Less – “A”

Posted on January 14, 2013

The ABC’s of Less

Week # 1 – Letter “A” stands for Alcohol

After considerable [sober] thought on the matter I’ve made a decision… there will be less alcohol for me in 2013… maybe even none! I am not against drinking, and if we hang out at a restaurant or bar, feel free to order a drink… but here’s why I probably won’t.

1. I don’t need it.

I realize that alcohol is the social lubricant of American business culture. I see it everyday.

I also realize that American churches are using alcohol as a social and political tool as well. If I hear one more pastor tell his congregation how much he loves wine, or hear about small groups meeting for beer and brats… ugh. #petpeeve

Why do Pastors think they need to do this? The short answer for most churches… “The customer is always right.” They need to keep their customers happy. After all… happy customers tithe.

But even if every single one of my church friends drink… which most do (and often times too much), I still won’t drink. Why? Reason #1 – I just don’t need it.

2. Social protest.

After years of working with adolescents and families…to me, the alcohol industry closely resembles a group of drug pushers dressed up in suits. I think they push their industry at the expense of other people’s pain. So I’m going to boycott them. I know it won’t break them. I’m not boycotting them to run them out of business. I’m boycotting them to keep from supporting them. I’m doing it for me, not against them.

When you strip away all the advertising cleverness, they are liquid drug traffickers. It doesn’t matter to me that their customers want the drug, or even that it is legal. This is about destroyed families, ruined livers, ruined lives, and perpetuating poverty. I know my boycott won’t change things, but I’m going to do it anyway. This is one industry that introduces plenty of hell on earth. #boycottinfulleffect

3. For my kids.

I have four kids (ages 6,8,10,12). It is hard for me to drink … even in responsible moderation… then be a hypocrite and tell my kids (or any kids) to abstain. ‘Hey, kids, do what I say, not what I do.’ I don’t want kids to drink – my kids or yours. It’s that simple.

The biggest problem kids are facing in America is adult hypocrisy… (read that last sentence again) … and this may be the largest area kids see hypocrisy.

Kids watch and listen to their parents carefully. Then they mimic. I’m astonished how many parents are surprised to discover that their teenagers have a drinking problem… while Mom and Dad imbibe, and often times “over imbibe” on a regular basis.

4. Beer Gut

Don’t want one. Enough said.

5. All things are permissible, but not all things are profitable.

Just because I can, doesn’t mean I should. Leadership sometimes requires forfeiting certain freedoms for the good of the team. I lead my family. I have forfeited many freedoms over the last 12 years out of love for my family. This is just one more.

Now I know I’ll get some helpful responses from my friends who want to broaden my thinking and help me understand how a good stiff drink each day will delay my heart attack by three months and 13 days… or how a daily drink is good to take the edge off and calm me down. Thank you very much for your concern. But, I’ll give up chocolate cake, and practice self discipline instead.

Now I just have to figure out what to do with all my wine memberships.