Article November 29, 1999 Issue

To drink, or not to drink

BY RICHARD S. RAFFLES

IT CAME AS a surprise. Actually, more of a jolt. At an out-of-town convention, one of my company's officers and I were chatting with a client. The other two held alcoholic beverages. I was enjoying my usual soft drink. At one point my associate referred to this difference by saying, "Dick's a deserving guy, but he'll never make it in this business. He doesn't drink."

Even though he said it jokingly, I was still jolted. That night in my hotel room I took stock. Would success elude me because I didn't drink?

Drinking liquor was contrary to everything I believed was truly good for me. I wanted to advance steadily in my understanding of Spirit, God, and of my own spirituality. Consuming liquor would take me in the opposite direction. It represented a false and damaging appetite. The abuse of alcohol robs people of their freedom to think and act intelligently. I had absolutely no interest in it.

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