretty progressive and attuned to untrue news narratives, but the number of people I’ve met here who think the UK is a tyrannical hellscape, overrun by immigrants where people have zero freedom and much of the country has ‘no go’ areas for white Christians genuinely surprised me. But hey, what do I know, I’ve only lived in the UK for 49 years.

I wonder how MAGA would frame this? “Unlike in Socialist Europe, our successful companies are free from the oppressive, anti-business protection racket their citizens have to deal with”

I remember seeing a poster of this when I was 11 in the video store and being transfixed. My dad playfully nudged me, saying “snap out out of it, son”.

The alcohol enabled the socialising. I feel many of you equate a few relaxing beers with friends with necking a bottle bottle of vodka by yourself just to keep the shotgun from your mouth. I was a nervous, anxious and low-confidence teen. That melted away after a couple of beers and introduced me to a life I wouldn’t have had on my own steam.

Well I’m 49 and was healthy at my last medical, so here’s hoping.

I have friends who have found it incredibly detrimental to their lives, so absolutely not recommended for all by any means.

Mentally it’s improved my life immeasurably. It took my out of my teenage shell, helped me socialise, introduced me to countless new experiences and people.

I’m lucky in that it hasn’t been problematic for me. Yes, it’s bad for you physically. A lot of things are. But I’d rather have it in my life than without.

That’s just my lived experience and I’d in no way refute the science. But I’d push back a little on the somewhat puritanical Alcohol = bad that many here sometines sanctimonious indulge in.

Beer. Genuinely. Drinks with friends (not daily or problematical) is, in my opinion, the absolute spice of life. It’s not for everyone and the downsides are well documented and undeniable, but it’s always worked for me.