“New Ways With An Old Foe”

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 28, 9 March 1948, Page 5

“New Ways With An Old Foe”

Presbyterian Moderator Attacks Drink Habit New and more subtle ways of attacking the drink habit were discussed by the Rt. Rev. J. D. Smith, R.A., Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, in an address in the Edgecumbe Church Hall last night. Earlier in the evening Mrs Smith addressed a women’s meeting.

Entitling his address “New Ways With An Old Foe,” the Moderator said, “the old foe is alcohol, entrenched in social custom and vested interest. The old way of attack was that of direct assault —knock the enemy out of business. Beat him at the poll and prohibit him from further action. A subsidiary attack was that of total abstinence, which sought to stop the supply of recruits for- the beer army. Great battles nowadays, however, are mostly won by out-flanking movements. The Temperance cause needs to adopt this type of attack.” The new ways required a positive approach, using the fundamental truths which are on the side of sobriety, the speaker claimed. Apart frons the influence of the recent" war, there was a very strong trend throughout the world towards a lessened consumption of alcohol. Once a teetotaller was considered a halfdaft faddish. Dr. McLean Watt, of the Church of Scotland, - could remember the time when there was not one abstainer that he could name in the Church of Scotland. The position was now nearly reversed. It would be hard to name the drinkers.

“We know a great deal more about alcohol than we did,” the Moderator persued. “The effect it has on the human organism has been closely studied. It is now known to be a narcotic, not a stimulant. “Drunkenness, once regarded as the main ill-effect, is now known to be not so serious if confined to occasional bouts. What is much more serious is the so-called moderate consumption of alcohol regularly, stopping short of drunkenness. It is from the latter group that. most alcoholics come.

“There is scientific agreement that alcohol is quite unnecessary in the human body and serves no useful purpose there except under exceptional circumstances. This is demonstrated by the great decline in the use of alcohol in hospitals. Other drugs have been found which are more effective. Physical fitness, prowess in sport, cannot be achieved if. alcohol is included in the diet. Many prominent athletes testify to this.

“Alcohol is. being shown to be an unwelcome intruder into the machine age. The speed of modern machinery demands the greatest alertness that is possible. Alcohol has been proved even in small quantities to reduce “reaction” time, and to be .responsible for many accidents which would otherwise not have happened. " “This new knowledge needs to be used in a programme of educating, particularly in the secondary schools, where at present practically no teaching about it is given. “Another outflanking movement needs to be developed in undermining the prestige of so-

cial drinking. The entertain- “" merit value of alcohol needs to be counteracted by appeal and encouragement to hosts and hosv tesses to cease relying on al- . cohol to take the place of intelligent and capable hospitality. “To this end adequate substitutes have beep woefully inadequate in developing this line of advance: “Above all, what is wanted is a great positive crusade for the development of character which can •be relied on to use the new knowledge aright. Knowledge by itself is not enough. We must see this battle with alcohol in terms of individual freedom, the rights of little children,. the defence of tempted men and women—all the enjoyment of the full happy life from which alcohol has been driven out. Health, economic sufficiency, a home with loved ones are all imperilled by alcohol. The best in music, art, culture, sport are all achieved without the false aid of alcohol. “Temperance holds all the trump cards. “The practice of drinking alcohol is thus based on a series of illusions. It belongs to the “infantile” stage of the race. When we become really “adult” we shall abandon such a childish practice. As Abraham Lincoln said, ‘the emancipation of the human race from the bondage of alcohol is the next great task that confronts humanity.” “It is an age-old bondage, entrenched' in custom, buressed by vested financial interests, willingly accepted by its victims for the sake of short-lived pleasure. “If the relative grandeur of revolutions shall be estimated by the great amo mt of human misery they alleviate and the small amount they inflict, then indeed will this,-the temperance revolution, be the grandest the world shall ever win.”