expats in bike accident

In your hypothetical situation the alcoholic made a sober decision to drive to a bar. Yes, the bar owner shares some responsibility for allowing him to get as drunk as he did and for putting him on his vehicle but the alcoholic knew d*mn well why he was going to that bar and he should be held responsible for his actions. The "disease" (and I really have a hard time agreeing that addiction a disease) does not give the person a pass on responsibility.

An alcoholic is not the same as a 5y/o child. It is in no way comparable. Addiction does not turn people into brainless zombies that are only interested in drinking beer, snorting powder or lighting up the pipe. Addicts do sober up, they do know right from wrong and they do know what drugs do to them and the people around them. Being weak/incapable of controlling themselves does not excuse addicts from their actions. I've personally felt addiction try to take over, I've heard the thoughts the mind thinks when it desires a substance or when a problem comes up and the only reasonable solution seems like drugs. I see how it can be a very slippery, and steep, slope but you need to have a bit of sense and know when to back away from whatever substance is starting to control your thoughts and actions. Addiction is not something that blind sides you and changes your life permanently (unlike an intoxicated driver on the road), it's gradual.

I have no sympathy for the intoxicated driver and I'd expect no one to have any for me if it were me who was behind the wheel intoxicated. I have never thought about suicide but the shame I would feel knowing I killed an innocent person because I made myself lose control could very well bring me to it. The only sympathy I have for alcoholics is that their drug of choice is perfectly legal and available almost everywhere they go.

 

I know it seems a bit extreme but perhaps people could take responsibility for their own actions. The Philippines is a libertarian's dream, unfortunately, with that comes a higher level of personal accountability. People need to accept that if they don't care about themselves there isn't going to be anyone around to do it for them. It is a bit unrealistic to think that bars are going to change their business models any time soon.