Drinking to feel cool! (Part I)
We are saturated by images and messages designed to influence our attitudes about alcohol. Today’s advertisers not only want to sell us their products; they want to sell us a “lifestyle” based on an idealized image of what our lives will be like if we use their products. How effective would a wine advertisement be if it showed a lonely buyer taking a bottle home, to drink alone while watching television?
But there is another kind of “advertising” that make alcohol be so appealing—the attitudes of families and friends. People around us think of drinking as a necessary part of any successful family/friends gathering or social event. Most of our friends and family associate alcohol with fun and excitement—maybe even as a necessary ingredient for fun and excitement in our lives. Without realizing it, people of all ages fall victim to the glamorization of alcohol—the unrealistic portrayal of its role in a happy and successful life.
If we cannot trust the media’s depiction of alcohol use, and our friends and families may be too reliant on alcohol for their idea of “excitement,” where can we go to gain the right attitude about alcohol? We seriously believe the Bible reveals God’s mind on almost any subject—including the use of alcohol.
Some may be surprised to learn that the Bible does not condemn the use of alcohol. Throughout God’s word, we find many examples showing that alcohol can be a blessing if used properly in the right setting. For example, Jesus Christ’s first recorded miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding He attended (John 2:1–10). The Apostle Paul instructed the young evangelist Timothy to “use a little wine” for health reasons (1 Timothy 5:23). The Bible even lists wine as one of the blessings God has given mankind to enjoy (Psalm 104:15).
However, the Bible also strongly condemns the abuse of alcohol. Indeed, entire sections of Scripture describe the dangers and consequences—even the stupidity—of drunkenness (Proverbs 20:1; 21:17; 23:20–21, 29–35; Isaiah 5:11–12, 22). 
When we put together everything the Bible says on the subject, it becomes obvious that alcohol is meant for our benefit, but only when enjoyed responsibly and in moderation. We should not assume that since “the Bible says it is okay to drink,” we can abuse alcohol. Scripture makes it clear that we should not become controlled by alcohol (1 Corinthians 6:12); if it has power over us, we are not using it properly. We should never feel compelled to drink. Remember, just because something is allowable does not make it necessary (Galatians 5:13). If we find ourselves feeling that no social occasion is complete without alcohol, and that we cannot really have a good time unless there are drinks to be had, we can be sure we are being influenced not by God’s word, but by the marketers and advertisers who seek to glamorize the use of alcohol.
The sad reality is that though responsible use of alcohol can enhance our lives, we all know of too many cases where alcohol is misused. Perhaps even among your own family and friends you have seen alcohol abuse lead to heartbreaking problems. Some drinkers even sink into the pit of alcoholism, where their drinking becomes a life-and-death matter. This tragic reality is not portrayed in those slick advertisements showing beautiful people sharing good times.
You may be thinking, “Oh, here we go again, another ‘gloom-and-doom’ article. Lighten up, dude! I just want to have some fun with my friends.” Really? What may seem like harmless fun can have serious consequences for underage drinkers.