Biblical teaching on the effects of alcoholism and the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act 1989 (PART 5)

Document prepared by Scholars of 5 Theological Institutions (Oriental Theological Seminary, Clark Theological College, Trinity Theological College, Baptist Theological College, Shalom Bible Seminary) under the initiative of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council. (From previous issue) Drinking often Leads to Crime [dropcap]T[/dropcap]he alcohol business confronts the society with another problem in its relations to crime. It plays a part in many a community’s crime and Charity records, since drinking alcohol frequently makes its users lawless and even dangerous (C. Aubrey Hearn, op.cit., 107). It is observed that thousands of criminals at the time of their arrest have liquor on their breath. It might be difficult to determine the role of alcohol in a particular crime, but it is to be noted that one of the dominant factors involved in the production of crime is without any doubt drinking alcohol.Gambling and Prostitution is often associated with Drinking Gambling is often associated with drinking, because gambling provokes thirst for drink. At the same time, prostitution and liquor are considered to be boon companions. This is because women involved or trapped into prostitution are always under the influence of alcohol. They do not have their rights and often to forget or ignore their misery, they drink. On the other hand, women are enticed to become alcoholics and as a result they go to the extent of selling themselves to get a drink and quench their thirst. The Bible clearly states in I Corinthians 6: 13b that the body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord…The work of redemption includes the whole body in the sense that through Christ’s own resurrection it has been stamped as belonging to eternity; it is destined for resurrection (Gordon D. Fee, op.cit., 256). It is also for the Lord even in the present and thus be kept holy. The creation account clearly reveals the responsibility of stewards given to human beings and Christians are called to join hands with forces that work for the maintenance of life on earth and life in man. Life has many facets and dimensions, where the divine dimension forms the basis of all that is to come. Following this, it should be the concern of every Christian to set right human life in its natural God- given direction. Accordingly one has to identify the forces that misguide human life (Alexander Mar ThomaMetropolitan, “Church’s Response to Alcoholism,” The Christian Response to Alcohol and Drug Problem, edited by J. Kenneth Lawton, Jonathan N. Gnanadason& K.V. Matthew (Bangalore: Ecumenical Christian Centre, 1983) 128). Paul in his letters repeatedly urges believers to stay away from drinking for the sake of others (more specifically the weaker Christians- Romans 14: 21; I Corinthians 8: 1ff). Thus, the communitarian dimension of Christian living is revealed in this that believers be cautious of the effect of one’s own action on the ‘other’. The Christian ethic is an ethic of community and no Christian ought to plan his life apart from the company of the church. In the community of love, the practice of the Golden Rule is not subtle seeking, but genuine self- losing as best exemplified by Jesus Christ himself on the cross. Alcohol and Economy The production and consumption of alcohol demands a huge amount and as such, it becomes an economic problem. The economic losses arising from the drinking driver are very great and many of the losses are difficult to estimate also. Many of the costs are borne by persons who do not drink or are in no way responsible for the accidents. In many spheres of economics alcohol is a wastrel (Douglas Jackson, op.cit., 38). Hidden Costs Due to Drinking Versus Tax Revenue from the Sale of Liquor The tax revenue collected from the consumption of alcohol amounts to a large sum and the Government seems to depend on it, believing that they cannot operate without it. But it is to be noted that what the Government gets in taxes on the beverage alcohol industry and retail trade does not merely meet the cost of illness, death, unemployment, accidents, crime and mental diseases which are the outcome of alcohol abuse and which the community must pay for (C. Aubrey Hearn, op.cit., 05). It is clear that the hidden cost of drinking includes the cost of illness and hospitalization, cost of crime due in part to drinking, relief costs the state due to drinking, extra cost of automobile insurance and so on, leading to an enormous amount which is far more greater than the tax revenue. Even in our state Nagaland, it has been observed that in a day around 5 crores worth on consumer goods are sold in the state. If proper taxation of those goods are enforced the government would get almost 8% of this amount, i.e. Rs 40 Lacs in a day. In one year the government would garner revenues close to 125 crores just by proper taxation. Compared to this figure, Rs 100 crores of revenue that is not added due to liquor prohibition to the state treasury is a very small figure (NBCC on Total Prohibition of Liquor, October 30, 2011). In line with this thought, William E. Gladstone remarked on this subject, “Gentlemen, you need not give yourselves any trouble about revenue. The question of revenue must never stand in the way of needed reforms; but give me a sober population, not wasting their earnings in strong drink, and I shall know where to obtain the revenue.” (C. Aubrey Hearn, op.cit., 06) Proverbs 23: 21 clearly states, “The drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty”…while the drinker may not come to poverty, he certainly has less money for the necessities of life (Ibid., 89). As mentioned earlier, alcohol consumption involves a big deal of money and in the process deprives many families and communities of a good living. Apart from Christian considerations, common sense should dictate total abstinence. Thomas A. Edison said, “To put alcohol in the human body is like putting sand in the bearings of an engine. I am a total abstainer from alcoholic liquor. I always felt I had better use for my head.” People should have better use for their heads than to use beverage alcohol (C. Aubrey Hearn, op.cit., 29). Alcoholics usually have a history of moderate drinking preceding any appearance of problem drinking. The alcoholic usually passes through a regular sequence in his change from moderate drinking to uncontrolled drinking (Douglas Jackson, op.cit., 47 ). It is drinking in small quantities which leads to larger consumption and thus breeds alcoholism. Thus, it is better to abstain from drinking in the first place. Summary The medicinal value found in wine with low alcohol content was a known fact since time immemorial. So it was also used as an item of food. But it is to be noted that the moment it is misused, it becomes a ‘poison’ poisoning everything the drinker encounters, be it his/her own life or family and society. Alcoholism destroys every aspects of human life starting with the moral, mental, physical, spiritual, family, social and economic aspect. The evil effects of drunkenness even threaten one’s salvation. For any responsible Christian, the hope and goal of one’s life is eternity where we get to enter the Kingdom of God and be part of God’s family. Alcoholism is one of the prominent factors which interferes with this target and influences many to forget the value of one’s own life. From the study above on the effects of alcoholism, it is clear that drinking alcohol destroys everything whether be it the physical life or the spiritual life. And if these two are affected, then everything is destroyed. Thus it is safe to conclude that alcohol damages and destroys everything. The Christian ethic is an ethic of love and man recognizes his continuous need of the saving grace of God. No wo/man who practices abstinence for trivial reasons deserves thereby to be called a Christian. The wo/man who refrains from alcohol because s/he does not like the taste helps society incidentally, the wo/man who abstains to please her/his parents is a dutiful daughter/son, the wo/man who will not waste her/his money on alcohol may be a good steward, but these does not make them a Christian. The outward deed does not indicate motivation. The wo/man who abstains from the use of alcohol because s/he believes that s/he can best live as God’s creature without the narcotizing effect of a pleasant drug, manifests his/ her love for God (Douglas Jackson, op.cit., 116). Thus, church should encourage total abstinence from drinking alcohol. …TO BE CONTINUED