Editorial August 14, 1989 Issue

Under the influence ... of wisdom

Ann Kenrick

Dare we refer to a sobering report in The Sunday Times Magazine (London) headlined "Dying for a drink?"? It tells in thoroughly nonhumorous terms of the devastating effects strong drink is having on people's health and welfare.^{The Sunday Times Magazine (London), February 19, 1989, p. 26 .} Drunkenness is causing breakup of families, loss of jobs, and tragic accidents; and leading to disease and deterioration. Alcoholic consumption, which in some cultures is linked to innocent, carefree fun and conviviality, easily crosses over into lack of control, loss of self-esteem, and finally degradation.

There's a verse from the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament that brings all this into perspective: "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."^{Prov. 20:1.} Strong drink is indeed a deceiver—but the good news is there is some awakening to the deception.

One of the articles in the Times magazine is by Anthony Burgess, the well-known British writer. He points out that there is a tendency to say, "Nothing is more natural than drink." He adds, "But, alcohol is only one of the psychoactive substances which soothe or elate, and there is something very curious about this proclamation that drink is natural and pot or crack not. When a man is drunk and incapable we blame his inability to control his intake of a harmless solace; when somebody dies of heroin we blame the heroin."

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