Alcohol's Prohibition

Freshmen H Writing

November 4^th, 2013

Alcohol‘s Prohibition

Should something that harms the human body, damages the mind, and breaks up families, be legally permitted? The consumption of alcohol has become a tradition; normality even, in the United States. Alcohol can cause families to get torn apart do to the effect it can have on the human mind. Drinking alcohol should be prohibited because it has detrimental effects on families.

            One of the main actions the consumption of alcohol can lead to is violence. Often movies portray a lot of drunken violence, such as huge fights that occur in bars or clubs. Alcohol can affect many families as well. Say for example, a parent comes home late from a bar and they approach their child; there is a strong chance that child will be physically or verbally abused. Not only does alcohol affect families with children, but it also can affect marriages.  Studies show that: “Alcohol increases the likelihood of domestic violence; not only during periods of intoxication, but also during periods of sobriety,” (taadas.org). Alcohol is one of the leading factors in domestic violence and abuse. If something is harming or putting another human being’s life in danger, it should absolutely be banned.

            Alcohol is also very harmful to the human body. It can cause problems in the brain, heart, liver, pancreas, and immune system. As many already know, alcohol has a massive effect on the human brain. It causes brain cells to die, and the mind begins to stop functioning properly. The consumption of alcohol over time can also cause the heart to malfunction. It can lead to a stroke, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and cardiomyopathy. The consumption of alcohol over time can also cause many different types of cancer in the mouth, esophagus, throat, liver, and breast. (Niaa.nih.gov)

            There are many stories that link alcohol and violence together. This is one of them. “Bob drew his hand back in horror. Rage drained into humiliation. His fingers stung. He had just slapped his wife of 20 years hard across the face. He couldn't dodge the implications: he was both drunk and violent two things he'd vowed never to be.” (Health20-20.org) A man who loved his wife and had pure intentions was affected by alcohol. It is impossible to even think of this being my father or future husband. It’s terrifying that a person with pure intentions could hurt someone they love. These are the effects of alcohol. Imagine the look on her face, the thoughts that went through her mind, when she came to find that her husband of twenty years had just hit her. These are the type of incidents alcohol can cause. Incidents when sober, most people would never think of doing.

            Some may argue that people should be able to make their own decisions and face the consequences. After all, they are adults. This may be true in cases when the decision they are making affects them, and them alone. In these cases, yes they should be able to make their own decisions. Yet when a person makes the decision to drink something that will cause them to hurt another person, then this becomes a problem. They now are not only harming themselves, but also another person who did not make that decision. Alcohol is also harmful to the human body. So if drugs are illegal, why is alcohol not? They are very similar. They cause the mind to malfunction, are horrible for the human body, and cause people to make horribly judged decisions that they would not have made sober.

            To end off, the consumption of alcohol is a very dangerous action, and it should be prohibited here in the United States. If something is causing a person to harm not only him/herself, but someone else as well, then that thing should be banned. When someone is intoxicated, they can harm others because their judgment is impaired. Also alcohol is very harmful to the human body and causes problems in the heart, liver, pancreas, mouth, esophagus, breast, and immune system over time. If drugs are illegal, why is alcohol legal? Many make the weak argument that people should be making their own decisions and face the consequences, but that is only when that decision is affecting that person. If it causes harm to another person, then it should not be allowed. Alcohol is a substance that is causing harm to many families. If something is not done to get rid of it, many more lives will be affected by its violent outcomes. Its consumption has become a tradition, but maybe it’s time for traditions to change.