Alcohol in moderation - Page 2

Misshalfway · #11 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 05:55 PM

Oh. I am sorry I didn't fully understand the purpose of your question.

Aside from discussing the obvious reasons....(addiction, doing dumb stuff when you are drunk, beer can make you fat, drunk driving, teen binging, fetal alcohol syndrome, etc. ), what is wrong with saying "I don't because I have made a religious commitment not to" or "I am serious about taking care of my health"? Or you could even joke and say that "moderation is for sissy's".

If your friends reason that its ok in moderation, then you can confidently agree with them. But you can also explain that you are making the extra sacrifice for spiritual reasons and that your life choices are in no way a commentary on theirs. And then you smile and sip your soda.

Beyond that you don't really have to explain yourself. Perhaps you could ask them why they think you should drink? Or maybe why drinking in moderation is better than not drinking at all? Make it a discussion and let them figure it out. If they want to talk about what spiritual benefits you are experiencing, then you can get into the simple scriptural explanations or your personal experience.

I think its great that you are around social pressure and you are still remaining strong. That is great!

xforeverxmetalx · #12 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misshalfway

Oh. I am sorry I didn't fully understand the purpose of your question.

Aside from discussing the obvious reasons....(addiction, doing dumb stuff when you are drunk, beer can make you fat, drunk driving, teen binging, fetal alcohol syndrome, etc. ), what is wrong with saying "I don't because I have made a religious commitment not to" or "I am serious about taking care of my health"? Or you could even joke and say that "moderation is for sissy's".

If your friends reason that its ok in moderation, then you can confidently agree with them. But you can also explain that you are making the extra sacrifice for spiritual reasons and that your life choices are in no way a commentary on theirs. And then you smile and sip your soda.

Beyond that you don't really have to explain yourself. Perhaps you could ask them why they think you should drink? Or maybe why drinking in moderation is better than not drinking at all? Make it a discussion and let them figure it out. If they want to talk about what spiritual benefits you are experiencing, then you can get into the simple scriptural explanations or your personal experience.

I think its great that you are around social pressure and you are still remaining strong. That is great!

mostly the reason I give them, when they ask why I won't have just one drink is, why should I? it's just a drink really...

I wouldn't call it so much pressure as in, they're just curious and ask about why I don't do various things. luckily for me they usually are respectful of it. :] so it was pretty easy hanging out with them at metal festivals in Germany while they're getting drunk and I'm just having Coke

beefche · #13 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 09:01 PM

Most of my friends are non-LDS. Some of them are not church goers (they believe in God, they just don't attend church). None of them have ever had issue when I say I don't do xxx because of my religion. Coffee and tea are usually the topics that cause them to ask, "why not?" I simply explain to them I don't know the reason why...I believe that God told us not to drink it. They don't understand it, but accept it.

Loudmouth_Mormon · #14 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 10:47 AM

Here's a secular reason: A segment of the population seems just genetically geared towards getting addicted to alcohol. "Moderation in all things" is fine and dandy, but addictions overrule agency. Many people just simply do not possess the ability to stop at a moderate amount.

Drinkers tend to ignore this game of russian roulette. Of course they're not gonna buy this as a good reason not to drink. So, it's a good reason for me, but it's useless in a conversation with other drinkers.

LM

annamaureen · #15 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 11:03 PM

This is probably an overly simplistic answer, but... it's easier to say "don't do it at all" than to say "well, you can do it a bit," because then where is the line drawn between moderation and too much? It's best just to not open ourselves up to it.

Misshalfway · #16 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 09:50 AM

I generally find it interesting that when I visit a doctor they ask me if I smoke and drink and how often and they have asked if I drink coffee.

I used to work in a dental practice and you could tell the kids who drank too much soda because their teeth were damaged.

I think if you talk about health reasons, moderation has some valid arguments. But if you understand the concept of sacrifice and how that works with regards to spiritual blessings, then I think the WofW can make sense to people. I actuallly think people respect it, even if they think its a little extreme.

will227457 · #17 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loudmouth_Mormon

Here's a secular reason: A segment of the population seems just genetically geared towards getting addicted to alcohol. "Moderation in all things" is fine and dandy, but addictions overrule agency. Many people just simply do not possess the ability to stop at a moderate amount.

Drinkers tend to ignore this game of russian roulette. Of course they're not gonna buy this as a good reason not to drink. So, it's a good reason for me, but it's useless in a conversation with other drinkers.

LM

+1 on what he says

a drink or two in and of its self is not a bad thing, doesnt make anyone a bad person....like LM said some people don't have an off switch....modern revelation has stated that it is better to avoid these types of things all together...so as the prophets have requested we don't partake.....

the WOW is however only recently been enforced, the no alcohol/tabacco/hot drinks.... thing was not always a hard and fast rule in the church...

Loudmouth_Mormon · #18 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 03:01 PM

Well, "enforced' is a bit of a strong term. It's true that you can't get a temple recommend if you don't follow the WoW these days, and it's true that this is a recent (last 50 years?) thing. But it's not like we excommunicate people out of church for drinkin' or smokin'.

LM
(Maybe if they show up to church drunk and throw up on someone.)

lattelady · #19 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 07:13 PM

jadams_4040: when you asked "Have you ever in your life heard anyone ever drink alcohol and 'not' get a 'loose' tongue?" were you saying or insinuating that every person who drinks alcohol--even in moderation--gets a loose tongue? that it comes with the territory of drinking? I hope that wasn't what you were saying--I just wanted to make sure I wasn't misunderstanding your statement.

pam · #20 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will227457

+1 on what he says

a drink or two in and of its self is not a bad thing, doesnt make anyone a bad person....like LM said some people don't have an off switch....modern revelation has stated that it is better to avoid these types of things all together...so as the prophets have requested we don't partake.....

the WOW is however only recently been enforced, the no alcohol/tabacco/hot drinks.... thing was not always a hard and fast rule in the church...

Will could you clarify this for me? What do you mean only recently been enforced? I've been a member of the Church for 52 years and I don't remember a time that it wasn't enforced. At least not in any place I've lived and that's been quite a few.