Originally Posted by forensicchemist
the brands you cited are not really beers, but part of a closely related group of malted beverages that includes ales, stouts, and porters. The difference between these types and beers is in the brewing process, which does allow for higher alcohol contents. Now if you are not making any distinction between ales, porters, stouts, and are calling them all beers, (as I suspect you are) then you are correct, some would have much higher alcohol contents as compared to what is defined as beer.
beer is fermented grains (malt, barley). the two main divisions are ales and lager--one being top-fermented and the other bottom-fermented. stouts and porters are subsets of ales which are
all beers. (bocks, pils, etc are lagers). any brewer will tell you this.
not that its relevant, but related to the thread.
as far as the thread pertains: 30 days? a little too much there. current punishment are serious enough to deter anyone thinking reasonably. problem is... when people are actually drunk, their sense of judgement goes out the window.
further, some people operate differently under the influence. there are just as much dangers out there (as pointed out): inattentiveness, drowsiness (done it a few times. really couldve driven better drunk.)