Yankee Brew News Archive

Have a Nice Healthy Beer!

Originally Published: 04/96

By: Gregg Smith

Editorial

Your government would now like you to know that moderate consumption of alcohol is healthful. This despite years of dire warnings otherwise. In other words, what hasn't killed you yet may actually lengthen and enhance your life. This revelation reverses propaganda bureaucrats have been spewing for nearly a century, not wanting to admit fault with the single worst law enacted in this country. To understand why they were so deeply entrenched in this position we need to look to the past.

There is no doubt that prohibition was the most ineffective legislation ever passed. Although it was uniformly ridiculed and ignored by the majority of Americans, its effect has been felt from 1919 to today. What brought it about was an era of reform sweeping the country, a movement prohibitionists used to their advantage. They portrayed alcohol as part of the robber baron world of exploitation and a wrecker of the nation's health. Even so beer wasn't targeted in their initial campaign. It was World War I and Europe combined with America's jingoistic attitude which enabled them to cast all brewers as Germans and their product as evil.

In answering these unjust charges the brewers mounted a campaign which emphasized the health effects gained from beer consumption. Despite its acceptance as a tonic through the millennia, this was the first time hard research went into the positive effects of alcohol consumption. Alas, it was too little, too late. Now here we are nearly 80 years since prohibition. Eighty years during which zealots and our government continuously bombarded us with the message that alcohol would surely spell all our deaths.

It seemed unlikely it would ever change, but lo, never say never. In early January, 1996 the government finally reversed the backward dogma that made us the laughing stock of the beer drinking world. They finally admitted that their notion of alcohol and beer as evil was simply wrong. After all there are only so many studies you can dismiss as inconclusive, only so many you can ignore, only so many you can cast aside. Sooner or later you have to face the facts of "hard science." The government chose later--still, better late than never.

Now we can all rejoice in the announcement made by not one, but two government agencies. In a joint release the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services admitted that (gasp!) moderate alcohol consumption is good for you. Their "Dietary Guidelines For Americans" admits that alcohol and beer can help you live longer and healthier. Philip R. Lee, Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services, states that "New scientific findings show that drinking in moderation can be fine for health...that's what the research shows. And we should not hide the scientific facts."

The study went on to advise taking this healthy dose "...with meals and when consumption does not put others at risk." Imagine that, just what we've known for decades. Have a beer with your dinner, great! Finally, an official admission that this can be an indispensable part of your diet and well-being. When you look for a perfect complement to a meal, choose beer or an other alcoholic beverage (we like wine and single malt scotch too.)

You could take this news even further. Long have brewing companies been criticized for using sports in their ads. Now we find they were correct! Beer is an indisputable part of a healthy life style. Go for a run--have a beer; play baseball--have a beer; finish skiing--have a beer. Take note, in each instance of these healthy lifestyles the beer comes second; this in order to follow the government's advice about consumption and risk.

Yes, we can all be thankful the powers in Washington have decided to give us our due. They actually admit to the physical benefits of this beverage. Of course they cut things a little short. What we should do is invite a federal employee to dinner and give them a beer. They'd see beer provides not only the admitted physical benefits they described but a sublime effect on mental well being. Give them a heavily hopped ale or dopple bock and watch their concerns about a government shutdown, improperly filled out forms and other bureaucratic consternation melt into the dim recesses of their minds. After all, it's official now. It won't hurt us; it'll even make us feel better.