Is it Unethical for a Liquor Store to Sell Alcohol to Those Struggling with Alcoholism?
Selling alcohol is a business practice regulated by laws and regulations designed to protect public health and safety. While there may be ethical considerations, the decision to sell alcohol to an individual with a severe alcohol use disorder is not inherently unethical under standard business practices.
Business Practices vs. Ethical Standards
From a commercial perspective, a liquor store must sell its products to generate revenue. Unless a customer has explicitly requested to be placed on a no-sell list (due to past problematic behavior), there is no ethical obligation for the store to refuse service to someone with a severe alcohol use disorder.
At the same time, it’s important to recognize that while the business aspect is clear, there is a substantive ethical question here. The topic here revolves around whether a business has a moral obligation to avoid contributing to harm, in this case, by serving alcohol to someone who may struggle with severe alcohol dependence.
Identifying Severe Alcoholism
It can be extremely difficult for a liquor store employee to determine if a customer is struggling with severe alcoholism. A person might enter the store and appear to be behaving normally, with no signs of intoxication. It’s important to remember that severe alcoholism can be highly concealable. People struggling with alcoholism often go to great lengths to hide their consumption from the world.
For example, a customer may change their routine, visiting different stores on different days, or occasionally skipping a day to avoid drawing attention. These behaviors indicate the complexity and depth of the problem, making it nearly impossible for a store to accurately assess a customer's alcohol use situation based on a single interaction.
The Ethical Consideration
A compelling argument can be made that declining to sell alcohol to someone with severe alcoholism might harm them. Alcohol withdrawal can be vital and potentially lethal in severe cases. Rapid withdrawal from alcohol can lead to severe health complications, including seizures and in some cases, death. On the other hand, continuous access to alcohol can help manage withdrawal symptoms, at least temporarily.
Some grocery stores and fast-food restaurants refuse to sell food to visibly obese individuals, but this practice is rare and often faces criticism. In comparison, it is much more common for people to ask whether liquor stores should refuse to sell alcohol to someone struggling with severe alcoholism, highlighting a significant ethical dilemma.
Unequal Standards Across Industries
There is a debate around the ethical standards in different industries dealing with addiction. While grocery stores and fast-food restaurants are increasingly expected to address the visibly affected (like obesity), the same level of scrutiny is less common for liquor stores regarding invisible struggles like severe alcoholism.
The responsibility of policing addiction does not lie with the employees of a liquor store. Retailers have a fundamental obligation to follow the law and ensure that they do not sell to underage individuals. Beyond that, it’s up to the individual to exercise responsibility. To attempt to police addiction by preventing access to alcohol could be seen as an infringement on personal liberties and potentially harmful.
Scrutiny might be misplaced or impractical. There is no clear indicator that allows a liquor store to determine which customers are struggling with severe alcoholism and which are not. Mandating such practices risks discrimination and arbitrary decisions based on unobservable factors.
Conclusion
The question of whether it is unethical for a liquor store to sell alcohol to someone struggling with severe alcoholism is complex and multi-faceted. While it is understandable to have ethical concerns, it is not aligned with the standard business practices of selling a legal product. Retailers have an obligation to adhere to laws and regulations, and the complexities of addiction make it infeasible to implement a blanket policy of refusal.
Instead, it is crucial for public health messages and societal support systems to address the root causes of alcoholism and provide resources and support for those struggling. A nuanced and balanced approach is needed to navigate these ethical and practical considerations.