Alcohol: Who's In Control?

This free video begins on a good note: a host of sobering statistics are reeled out. 14 million alcoholics in the U.S. alone, 36% of America's young teens admit they drink too much; in 1983 the average person in the Soviet Union consumed eight gallons of vodka, etc. The host, Dr. David Albert, admonishes that we have become a "feel-good society." In a surprising bit of advice, Dr. Albert recommends that if parents drink, they should be the ones to introduce their children to alcohol (in a controlled environment.) He cites the lower figures for alcoholics in the Jewish and Italian cultures, arguing that the more open acceptance of alcohol in those culture's rituals do not force children into "sneaking" drinks behind their parent's backs. With education as the backbone of the alcohol prevention program, Dr. Albert turns toward the alcoholic, who must be made to confront the problem, admit it, and seek help. At this latter stage of the program, the religious messages start to increase in Malthusian fashion, to the point where, during the last five minutes, viewers are being told to clean up their act in all directions so that they may be ready for eternal life. What's irritating about this program is that no mention of God is made during the first two-thirds of the program (which is well-documented and informative.) But the last third has more to say about scripture than it does about alcoholism. Since the program is free, you may want to view it yourself before deciding whether to add. (Available from: The World Tomorrow, 300 W. Green St., Pasadena, CA 91129.)