TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3869, 8 May 1928, Page 5

TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

Published by arrangement with the United Temperance Reform Council. The world fight against alcoholism is only one phase of the fight between right and wrong, between good and evil, between life and decay. ‘‘This is. a cause in which we can all unite; it is the cause of our common humanity', the cause of our country and the cause of our God.”—Father Theobold Mathew. Sir Arthur Newsholme, ex-president, Society of Medical Health Officers, states that though there has been in Great Britain a reduction of about one-third the amount of whisky and brandy, and ?oni > • t} 16 quantity of beer, drunk since 1891, drink remains a serious evil, and 90 per cent, of the cases of child neglect are caused by it. YOUTH AT THE DANGER POINT. By Thos. Witter. A measure of protection from the evil etiects of alcohol is afforded to youn" people until they reach 21 years of age. inis protection is given, not because there is any desire on the part of a paternal Government to interfere with the proper functioning of free will on the part oi the young people concerned, but because, until that age is reached, the mind is not sufficiently informed, or the judgment matured, or the character stabilised, for right conclusions to be reached and acted upon respecting the use of alcoholic drinks. For these reasons the sale ot strong drink to young people is hedged about with legal restrictions. But at 21 the restrictions are removed, and the youth and maiden may go forth free to exercise whatever intelligence and judgment they possess upon habits and usages which vitally affect conduct for good or S: \r' ‘ -JVe recognise the possibility of avoiding legal restrictions prior to attaining the requisite age, and of means being adopted for surreptitiously ment R . forl ?idden liquid refreshnnteV • as U may * the real danger point is the time when the legal restrictions cease to operate, and the youth or maiden may walk up to any liquor bar and order any-intoxicating drink without hindrance. Not all young people have been able to discern that the legislative int^P«f l ° nS been alt °getber in their interests, and have been introduced to to avariclo » s Persons from exploitn o their immature cfiaracter. But at 21 they are admitted to be sufficiently to act upon their own initiative whtt J i 1 s d t^t} lt ’ and hereupon they face ”nat is to them a new danger. if a danger exists, it i 3 well to In f-ict ar k-no f ' Jt i Preparod me6t ’t. nrpn»rl’r k T iedge of - a P®” l ’ and adequate preparation to meet it, will go a lonrr way P -° We r of fcha t peril t-urh wok Whilst that is not the "whole t uth with respect to youth and the peril dLX° Xi m llnK - drin H’. it . is true that P the danger may t>e minimised bv adequate conccrnin g >ts operation 4 and preparation to counteract its influence The enl Phasise is that the ’ peril to youth exists. How then can youth best prepare to meet it? It is to J lr neto to ♦"I tho naf -ure of that peril-that the introduction of alcohol info l ntorf Um£Ul CVen 1,1 sma!l quantities, interferes with the normal working of the brain. Under the influence of even small doses of alcohol the real facts of life are distoited; mental and moral balance is sciiously disturbed; and the power of self-control is lost.

irot r th °f € who desire to prove the truth of these statements bv actual experience rather than by observation They rush to prove these things for themselves without taking the advice or weighing the experience of others. Such a course 1S s-heei follv, for it must be acknowledged that anything which, like alcohol, interteres with the normal functioning of che human brain, can never give satisfactory results when the experimenter experiments upon himself.

Other factors ought also to be taken into consideration when dealing with the subject in the experimental stage. There is for instance, the current estimate prevailing ( iu some quarters, that alcoholic drink is a good creature of God;” and the myth that it is a cure for every kind of disease. Both of these are the relics of, past ignorance. To it is attributed various virtues which it does not possess. Youth, at the dangerpoint, must make an independent ex animation, and must take pains to arrive at correct conclusions concerning the value and use of a commodity which so vitally affects the whole of character and life. p. will require great courage to carry out such a .-chenie. You will scarcely realise how much courage is necessary until you are fairly launched upon your search. You will have to face' "the specious * reasoning of estimable people. One day you may be sitting at table with a Government official who has hi s bottle of claret or chainpagne in front of.him, and you will note his evident relish in . tasting it. And perhaps he wul say. “ Surely you do not abstain from wines or liqueurs because you do not like them I You will find them very de ligntful to the taste, and thc v contribute to the well-being of life!” Or you may find yourself amongst those who take alcoholic drink as a ma iter of course, and if you should refuse their offer they will open their eyes wide with wonder that you, of ail people, should be so narrow and misinformed. Your refusal to participate may be resented, and v ou may be called unsociable. In future they will give you a wide berth, and you will be left wonder ing why it has come to pass that only alcoholic drinks are accounted to be the medium of good fellowship. And, again, you may be made the butt of jokes on account of your abstinence from alcohol and ridicule may pierce your armour whether other things have failed. Lastly, the time may. come when your health is below par, and one who takes a friendly interest in: you , will come and hold 5. glass of champagne to your lips, saying, ‘‘Drink, man; it will put new life into you.” Unless ; you have fortified yourself against those specious arguments/ a riff insidious forms of temptation you maj be inclined to think that the other persons are right and you ore wrong.