BF2S Forums Is it wrong to give a homeless person alcohol?

Yes, especially because you may be contributing towards a dependency on alcohol, which would help destroy any chance they have of ascending from their current conditions.

Alcohol is a luxury.  A homeless person first needs the basics ... food, water and shelter.

lol, I forgot this was the serious section when I answered...

I agree that they need the basics, but it might be fun to hand out a bottle or two some day...

i was in San Fransisco over Christmas, and no lie, a homeless guy asked me for four dollars because "c'mon man, i'm only four dollars short of buying some marijuana." 

re-diculous

also, i would like to go on record again saying that "fixing" what people say should be a banable offense.

You know, any other day...  I would have said "Yes, completely immoral, it is reckless and irresponsible" etc.etc.

Yet, after recently watching a documentary based on Jack Kerouac's writings, presented by the rather idiosyncratic British comedian Russell Brand, my viewpoint on it has changed somewhat. For those who don't know, Russell Brand used to be a TV-presenter for MTV Networks... until he was fired. The guy was a trainwreck; yet he was a hilariously funny trainwreck to watch on TV. He was a drug addict, and his life was quite visibly going down the drain for all to see.

Anyway- enough context! Whilst travelling across America in homage to Kerouac's 'On The Road' (the book that practically carved way for the entire beat generation), Brand found himself in a certain hood that had a lot of homeless people. He approached them for their opinions on the lifestyle/views laid out in Kerouac's spiritualist book, and was astounded by their positive attitude and comradeship. You could tell that it reminded him of his own previous years when he was down and out. Russell and the rest of the crew generously dished out lots of Dolluh and moved on.

However, soon after an American council-worker approached and gave them the lecture that is basically emerging in all of the above posts. "What the hell are you doing? Those people are well-known crack addicts, and you just gave them money that will help them further their habit and destroy their lives" etc.etc.

It was funny seeing Russell Brand - very publicly known as being a turned-around addict - being lectured by some random civil service worker. His response is now what (partly) shapes my opinion on it today:

"When you're living freely like that on the streets, you take every day as it comes. These people have literally nothing in their lives, and today is all that matters to them in their addicted short-sighted mind. If I can give them happiness and joy right here and now, in the miserable existence that they have- then I will do that."

Touché I thought, touché. Was very in line with the focus of the documentary: living and deriving the greatest pleasures in life from the beautiful spontaneity of 'now', the present.

@Uzique
That is interesting but it makes sense.
I guess, I wouldn't personally give them alcohol because that is not what I feel is right.
I guess what it could come down to is the idea of, "to each his own."
If you are fine making the day for someone by giving them money or alcohol, more power to you.
If you don't like give them a basic need.

I don't see one way being morally wrong or right as long as you are giving them something.

they aren't going to change (for the most part) so why not. that is if you think they deserve it, which in most cases, they don't.

I would only say it is wrong if he then gets drunk and crashes his BMW into his cardboard garage. His insurance will sky rocket.

Come on. How could it be wrong? He is down on his luck and basically has nothing. A little liquid Christmas is just what he needs.

Madhadda1 wrote:

Arcano-D.E.S wrote:

I would only say it is wrong if he then gets drunk and crashes his BMW into his cardboard garage. His insurance will sky rocket.

Come on. How could it be wrong? He is down on his luck and basically has nothing. A little liquid Christmas is just what he needs.

Fueling an addiction that has (most likely) lost him everything? Not really what i would call something he needs.

Not every homeless person is a drunk.

The last thing a homeless person needs is alchohol.

Better give him money, so he can decide himself if he's hungry or if he reaaally need the alcool.

Yes it's wrong, it's not my fault if he couldnt work for himself, and screwed up his own life...you're getting nothing free from me buddy, be it alcohol or anything else.

(I realise that's not quite what you're asking, but hey)