Beer consumption is considered by the average citizen to be an innocent pastime for every ‘good ole boy’ and every ‘good ole girl’ in town.

Some parents heaved sighs of relief when their kids were caught guzzling beer instead of drinking whiskey or smoking "pot."  After all, it is only beer! 

It’s about time the wraps were taken off this supposed "innocent" beverage, beer! Consider the following facts:

Beer contains alcohol

The alcohol content of one twelve ounce can of beer contains a little more alcohol than one ounce of 100 proof whiskey or a small glass of 40 proof wine.

Beer is a major culprit and contributor concerning alcoholism

Some mistakenly believe that one cannot become an alcoholic from drinking beer. It has been documented that beer drinkers compose a large percentage of alcoholics undergoing treatment in our VA hospitals. Alcoholism is a major social problem in Germany and Belgium where beer is the alcoholic drink almost exclusively.

Beer contains a second powerful narcotic

Besides the narcotic of ethyl alcohol, beer contains the narcotic called lupulin. This drug is the active narcotic agent contained in hops from which beer is brewed. The chemical formula for lupulin shows it contains the same chemical elements as the narcotic agent in marijuana, only heavier molecule structure. Moreover, the hops from which beer is brewed is classified by botanists as belonging to the same plant from which marijuana is derived. When one drinks beer, he gets a double dose of narcotics (alcohol and lupulin).

The alcohol in beer has the same effect as the alcohol in wine or whiskey

Beer slows one’s reaction time, often just enough to prevent the handling of an emergency on the job or behind the wheel of a vehicle. Many medical schools demonstrate the effect of alcohol by giving two examinations on successive days, with similar questions. The first exam is given as usual. The second one is given after each student had drunk one bottle of beer. The tests are graded by people ignorant of the experiment, thus unbiased. Most of the students judge the second test to be easier and their grades higher, but the grades averaged 17% lower.

Only one beer makes a difference!

The fact that alcohol gives one the sensation of being better able to handle a situation when the opposite is true becomes a major factor in driving a car, practicing medicine, operating a machine, etc. Like all other alcoholic beverages, beer continues to leave death, destruction, heartache, and crime in its wake. 

Beer is neither innocent nor harmless!

-- Dub McClish, November 2001 –-