Why Men Drink An eminent scientist explodes I have read Mr. Peabody’s some popular article and found it intermyths about esting, constructive, and It will awaken original. alcohol thoughtful men. I wish it a circulation of millions. DR. CLARENCE TxUE WILSON, General Secretary, Methodist By RICHARD R. Board of Temperance, Prohibition and Morals. PEABODY THE AMERICAN MAGAZINE SOPT. 1931 other boys, and was always COULDN’T tell you how many times I’ve heard it— concerned with his wearing his rubbers or taking a rest while man but actually so unsound, as those who have made a man but actually so unsound, as the who have me day. his friends were playing; or study of drinking and drinkers know: Tom, who was in constant ter- “My case differs from the majority of those who consult ror of the nervous tantrums of You see, my father was a very hard drinker, and his you. Nearly always the his father. In fact, there has never been a generation father before him. picture is one of fear, inferiority, in our family, as far back as we can remember, where someloneliness, or rebellion against body has not been a drunkard or the next thing to it.” nagging on the one hand, or As a matter of fact, inheritance has nothing to do with the overindulgence on the other. necessity for excessive drinking, once a man accepts the idea Small wonder if, in later life, that as an excuse it is not one whit better than any other. these reactions result in a tenddisposition to be nervously nonresistant or weakly resistant to ency to seek refuge in artialcohol may be inherited, and one’s early environment may ficial stimulants or narcotics. have been conducive to creating a fear of life, but when a man For this you can hardly blame has finally made up his mind to stop drinking, the habits of inheritance. his parents and grandparents offer no impediment whatsoever. There are too many sober sons of alcoholic parents to allow of our establishing any valid relationship between the gener- ONE man told me that there seemed to be an additional The way in which a child is brought ations and their habits. reason for his insistence on up is the important factor, but “alcoholic inheritance,” pure drinking which had nothing to and simple, has very little to do with alcoholism. do with the effect of alcohol it- This i have learned from the study of many cases of excesself. He said (quite rightly) sive drinking-men who were too ready to resign themselves that he thought it was a form of stubbornness to what they thought was their unalterable fate, just because which incidentally showed itself in other ways, some member of the family had not been able to control his as well. Sometimes he never thought of doing appetite. certain things until he was told that he could Even in the bringing up of children the use of alcohol in the not do them. An analysis of his early childhood home has comparatively little to do with the future of the showed that he had been constantly in revolt child as regards gross overindulgence. Much more to be conagainst a domineering, nagging family, which at sidered is whether he has been taught self-confidence and seltthat time, constituted his entire of course, reliance, or whether he has been spoiled, or pampered, or world. As a result of this injudicious bringingfrightened, and in general made to feel that he is a tender up, he now reacts to the world in general as he being in a dangerous world. formerly did to his family, and so it is only nec So often I am given the same childhood picture in talking It may be essary for him to be thwarted to have him show with those who have been demoralized by alcohol. an exaggerated reaction to any suggestion of whose mother thought he was more delicate than the Bill,

NO MATTER how you regard prohibition as a political issue, you can’t dodge conversation about liquor these days. Much of it is pointless and dull. It gets nowhere. Here, however, is a constructive article that takes no sides on prohibition as a political issue. But it sheds new light on a subject that too long has been discussed only in Illustrated with actual cases. it is the cold, whispers. impartial record of the scientist seeking truth that will help mankind. Richard Rogers Peabody is a recognized authority in the field of abnormal psychology and specializes in the treatment of drinkers. He has built up a large and successful practice, with the support of the medical pro- Mr. Peabody rings a clear fession, which has recognized the soundness of his views bell for temperance as an accomplishment of charac and the practicability of his theories. ter rather than as a result of Mr. Peabody is the author of The Common Sense of Drink. or environment. heredity ing. He knows why men drink and why some men can and .. It is character, never learn how to drink. character only, that counts This is a most unusual and far-reaching article. and and Mr. conquers, Peabody’s unusually inter• esting and convincing ar ticle sounds this as the clearest note of all. HENRY H. CURRAN, Presidens, Association Against the Prohibition Amendment. …. authority, a reaction which is characterized by an unreasonable demand for independence. But heredity is only one of the many myths that we encounter in the study of alcoholics. I have spent several years dealing with such people and I know that their misbeliefs are relax and to satisfy in some manner that is constructive and as prevalent as ghost stories in Ireland. The successful permanent their craving to feel important. Before we dispose of additional myths, however, let us readjustment of these two phases of environmental adaptation consider briefly a few general aspects of the situation. After constitutes the cure. much study of drinkers and drunkards, I am convinced that it is perfectly possible to cultivate permanent abstinence under LET us now consider those who need to be cured. Naturally, most people do not recognize the