Official: There is No safe limit for drinking alcohol!

There has been much debate about the safe limits of alcohol consumption from a scientific point of view. Indeed many medical and scientific organisations have, over a considerable number of years, repeatedly offered up differing opinions on the effects of alcohol consumption and issued conflicting advice on sensible upper limits.

However, now we are told that in the light of further research, reported in recent news reports and which claimed to have taken into consideration the damage caused to health and the behavioural effects on society as a whole, there is no safe limit for alcohol consumption. Indeed the UK's chief medical officer is quoted as saying that new research shows that even the smallest amount of alcohol increases the risk of cancer. In the case of pregnant women, the new guidelines published seek to bring the rest of the UK in line with Scotland, recommending that pregnant women should not drink at all.

The debate about the alcohol consumption is not a new one. Its financial implications and social consequences are obvious, even to those who consume it and more especially to those who have been adversely affected or harmed by the actions of those under its influence.  Although no spiritual benefit and few beneficial physical effects of alcohol consumption have ever been demonstrated, some religions continue to allow or even encourage it.

Islam has also faced this same ‘debate’, questioning both the spiritual and social benefits in particular and considering the overall effects of alcohol consumption on society. Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah says: ‘the consumption of alcohol was banned in the third century, after the battle of Uhod, according to the opinions of all scholars’.

As the religion which gave us the laws that regulate people’s life but which also regulate the spiritual element and further development of people’s affairs, Islam went through three major phases in coming to a conclusion:  analysis of the intellectual harm presented by the consumption of alcohol, its effects on the lives’ of the people and the effects on society as a whole. It did not introduce an immediate or arbitrary ban, but first sought to convince the people that the harmful effects of alcohol far outweighed any benefits, and then prepared the ground for its intellectual acceptance.

Let us go through three verses of the Quran that were milestones in bringing about the debate about its harmful effects:

First: Revealed in  Surah al-Baqarah verse 219. It says: ‘They ask you about wine and games of chance. Say: in both these there is great sin, even though there some benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit’.

However, after the revelation of this verse, not everyone abandoned its consumption. There were people who refrained as they understood the message of great harm, but many others continued, excusing their actions by declaring they could enjoy the benefits of alcohol while avoiding its harm.

Later, when some of these same people attended their prayers, while they were under the influence of intoxication, they were banned from further attendance.

Second:  Surah 4  V43. ‘Believers! Do not draw near to the prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying’.

The message was clear: mosques or places of prayer are not places that people can attend when under the influence of alcohol or otherwise intoxicated. People had to choose, either prayers or intoxication; either spiritual development or spiritual decadence. Spiritual places shaped the social lives of the community.  A spiritual understanding that intoxicants do not bring any social benefits to them would have a positive influence on people and they would become  more likely to abandon the habit.  This is where Islam differs in a marked contrast to Christianity. In Islam, religion has banned the consumption of alcohol and any other intoxicants because of their overall sinful nature. The harm consumption of them does has been firmly established medically, economically, socially and spiritually.

After the revelation of this second verse, people altered the timing of their consumption of alcoholic beverages, so that it did not conflict with timing of the prayers, but as yet it was not completely banned.

Then came the final stage where intoxicants, together with certain other sinful substances would be prohibited religiously.

Third: Surah 5 Verse 90. The Quran said: ‘believers! Intoxicants, games of chance, idolatrous sacrifices at alters and divining arrows are all abominations, the handiwork of satan, so turn wholly away from it that you may attain to true success. By intoxicants and games of chance satan only desires to create enmity and hatred among you and to turn you away from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. Will you then desist’?

The above verse delivered the final verdict in unequivocal terms so that absolutely no doubt was left in the minds of people about the need for its prohibition.

In today’s world, it is well understood that the prevailing culture, which so eagerly embraces intoxicants, alcohol and drugs, is destroying the very fabric of family, social  and spiritual life. 

Ordinary people commit the most horrific crimes while under the influence of intoxicants.  Family life is ruined, divorces take place, children are abandoned and sexual crimes are committed, even the roads are not safe any more. Alcohol and drugs are now the root cause of nearly all crime, be it minor, major or on the road and are largely responsible for the continuing breakdown of society.

Consumption continues to increase, creating ever more health problems and placing a huge burden on the NHS and other emergency services. The end result is that many, and not only the ones who consume alcohol but, and even worse, those who do not, are paying with their lives.

So, at last, it has been realised that there are no safe limits for the consumption of intoxicants and no visible benefits either. Surely now is the time that people should begin to think sensibly about their lives and futures. There are no solutions to any problems at the bottom of a glass  - on the contrary, what is there is more pain and possibly death. Not only for the drinkers but for the innocents around them!