Anomalous_Llama

Researching alcohol interventions for a friend. I’ve seen more ads for alcohol than ever in my life

https://lemmy.world/post/3810333

Researching alcohol interventions for a friend. I’ve seen more ads for alcohol than ever in my life - Lemmy.world

I have a friend who’s alcohol consumption has gotten out of control. Me and his other friends/family are planning an intervention and so I’ve been doing a lot of research/reading on the topic. NEVER and I mean NEVER have I seen so many fucking ads for alcohol in my LIFE. Instagram? 15 ads in a half hour of scrolling reels. YouTube? Ads. Google results? Ads. Twitter? Ads. It’s fucking everywhere and it’s SICK. I’m researching how to help someone stop drinking and I’m getting inundated with ads for anything from gin, beers, vodkas and more. I can’t even imagine having an alcohol issue and trying to find help for myself with the web being this way. It’s fucking sick.

Aug 25, 2023 at 1:34pmWeb
Show threadslazer2auAug 25, 2023

You can turn off targeted ads on most platforms so the ads you get are useless.

But you are right, when searching for anti drinking info ads for drinking shouldn’t appear. I seem to remember there was a alcohol shop that was giving discounts for drinks if you gave them your sober token things you get.

Show threadmeggied90Aug 25, 2023
Holy hell, that’s straight up evil if true. I hope the bad PR ran them out of business.
Show threaddubletAug 25, 2023

You can buy the coins for as little as £0.75 each (~$1) recovery12.co.uk/newcomer-aa-medallions-67-c.asp Then go to a bar and get a drink for almost nothing.

😀

Newcomer AA Medallions | Aluminium Sobreity Medallions | AA Coins

Newcomer AA Medallions, Aluminium Sobreity Medallions, AA Coins, Recovery 12

Show threadUbermeistersAug 25, 2023
A lot of bars will give you free drinks if you give them your sobriety coin from AA.
Show threadtwistedtxbAug 25, 2023
I don’t believe this
Show threadThe D QuuuuuillAug 25, 2023
it’s a big world. Any conceivable promotion you could think of us being done in at least a few places. Can’t imagine its common though
Show threadUbermeistersAug 25, 2023
It’s very common, Google it for your location
Show threadAnomalous_LlamaAug 25, 2023
I’ve definitely heard of bars offering free non alcoholic drinks to DD’s but I can’t imagine any trying to get AA coins in exchange for alcohol that’s crazy.
Show threaddriving_croonerAug 25, 2023
Unethical life pro tips: visit AA meetings to get sobriety coins and exchange them for free drinks.
Show threadUbermeistersAug 25, 2023
You can probably just buy the coins online lmao
Show threaddriving_croonerAug 25, 2023
But they would not be free.
Show threadJackbyDevAug 25, 2023
Are they less than a drink? I sense an arbitrage opportunity.
Show threadUbermeistersAug 25, 2023
and you get to fuck over a bar owner who is a piece of shit so there is that
Show threadUbermeistersAug 25, 2023
AA sourced sobriety coins cost a LOT trust me. You dont ever want to have to find out. Not that they charge you for the coins (they do not), but whatever landed you in there likely cost you more than some online coins would, is my point.
Show threadcandybrieAug 25, 2023
People are talking about going to AA just for the sobriety coins. I don’t think they’re actually doing it earnestly because they really have a problem they want AA to help them with. So nothing actually “landed” them there.
Show threadUbermeistersAug 25, 2023
You’re fun at parties huh
Show threaddriving_croonerAug 25, 2023
You never know, maybe ny problem is lack of money for drinks.
Show threadthedrivingcroonerAug 27, 2023
Been there, you have to actually have been a regular member for those said months until you can earn tokens. I don’t think the elders give them out to randos on the street.
Show threadflames5123Aug 27, 2023

No they don’t.

snopes.com/…/trade-aa-medallions-free-drinks/

A simple google search disproves that.

Trade AA Medallions for Free Drinks?

Can an Alcoholics Anonymous member exchange his sobriety medallion for free drinks at any bar?

Snopes
Show threadUbermeistersAug 27, 2023
A “simple goodge search” is not the same thing as some shit snopes article that i can tell isn’t right, from direct life experience. IDGAF what snopes says. its a real thing, and its stupidly easy to find. I’m not telling you how to google, even though you clearly suck at it.
Show threadLieutenant LianaNov 14, 2023
I have to agree here, there’s a pub around the corner here (Germany) that consistently gives away free beer to recovering alcoholics because they think it’s the funny and manly thing to do.
Show threadUbermeistersAug 25, 2023

Happened to me when I quit drinking. It was so engaging. Suddenly every other ad online is for hard liquor, too drastic to have been a lot of coincidences lining up.

It’s less Google fault directly, more that finding sobriety terms is part of the alcohol manufacturers SEO/ad words strategy. Which is absolutely disgusting.

