Beer : Health and Nutrition

158 Chapter Seven
It is not my intention or desire to end this book on a political note. It is certainly not
my intent to have positioned this volume in any way other than as an exercise in balanced
scholarship. I certainly have not sought to use the book to persuade those who
don’t already drink to start, or to hector them into drinking more, or to switch their
consumption from other forms of alcohol to beer. Rather I have attempted to present an
appreciation of beer as it stands within the fabric of society and, it is hoped, correcting
some misunderstandings but not shying away from the detrimental impact that excessive
alcohol consumption can have.
I don’t believe that any producer of alcohol-containing beverages should overtly
market a product on the basis of health bene t. I do believe that beer and other alcoholic
drinks can form a rich and pleasurable aspect of a ful lling lifestyle. Advertising
of alcohol should be responsible and honest. Images of wholesome raw materials and
moderate drinking patterns are good. Depiction of raucous and irresponsible behaviour
is bad. Taken to excess, drinking can cause as much misery as all the many other addictive
behaviours, whether an over-dependence on sex, spending, smoking, gambling or
the religious fervour that can lead too readily to terrorism and war.
The solution to problems with alcohol is not to try to destroy the industry, any more
than it would be logical to ban a religion because its existence is an affront to others.
The answer rather is to lay out the factors ‘for’ and ‘against’ a drink such as beer, and
to educate on the basis of reasoned discussion and a presentation of all the facts. I hope
that this volume has made a worthwhile contribution to the debate.