Evening star., 1938-03-13
DRY! QUESTIONS
SAFE DRINKING
Declares Total Abstinence
Is Only Way to Avoid
Dangers.
To the Editor of The Star.

To the Editor of The Star.
I'VE have read with much interest
the article by DR.. Edward A. Strecker.
professor of psychiatry, School of
Medicine. University of Pennsylvania,
entitled Are You Social Drinker?'
which appeared in the issue Of Tues
day. March 8.
I'VE wish to congratulate The Star
on its evident interest in disseminate
Ing the scientific facts regarding the
nature and effect of alcoholic bev-
erages. This Is certainly timely sub
ject for discussion in view of the re-
cent rapid increase in their consump-
ton.
THE writer is not scientist and
would not undertake TO eLter into
scientific discussion with Dr. Strecker.
1t seems to us. however. that either
the headline writer. or DR.. Strecker
in the article as printed, mas been un-
fortunate in his choice of language in
presenting some of his ideas. and that
the effect OF the article upon the
young and immature may prove mis-
leading and deceiving.
BY way of Illustration, the caption
declares that it is "A temperate dis
cuSsion by psychiatrist on safe and
dangerous use of alcohol No qualify
ing expression is used in connection
with the word safe although the text
of the article denotes that it is a uues-
ton of relative safety, since the doc
tor states that there Is something in
the makeup Of some persons which
makes them peculiarly susceptible to
its effects and that they had far bet
ter leave it alone. Every one has
known individuals so constituted. A
youth experimenting with his first So
cial drink may undertake to drive his
car. and if he is one of those easily af-
fected his drinking certainly cannot
be regarded as safe, either for himself
or for others who may cross his path
at the time
Problem Is Complicated.
"The doctor is evidently treating
the subject entirely from the stand
point of physical and mental health
of the individual. The alcohol prob
lem in a machine age is far more COM
plicated than simply the long time ef-
feet upon the drinker.
The suggestion that social drink
ing is harmless, and that the harm
comes from solitary drinking, would
scarcely bear the test of ordinary ex-
perience. The doctor says that in the
first place normal drinking is social
drinking Many have been known to
drink themselves under the table at
social functions.
In the opening sentence DR..
Strecker declares. alcohol may either
be source of normal enjoyment or
it may be menace to physical and
mental health and happiness The
first part of this statement, IN view
of what he says are the effects of al
cohol would seem to be- questionable,
for, while the act of taking a drink
itself may be one of good fellowship,
nevertheless the effects of the relax
alton which he describes are cue to
the fact that alcohol produces state
Of feeling out Of the ordinary and
therefore abnormal.
Danger Signal Ignored.
Again, DR.. Strecker states, There
are many danger signals and, if they
are needed, the calamity of abnormal
drinking need never occur Taken as
an abstract statement, this is prob
ably correct, but from the dawn of
antiquity it has been the experience
that so large number of drinkers
either could not or would not heed the
danger signals as to make drinking a
vN1ttH tA NrNkn all ;,.I
one. It is. according to most authori-
ties, the effect of repeated use of al
cohol in deadening the will of many
users that causes the disastrous effects
which follow.
The article also suggests certain
safeguards to the drinker, such as:
In your frank judgment, and in
the honest opinion of your friends, is
your behavior under the influence of
alcohol such that it would tend to let
you believe that you are one of those
who should not use alcohol?'
observation shows that the drinker
Is usually the poorest judge of his acts
at the time and is often frankly in
credulous when afterward informed
by his friends of his actions. We are
all familiar with the old gag of the
father who was, over his cups, trying
to teach his son moderation. He said,
Son. there are two candles on the
table. When there seem to be four
you have had too much To which the
boy replied, But, father. there is only
one candle on the table
The fundamental difficulty in the
attempt to teach moderation in the
use of alcoholic beverages is, as DR..
Strecker points out. that there are
some people who are peculiarly sus-
ceptible to its harmful effects. No one
can tell when he begins the drinking
practice whether he may be one of that
class. The safe policy for the indi-
vidual would be to abstain from the
use Of liquors entirely. Certainly those
who follow the practice of total alb
stinence need never fear the danger of
alcoholism against which DR.. Strecker
warns" Yours very truly,
EDWARD B. DUNFORD.
Anti-Saloon League of America.