[haraldooo]

Over here in Europe (at least in Germany) you can buy as much Gin as you like in every supermarket - if you're over 18. I don't know if we have higher alcohol abuse numbers than countries with stricter laws but I doubt it. Does anyone have internationally comparable numbers?

EDIT: forgot: it's very cheap. If I remember correctly, you can get a one litre bottle for < 10 EUR - certainly not the best there is but "good enough" to get drunk as f* - even with little or no money

[maxerickson]

It's cheap in much of the US too. As little as $7 for a liter of 80 proof in my state (liquor regulation varies by state).

A liter of Smirnoff is $17.

[mark_edward]

Children and youth is a key part of the GP, the younger you are addicted to something the worse off you are in terms of quitting and the more damage it's doing. Drugs with significant brain damage accompanying heavy use (like alcohol) are also going to double-fuck you by adding the bonus challenge of doing so with lower IQ, executive control, etc.

[wavefunction]

It takes a lot less gin as well, since kids have such a smaller body mass than adults.