> Drinking 135 beers at one sitting would be a toxic effect--of both the alcohol and the water.

Perhaps a more apt comparison would be to compare two plausible scenarios: 

1) the effect of the consumption of alcohol contained in vanilla flavored candy vs

2) the effect of drinking a gallon of vodka 

> David Bogenberger, 19, a graduate of Palatine High School, and 18 other pledges drank anywhere from three to five 4-ounce glasses of vodka in each of the seven designated rooms at the fraternity house within an hour and a half. Bogenberger was found dead the morning of Nov. 2. His blood alcohol content was 0.351 percent, authorities said.

This would not be considered an accurate test of the effect of alcohol consumption. To study the effect of longterm consumption of alcohol, one would establish realistic levels and not skew the results by using extremes. Further, it is now widely accepted that the consumption of moderate quantities of alcohol over time has negligible consequences on human health, and Prohibition of alcohol consumption is not warranted. 

The abuse of alcohol, while it is a severe problem for individuals and society in general, does not justify its banning, as ruled by most societies (of course, some societies do prohibit alcohol consumption; ironically, many of these same societies permit tobacco use). 

Applied to neonics, you would not ban them because they cause poisoning in grossly unrealistic doses. To ban them on the basis of their potential for abuse, would parallel the banning of alcohol because of its potential for abuse. The propensity for regulation of substances based on potential rather than actual harm is unwarranted in most cases. Individual responsibility is what is actually needed. 

PLB

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