Alcohol is produced by the fermenting of sugar with yeast. Grains and fruits are used in various ways to provide many different flavours. Alcohol affects the body physiologically by narcotic action, although initially it appears to be stimulating. The exhilaration or stimulating effect of a mild or short drink is brought about by depression of the higher nerve centres that exercise inhibition, so that the individual loses his usual social restraints. It has been said that behavior begins to deteriorate as soon as there is any alcohol at all in the blood. To some extent alcohol can be regarded as a food providing fuel for bodily combustion. But apart from giving comfort to the elderly it is rarely justified medicinally, for there are cheaper and less harmful supplies of fuel available.
In most developed countries alcohol has become a social luxury and an easy source of revenue. Unfortunately it has become the root of a worldwide problem too, because it is often used in excess. The misuse of alcohol presents a far greater social problem than does the misuse of drugs. WHO claims that alcoholism is the world third major disease and is 20 times more prevalent than all the addictions combined. Alcoholism causes deterioration in personal health and damage to community life and the revenue collected from those who drink alcohol could almost be offset by the national cost of unemployment, disease, poverty, delinquency, family welfare grid accidental death or injury resulting from over indulgence. Alcohol produces severe dependence in 1 in 15 of all drinkers. In Britain alcoholism occupy about 7,500 mental hospital beds and they form a fair proportion of those who are homeless or who use reception centres. Also in Britain there are about half a million alcoholics and absenteeism from work costs British industry at least 100 million pounds a year.
To live normally the alcoholic must learn to cope with his difficulties in a more mature and less harmful way. He must find a balance in life without resorting to any chemical crutches. He can rarely-if ever-achieve the ability to enjoy ordinary social drinking without having a relapse. The alcoholic must give up alcohol completely. There can be no half measure for relapses will occur if alcohol is taken. Alcoholism is a complex condition described by many as a disease characterized by the individual’s inability to adapt himself to his environment without resort to excessive amounts of alcohol. There is no one single cause. It seems to be an expression of character and social attitude. The results however are indisputable. The sufferer and his family become a public health problem and a community responsibility. The alcoholic not only suffers varying degrees of economic decline, degradation and physical illness and faces the possibility of insanity and death but also runs the risk of damaging the health and happiness of his or her family.
Alcoholism must be distinguished from alcoholic intoxication and drunkness. The latter is betrayed by the external show of behavior resulting from the action of alcohol on the brain cells. The uncontrolled often noisy behavior of any drunken person is unpleasant and undesirable and can lead to serious consequences to others as well as for himself. Drunkenness causing lessening of self control may lead to sexual misconduct, assault, hooliganism and wanton damage to property and cruelty to children and animals. No one who takes too much alcohol can be fit to work or to take responsibility. Recent reports published in the United Kingdom, suggest that 20% of fatal traffic accidents are considered to be due to misuse of alcohol. In the campaign for safety on the roads the following slogan is used ” If you drive don’t drink and if you drink don’t drive.” People are advised not to ride in a car driven by someone who has been drinking. By doing so they put their safety in the hands of someone who is not fully responsible. Alcoholic intoxication can be described as a temporary state in which the level of alcohol in the blood is sufficient for the person to be seriously affected. This level varies in individual according to their tolerance levels.
A percentage of those who habitually get drunk or suffer bouts of alcoholic intoxication will progress to become alcoholic addicts. Once this state has been reached the individual is a sick person. The alcohol appears to help the individual to cope with his problem but in part it merely helps him temporarily
Healing words
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs
20:1.
The scripture agrees with the above discussion of alcohol and alcoholism. On the surface alcohol may appear attractive but it is deceitful. The wise man would recognize that at the end it would expose the person to mockery and disgrace. Learn to exercise self control. Do not submit to the lust of the eyes, the end is destruction. Turn to