dividing line separating certain conditions for those who are in need of it. In fact, it is a far easier task than the discouraged alcoholic has any idea of, what we may call the “social drinker” from the pathological provided that a scientific, sustained approach is made to the or abnormal drinker. Because of this, mothers and wives are Vague theories based on undirected will power are often inclined to worry a great deal for fear their sons and ineffective in the long run, for it must be understood that the husbands are becoming drunkards, when they are doing eradication of the habit and a temporary resort to the “water nothing more than strain their kidneys, hearts, and digestions. wagon” represent two totally different states of mind. Just where chronic alcoholism begins is open to a variety of opinion, I draw the but, for practical working purposes, dividing line between those to whom a night’s sleep habitually DRINKING is a manifestation of the wish to escape from represents the end of an alcoholic occasion and those to whom The illusory charm of drink comes from the fact that the mental reactions to alcohol are extremely satisfying to it is only an unusually long period of abstention. certain basic psychological urges—-namely, the urge for poise In the first or normal class are those who drink an occasional and the urge for power. glass of beer as well as those who become intoxicated quite Let any man reflect on his sensations subsequent to the frequently. But, at the very worst, they are hard drinkers, taking of a drink and I think he will agree that the resultant going soberly about their business in the daytime and to be feelings consist: (1) of calmness, poise, and relaxation; (2) of definitely distinguished from the morning drinkers, who are, self-satisfaction, self-confidence, and self-importance. to all intents and purposes, chronic alcoholics, inebriates, or While the momentary satisfaction of the demands for peace drunkards. There are some normal drinkers who occasionally of mind and self-importance by alcohol may be legitimate for go on a premeditated “party” of more than one day, and who the individual who can control the use of it, certain people, sometimes start the next day with a drink, but, by and large, normal in other ways, have an abnormal reaction to drinking. the great majority of men who can drink and remain socially It is too fascinating to them. It poisons their nervous systems. acceptable and economically responsible avoid it the next day and as a consequence it overdepresses. It overstimulates, until evening midday social events excepted. Those who react in this manner must eliminate drink from I think, then, we are justified in making the statement that their lives or suffer very serious consequences. those who can use alcohol successfully terminate the drinking willing, these people can be shown how to train their minds so of any particular occasion when they go to bed at night. With that they no longet wish to drink. They can and must learn to them we have little concern. Whatever (Continued on page 94)

Men who have given up drinking have briety, and without peace of mind there found that it is not necessary to use liquor is no permanent abstinence. in order to “land” sales. Let us now consider for a moment Pride. you may think of them, I hold no briet tor Then there is the laudable but imprac This characteristic, when it is exaggerated or against them, though I do not mean in ticable program of the girl who marries a and distorted, prevents a great many exthis statement to include the short-time drunkard to “reform him.” Sometimes he cessive drinkers from changing their habits. dangerous or disgusting drinker. reforms, but marriage does not do it. My I remember one patient in particular who this “bad actor” type may restrict his inexperience with many “unselfishly” dis had_his weakness eliminated, and then his dulgence to one evening, he is as much of a posed men has led me to the conclusion own vanity undermined him. that, while giving up alcohol for somebody problem as the pronounced alcoholic, and determined to use my “system” (which is so it behooves him to consider total abelse may be praiseworthy, it’s not practionly applicable to total abstinence) as a stinence with the same seriousness. Howcable. A man must give it up primarily method of limiting his drinking to two ever, as the discussion of one type for himself, because he will derive the most short “parties” per year. drinker will cover them both, so benefit from it. “I don’t really want to drink,” he told causes and cure are concerned, we will I remember particularly the case of one me, “but I can’t get over the feeling that confine ourselves to the alcoholic-the man man whom we might as well call William I ought to be able to do it once in a while.” who goes on prolonged sprees. Brown. He wanted to give up drinking as There was nothing to be said. Let us first consider the only popular rema demonstration of his devotion to his wife. that alcohol would always be a poison for edy (outside of incarceration) for chronic I told him my views, but I could see that in his nervous system but that until he was drunkenness—will power. My experiences spite of my argument he was determined satisfied of this fact from his own experihave convinced me that to “make a sacrifice for her sake:” ence nothing could restrain him. This worthy goal seemed to be sufficient drunkard can stop drinking if he sincerely few months of sobriety he wound up as wants to do so. But the part that will to keep him in a state of sobriety for about much of a drunkard as he had ever been, two months. One day, however, he arrived power should play in such an undertakand we had to start all over again before for his appointment (the previous one had ing is somewhat different from what we finally pulled him out of it. been broken) in a most crestfallen condi- It is necessary in