Show threadGraniteAug 25, 2023
We can still blame google for not low prioritizing alcohol ads when people search for sobriety.
Show threadJackbyDevAug 25, 2023
Yeah, surely you could implement logic to see things like intervention paired with alcohol and then not show those ads.
Show threadRemmockAug 25, 2023

It’s less Google fault directly, more that finding sobriety terms is part of the alcohol manufacturers SEO/ad words strategy. Which is absolutely disgusting.

Show threadUbermeistersAug 25, 2023
Agreed. I wrote them a complaint about it years ago. sucks to hear its still an issue.
Show threadMetalMaggAug 25, 2023

Not just online, my friend. I got sober around the beginning of last baseball season. Thought I could turn the volume down on cravings that day by turning on a game.

“Welcome back to the broadcast, sponsored by Truly Hard Seltzer. Now let’s take a look at the Miller Lite home run replay brought to you by Jack Daniel’s Fire, cinnamon infused whiskey.”

Interventions are tough. When I was intervention-ed, it felt like no one was on my team, like this is what they’re supposed to do. I even went to rehab, but my heart was not in it. At all. Zero percent.

The second time I went, it was for me, not just to appease the endlessly talking heads all around me. Interventions walk that odd line between we’re here for you in support, also, you’re going somewhere because we care. Like the intervention is a favor.

At least for me. Others obviously experience it differently. I’d be willing to bet there’s a lot of failed recoveries because of interventions and AA though. It might be because gasp people might have mental, emotional, and even genetic reasons. We aren’t just a clump of people called alcoholics that need help to stop drinking.

That’s like claiming “hey, I stopped beating my wife!” You don’t get credit for that. You’re not supposed to do that. Maybe there’s a mental health issue? Maybe it’s the environment? Interventions are not typically about anything but “hey you, stop”.

Sadly that’s not enough. Anybody thinking about it, the rehab is actually fun, then come the doctors and therapy to help straighten you out for realsies. 15 months for me. To anyone just starting the process, I will not drink with you today!

Show threadBosnianCevapAug 25, 2023
Switch to Firefox, duckduckgo, don’t use google of at least turn off personalized ads
Show threadGraniteAug 25, 2023
Also add either ublock origin or Ad Nauseam as Firefox extensions
Show threadwarAug 25, 2023
I don't mean to insult you personally, but the AdNauseam concept is the dumbest fucking thing I've ever heard of.
Show threadBarrelAgedBoredomAug 25, 2023
Adguard dns filter for the home network too
Show threadtransmatrixAug 25, 2023
I don’t think they’re looking for solutions. I think they’re imagining their friend and others in their friend’s situation that decide to do something about their drinking problem and find that as a cruel joke they’re now inundated with alcohol ads everywhere they go. They’re pointing out yet another example of how capitalism without guardrails sucks.
Show threadMane25Aug 25, 2023
It does go to show the necessity of adblocking software though. It’s not just a trivial convenience at the expense of sites’ ad-revenue, it’s necessary for online safety.
Show threadAnomalous_LlamaAug 25, 2023

Absolutely

My desktop and laptop both have adblocks on them amongst other things. But I’ve been doing a lot of this research on my iPhone.

Show threadRaiAug 25, 2023

Download Wipr or use Firefox Focus. There’s loads of ways to block ads on an iPhone.

Or make a PiHole. I did years ago and I fucking love it. PiHole+Wipr=hella zero ads.

Show threadAnomalous_LlamaAug 25, 2023

Dam. I didn’t know there was something like Wipr for iPhone. Bought just now. Thanks

I’ve looked into doing a pi-hole actually. Just never got around to grabbing a pi

I have a few small/low power HP machines. I wonder if I could just use that since I already have it on hand.

Show threadRaiAug 25, 2023

I just learned about Wipr recently! It does a better job than Firefox Focus at blocking.

I loooove my PiHole. I set it up years ago and haven’t touched it in forever. I should update it today!

Show threadmedgremlinAug 25, 2023
If you’re still looking for resources (particularly if you are needing non-religious resources) a lot of health systems have outpatient programs and support groups for various substance use disorders, so that would be a good place to look. Depending on how severe the problem is, presenting an open and non-judgemental front regarding medical intervention and medication use can help reduce the stigma of getting chemical help for a chemical problem.
Show threadMane25Aug 25, 2023
Might not be popular but this is one of the reasons I don’t use a smartphone for anything non-trivial.
Show threadHillockAug 25, 2023

I would say the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon plays a bigger role here. Alcohol ads are super common and wouldn't be surprised if you just zoned them out before.

I am not going to deny that searching for anything alcohol related can increase the amount but I highly doubt it would be by such a large margin.

Show threadRadio_717Aug 25, 2023

I searched for husavara images once because we were watching an old b sci-fi movie where they dressed one up with crappy “prosthetics” but didn’t paint it and I wanted to prove that’s what it was.

