Liquor Misuse ‘Old As Humanity’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31230, 30 November 1966, Page 9

Liquor Misuse ‘Old As Humanity’

“The Press” Special Service

WELLINGTON.

“In this community three out of every four broken marriages are caused by alcohol,” said the Rev. C. W. Haskell, in a sermon at St David’s Anglican Church, Naenae.

“The problem of misuse of intoxicating liquor is as old as humanity. We meet this in the first book of the Bible. Noah, head of the only family saved through the flood, was found drunk. Drink is a recurring problem. We have had many warnings against it. In this community it is the greatest social evil.

“In one respect alcoholism is a far more serious problem than in the ancient world. No longer is it homemade ale or wine which causes the bulk of the trouble. It is caused by a vast organised trade. Millions of pounds are spent annually advertising and in this way alcoholic liquor is thrust upon the attention of the public. “Young people, in particular, having more money than ever before, tend to be conditioned by advertising. It is usually slanted at them. There is undoubtedly a terrifying increase in drunkenness among young people under 21 years, and it is by no means unknown among schoolchildren.

Not Merely Personal

“Drinking is not merely a personal problem it has vast social ramifications.

“As a boy I lived in Westland. There I saw misery caused by open slather because the pubs never closed until customers were either drunk or broke. “Make no mistake about it —longer hours do not mean more civilised drinking, not in the hotels I have been into. “The connexion between drink and sexual immorality is well known. Many men

and women under its influence have slipped into acts of immorality. These vices are staunch allies and to indulge in one is too often to surrender to the other.

“There is not the slightest doubt of this in this community where three of every four broken marriages are caused by alcohol. In many cases frequenting of pubs brings men and women into contact with unprincipled persons of the opposite sex and this leads to adultery—and consequent breakdown of marriages with all attendant evil consequences, especially for children.

“As a curate I was at Ashburton about 30 years ago. Prohibition was in. There I never saw a drunk, did not know of a home ruined by drink, or one home where it was a problem. There was no public bar; nowhere where a teen-ager could get supplies.

“After the West Coast it was like travelling from hell to heaven. But today Ashburton has its pubs and you find the same problem there as we have here, and elsewhere in New Zealand. “In the future we will recognise in alcohol our deadliest enemy, and we will take steps to control it, but before that happens I fear thousands will be killed on our roads, thousands of homes will be ruined and thousands will die of alcoholic poisoning. “I have several suggestions for discouraging alcoholism. I think one legislative action which is urgently needed is to charge the licensed trade with the cost of maintaining alcoholics in institutions. This is in my opinion only just, for there would be no alcoholics without alcohol. It is a selfinflicted disease brought about in many cases by the licensed trade.

Would Ban Advertisements “I would ban all liquor advertisements, close all public bars and have alcohol served

only In restaurants and cafes. I would ration the production of alcoholic drinks, gradually reducing the quantity of alcohol content until it became almost impossible for any one to drink to excess. “I would have heavier penalties in Court in cases of people charged with being

drunk in charge, and I would have blood tests carried out where drink was in any way involved. “W? Christians have to seek to build up the conscience of the nation against the horrifying effects of present liquor conditions. We dare not agree to their con-

tinuance and must pledge ourselves to fighting them. Do not give away to drunkenness and dissipation which goes with it “I want to make it clear that I am not advocating total abstinence. Drinking like taking food and sleep, is all right in moderation,” he said.