the generally believed. Men seldom get over the idea that tion. It was apparent that he had gotten beginning to make frequent use of will drinking is the smart, manly thing to do. power directly against the temptation to just as drunk as ever. Much experience has convinced me that take a drink, but I have never known this is one of the greatest stumblinga man to give up drinking permanently blocks to permanent renunciation of the “WELL, Mr. Brown,” I said, “let’s try to recall the circumstances that through sheer undirected will power alone. led up to this outbreak.” He must make up his mind that he “As a matter of fact,” he replied, “what really wants to stop drinking because it is DERHAPS the commonest myth regard. making him unhappy, because it is under- When I went home happened was this: ing the use of alcohol on the part of mining his nervous system, and because he last Thursday night I’ll have to admit I those who are nervously poisoned by it can achieve more and have a much happier wasn’t in a very good humor and 1 sort of bears on light wines and beer. One fretime in life through abstinence than he got atter my wife about the bills she had quently hears men who get into trouble She, being a woman of been running up. excessive indulgence in a drinking gin and whiskey make firm reso “I want to drink but I back, not right lutions to stick to wines and malt brews, or later means, away, but after I had picked on her for a emphatically assuring those who are in- Well, we had it back and forth, “I don’t want to drink beterested that in this manner they until finally I said, ‘All right for you; here protected from excessive drinking. cause it makes me unhappy” can come to I am giving up drinking in order to make mean, “I am permanently sober.” Whether or not they can become intoxiyou happy, and all you do in return is to cated on these mild beverages need not Furthermore, there is nothing to the run up bills and then get nasty when I detain us as a serious question, for the unbelief that a man who has once become an speak about them. I guess I’ll be taking a controlled drinkers never stick to the wine. dangerous during walk.’ Before she had time to say anything and-beer resolution for very long. normal periods of drinking) can ever learn I was out of the house, and I wasn’t out a may quench their thirst in this manner for to drink “intelligently.” a month, or even two, but sooner or later great while, either, before I was drunk.” “Why,” pleads the wife, “can’t you I asked Mr. Brown if his indignation was they fail to get the “kick” out of it that Two learn to drink like Mr. So-and-So? At first he said that it was, but they are looking for, and so find it only too cocktails, and he stops, and he always soon he began to smile, and finally admitted easy, while in a partially alcoholic state, to seems to have such a good time.” that he guessed “she hadn’t done much, change over to “just a little whiskey this But the husband cannot learn to drink As a matter of fact,” he added, after all. time” to liven things up. like Mr. So-and-So because he has reached “I had known about those bills for two or One of the most seductive, apparently the stage where drinking has become his three days and it hadn’t occurred to me to plausible, and hence dangerous myths is prime interest. say anything about them until I was walkwell illustrated by the case of Henry drink intelligently on the Trying to ing home that night.” This young man came to see me part of such men has wasted an enormous “Now, Mr. Brown,” I said, “let me exone day in a great state of agitation and There is nothing in comamount of time. plain to you the mental processes which depression. It seems that Henry had been the mon between going-on-the-wagon induced that unpleasant episode. working up a large stock transaction by point of view and the giving-it-up-forever decided to stop drinking permanently “entertaining” his client. The entertainpoint of view. With the former, there is only a short time ago, and so quite natument wound up with a “party,” during no peace of mind even in periods of sorally have had the desire to drink once in which the deal was finally closed. But the a while. This desire you have been succelebration had been so extensive, as far as Your wife was the cessful in repressing. Henry was concerned, that he failed to cause of this annoying self-control, because make an appearance at the office the next you insisted on making her, instead of your day to execute the order, nor did he even own self-respect, the reason for your re- He get in touch with it on the telephone. nunciation. Unconsciously, you picked a was so incapacitated through celebrating fight with her, hoping that she would give his “success” that when he finally revived, you an excuse to indulge yourself, with the business day was over. a feeling of justification.” Henry’s client liked him well enough as Brown looked at me and smiled. Then a drinking companion in the evening, but he said, after a moment of reflection, he was more merciless toward daytime guess you’ve hit it about right.” drunkenness than a teetotaler; so, when he “From this experience we may condiscovered what had happened, he not only clude,” I said, “that the only way for you but he also notified canceled his order, to give up drinking is to do it for yourself.” Henry’s firm just why he had done so. Let us now turn our attention to the Thus Henry found himself without his interesting attitude of Mr. Emerson. sale, without his job, and without any recommendation for another one. This man called one morning, at the

