Actually, the world *was* piled high with dead, injured, and disabled workers. What has changed that is workplace safety training and standards, which are still hard fought for, and often not one...carpal tunnel syndrome comes quickly to mind as to one of the main disabling work injuries many have suffered from which are rarely compensated.

Part of the worker safety issues most important to anyone who is a blue collar worker IS that your co-workers don't show up drunk and under the influence. Because when they do show up under the influence of drugs and alcohol, they are putting other workers' safety at risk. The same way selfish musicians who insist on their right to perform under the influence, the rest of the world (including their work colleagues) be damned.

Several people in this thread alone have said they have left music acts over this issue.

Puritanical age? Thanks, I much prefer it to disability, and in a musician's case, the ability to maintain a professional reputation so I can support myself and my family doing what I love. And that doesn't even get into the issues related to having high performance standards for one self and one's colleagues you perform with being dragged down by musicians who care more about what they perceive as their god given right/inherited tradition to get shit faced in order to perform.

If that sounds harsh, so be it. I'm trying to earn a living at this, and this "anything goes on stage as long as I can pull it off" crap don't fly with me. In case you can't tell. ;-)