I got huskavara and John Deere ads all over my socials pretty much exclusively the next day and extremely frequently for a week afterwards. There’s just no way those were there prior to that search. I believe op when he says he was inundated with them.

Show threadBlizzardAug 25, 2023

ublockorigin.com

adguard.com

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Show threadPenguinJuiceAug 25, 2023

Wait - are you really the real Blizzard?

Why did you do this to us?

Show threadBlizzardAug 25, 2023

I wish they had an official account on Lemmy because I’d like to ask them some questions:

  • why do giant slugs and porcupines keep bound prisoners?
  • why do mobs suddenly come out from underground? Just becasue it made sens with zergs, doesn’t mean it will make sens with everything

Don’t let me start talking about movement because it’ll turn into a rant.

Show threadRemmockAug 25, 2023
This treats the symptom, not the illness.
Show threadBlizzardAug 25, 2023
This is a vaccine that will make you immune to the illness.
Show threadAnomalous_LlamaAug 25, 2023

Most of my devices have all the relevant blocks and filters etc. my iPhone doesn’t and given I’m mostly in a few paid apps it hasn’t really been an issue in the past at all.

I really just wanted to call attention to how sick of an issue this is for someone who might be trying to help themselves.

Show threadBlizzardAug 25, 2023
Yes, it is a dick move. Companies don’t care about consumers, they care about sales and their brand. You could document this with some screenshots or a short video and send out an e-mail to a bunch of popular newspapers. If any of them pick up the subject, it could hurt those assholes.
Show thread_haha_oh_wow_Aug 25, 2023
Install uBlock Origin. Ads are a legitimate malware threat.
Show threadShowroom7561Aug 25, 2023

Gambling and alcohol ads have to be among the most unethical form of marketing in existence, yet, it really is everywhere. These companies (Google/Meta/Twitter) are even showing these ads to minors on an ongoing basis.

I couldn’t imagine being an addict or former addict and having to be exposed to this mindfuck.

I would encourage everyone to actively find ways to block ads, even if solely to preserve one’s mental health.

Show threadRentlarAug 25, 2023

Gambling is the one that is so infuriating for me as well, and part of the reason I don’t watch sports at all now.

They have sponsored segments IN THE SHOW during the game talking about the current odds and bets that can be placed. In addition to all the signs and ad segments. It is so terrible in Ontario once online gambling ads were legalized.

It’s just as if announcers were consuming alcohol or smoking on set with a bottle or pack of it in front of them. Gambling should be illegal or heavily regulated just the same as other addictive substances.

Show threadShowroom7561Aug 25, 2023
I’ve seen music videos being re-uploaded with gambling ads inserted into the video (like a character was watching TV/on their computer/looking at their phone, and it was there). I couldn’t believe it when I saw it. It’s so disgusting, I didn’t think people could stoop so low.
Show threadRentlarAug 25, 2023
Holy fuck, that is horrendous! Do you have any examples you can share/find again?
Show threadShowroom7561Aug 26, 2023

Found it! It’s Forever with Drake

But the original video may have already had the gambling bit. It says “remastered in HD”, so I’m not sure if the original also had it or not.

But anyway, it’s there. 👎

Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Eminem - Forever (Explicit Version) (Official Music Video)

YouTube
Show threadRentlarAug 26, 2023
Thank you for finding it! Horrifying…
Show threadwarAug 25, 2023
Using every single corpo social media on the planet without an adblocker is probably not the best way to avoid being targeted by ads based on your behavior and profile.
Show threadJokeDeityAug 25, 2023
Facebook briefly offered you the option to select topics you didn’t want to see advertised at all, I chose alcohol and politics. Want to guess what 90% of my ads on that garbage site are?
Show threadHarold_PenismanAug 25, 2023
I had the same experience. Those settings didn’t seem to change a thing.
Show threadMinekPo1 [it/she]Aug 25, 2023
I have, through a mixture of ad blockers, privacy friendly 3rd party front ends, choice of services and living in a city which banned billboard ads, pretty much stopped seeing ads. And I observed I feel annoyance, when I do bump into an ad.
Show threadbetterdeadthanredditAug 25, 2023

Hope things go well and your friend is receptive to the message. It might not change the trajectory right away but at the very least, it’ll be something to encourage them to examine their habits. If your friend does seem to take it to heart but has a hard time cutting back, there’s a medication called naltrexone which may help reduce alcohol cravings. I’m just some internet guy though so that’s more of a conversation between them and their doctor, it’s something I didn’t know about before starting treatment but I think it was helpful. Carbonated (seltzer/sparkling) water was useful as a replacement for the alcoholic drinks in my case but if that brings to mind stuff they used to mix together, it may not be an ideal solution.

If they’ve been drinking heavily over a long period, there are also some risks associated with complete cessation so it couldn’t hurt to encourage them to schedule an appointment with their doctor anyway. I’d imagine that’s come up in your research already though.