Alcohol and Age

I'm guessing that pretty much every church youth leader has at some point chatted to their young people about drinking. It's the sort of thing youth leaders do. And rightly so. The culture of youth binge-drinking in the UK and beyond is devastating to personal and community well-being and as such it's right that the under 18s in our care get a biblical perspective on alcohol that will help them to live for Christ.

I'm guessing that pretty much every university and college CU has had the same sort of chats. Acting in ways that are above reproach at parties and in the bar can be a great witness to friends and acquaintances while away at college.

But I'm guessing the subject doesn't come up too often in lunch clubs for the retired or afternoon fellowships for those in their 70s or 80s. It certainly hasn't been raised in those forums when I've been around. Nor has it come up for discussion at pastoral care meetings I've been in.

If recent research is to be believed, however, discussed it should be!

Now I'm not suggesting that the average Christian pensioner goes pub-crawling and brawling on a Saturday night. But there is some evidence to suggest that quiet, solo drinking among the old and isolated is having a dramatic impact on people's lives. And it is highly unlikely that Christians are completely exempt from this phenomenon. An article in the Telegraph suggests that, in the UK alone, 50,000 premature deaths among the retired could be avoided over a 10-year period simply by raising the price of alcohol. It records that there are more admissions to hospital for alcohol-related illnesses or injury for pensioners than for 16-24 year olds (the, admittedly smaller, age-group who usually hit the headlines). And the numbers are not getting less scary...

Now I stop and think about it, I'm not surprised. The pain of loneliness - possibly bereavement... feelings of isolation and perceived lack of meaningful contribution to society... such things can get to people. Not everyone, of course. But some. And alcohol can, for a fleeting moment, seem to make life just that little bit more manageable. It's an easy escape. As well as being a devastating trap.

But it's also something churches can be proactive in addressing.

Christians are called to be counter-cultural in many respects. Churches are places where the elderly are to be respected - both as precious image-bearers of God (Genesis 2:27) and also as wise and loved members of the community (Leviticus 19:32) . Widows are to receive care and practical help (Acts 6). All are to be seen as the gifted and valuable members of the body of Christ that they truly are (1Corinthians 12:7). And everyone, regardless of age, is to be spurred on to love and good works (Hebrew 10:24) as God continues his work of changing them to become more like Jesus (Philippians 1:6).

So:

• if we're struggling with this issue ourselves, let's ask for help - there will be brothers and sisters keen to help
• if we are involved in groups for the retired, let's not be shy about raising issues like alcohol so they can be gently discussed and biblical reflection and edification given
• if we're not in either of those categories, let's make sure we put time and energy into building good relationships with some of the more isolated elderly in our congregations and our neighbourhood so we can be praying and encouraging them in their daily living, always pointing them to Christ and away from other temptations.

Sins and struggles are always at their most dangerous when they're kept hidden away. Let's not allow this one drift under the radar this year...