How to study people who are very drunk (archive.is)

submitted 3 weeks ago by cm0002@lemmy.world to c/science@lemmy.world

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[-] Lembot_0004@discuss.online 6 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

“Ethically, we can’t ask people to drink alcohol to levels they do in their day-to-day lives,” says Jeff Boissoneault

That's why ethics in science should only limit activities that cause the death and intense suffering of humans. We will die if our scientists are stopped because of such pathetic reasons as "we can’t ask people to drink alcohol to levels they like".

[-] SillySpy@piefed.social 7 points 3 weeks ago

That sounds like a slippery slope

[-] squaresinger@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

Isn't that exactly what these scientists are doing?

4.7% of all deaths are attributed to alcohol consumption and a lot more people are suffering intensly due to alcohol consumption.

How many people would have to die for you to consider it unethical?

[-] tmyakal@infosec.pub 4 points 3 weeks ago

Absolutely this. The American Cancer Association advises it is best not to drink alcohol. Alcohol use accounts for 5% of all cancers in the US.

So it's a known carcinogen that also impairs judgements and motor functions, causes brain damage, and is habit forming. Just because it's been socialized to be acceptable doesn't mean it's not deadly.

[-] AA5B@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

Given that many people partake anyway, Maybe we should have some scientists study their behavior and the ramifications of their choices.

[-] squaresinger@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

You mean like in the OP?

[-] AA5B@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

Yes, the circle is my point. You can’t argue that it’s always bad for people’s health so you can’t study it. Being known bad for people’s health just makes it more important to find a way

[-] squaresinger@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

Did you read the article? Do you even know what we are talking about?

The article specifically says how they managed to study drunk people without telling them to drink, and it's surprisingly easy: wait for people to get drunk on their own and then study the effects.

Kinda surprised that I have to spell that out for you.