request of his wife, to talk over his situa- When this man comes to his senses, tion. “To put it briefly,” he said, “my when his repeated efforts have convinced wife is quite correct in thinking that I am him that ” the good old days” can never be drinking somewhat more than is good for recalled and that drink only produces unhappiness, then, and then only, is he likely me, but as 1 am under a great financial strain I cannot help but feel that I am to put alcoholic indulgence out of his life. entitled to the relief it gives me tempo- A quite natural myth in current circurarily. In the long run, I admit it makes lation is that which holds the inebriate to be an inferior person, regardless of his habit. matters worse, but at least it creates gaps in my anxious train of thought. Before The assumption is that, even if he did not this trouble started I rarely drank to exdrink, he would not amount to anything, cess, and this my wife is ready to admit. anyway. As a matter of fact, this is true o course. Things, only of the drunkard who refuses to stop. can’t go on in this manner forever—I am well aware of that. The man who overcomes his habit once But I am also perfectly certain that my and for all, no matter to what depths he may have descended, has a very fair drinking will moderate to her complete chance of surpassing his average contemsatistaction when my peace of mind is Even now an once more restores porary. It would seem as if the alcoholic always on the job, doing the best that I has a force in him which will make him a can.” superior person if he can learn how to use Our interview ended pleasantly and it it instead of letting it misuse him. The was a year and a half before i heard about very urge that is driving him to disaster Mr. Emerson again. At that time Mrs. can, if controlled and redirected, put him Emerson arrived at my office in a someon the heights. The gist of her what upset condition. conversation was that her husband was PERHAPS one of the greatest self-decep- “drying out” in a sanitarium for the tions which an uncontrolled second time within six months and that indulges in, and which contributes as much naturally she was in despair about him. as anything else to his habit, is the myth “I suppose,” I said to her, “that the that he is so jaded that he can never again continuous strain of bad times has finally enjoy normal pleasures in sobriety. broken him down.” course, while drinking is his major sport “No,” she replied. “Strangely enough anything and everything seems tame by it isn’t that at all; in fact, the one bright comparison. A man who has become acspot in the whole situation is his finances, customed to adapting himself to his enwhich have been in an unusually good vironment in this highly spiced artificial condition for the last nine months; that manner has quite naturally lost the power is what makes it so incomprehensible and for enjoyment when he is sober. discouraging to me.” experience has proved over and over again I told her that I thought I could remove that after a transitional period of read- “Once a man the incomprehensibility. justment has been passed through, the has got the habit of excessive drinking.” ability to enjoy simple pleasures returns. I explained, “it is just as difficult for him George Morris was the most confirmed to withstand success as it is failure-for cynic I have ever scen. He really was only The same de. many men, more difficult. happy when drinking, though he had a sire is there; only the excuses change. good mind, a first-rate sense of humor. and suggested this possibility to your husband was in other ways well equipped for getting when he came to see me, but of course he a good deal out of life sober. George was did not believe it. Men who can drink faced with the “terrible” prospect of havsuccessfully do so in order to make social ing to go to a wet party without drinking occasions more enjoyable. They do not anything, and he was crestfallen at the use alcohol as a drug to escape unpleasant thought of the dreadful time he was going Those who make this mistake are reality. to have. “Now,” I said to George, “you have got apt to find that when their environment changes, their reaction (excessive drinking) a definite preconception of this occasion. does not.” If you allow it to grow, you are bound to have a poor time under any condition. Why not stop this set attitude of pessi- (NE myth that the public may not fall for but which most assuredly fools the mism toward this particular party? Try abnormal drinker is the idea that alcohol to be a good sport about it, concentrate makes him happy. Actually, it does just your attention on other people, and, above the reverse. The man to whom drink is all, use your sense of humor on yourself.” number one on his list of enjoyable activ- George pulled himself together, adopted ities is far too closely concentrated on his a sporting point of view, and had a good time. This was a momentous event for pastime to permit the enjoyment of anything else. As a result, he drinks too much and there he for too long periods of time, and as he that he could enjoy even an alcoholic occannot stay in a perpetually intoxicated casion in sobriety if he made a wholecondition, he must go through an acute hearted, intelligent effort to do so. The man who habitually drinks to excess and often prolonged session of intense mental suffering before he can get back to is unhappy, and so he will find that by normal. His “party” has consisted of an giving it up he will get more out of life, hour or two of elation, several more of enjoy simple pleasures to a greater degree, oblivion (which he cannot possibly enjoy, and be infinitely more efficient. as he does not know what he is doing), and Those who have, of their own volition once started on the road to health and infrom tone da general teen, or de. in, telligent living can stay there if they will. ever, this individual will over and over The path eventually is easy and inviting, again act on the myth that “this time but it must lie along the lines of permanent abstention. things are going to be different; this time Once a drunkard, al- I am going to reproduce the care-free days ways a drunkard or a teetotaler. of the distant past.”