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Summary of Question:	Drinking
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Monday, 5/14/2001 3:10 AM MDT

Sat sri akal, i am 18 year old girl and recently i have been drinking alot when i go out. Can u tell me what is so wrong with this and why is it forbidden

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REPLY
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Sat Siri Akal Ji:

Heavy drinking is very hard on the body, especially the liver and the brain. Millions of brain cells are killed every time you drink. Health effects of drinking have been documented in many places; you could search the Web for detailed studies on this, using keywords: "alcohol, alcoholic, effects of alcohol."

The reason Sikhs are forbidden to drink directly relates to the effect of alcohol on your perceptions. It impairs judgement, and it opens you to many unhealthy influences. It makes you weak willed so it is easy for others to take advantage of you either personally, sexually, socially, or otherwise. Gurus taught us that our body is a temple in which our divinity is understood and realized, therefore it should be kept pure. Drinking literally messes with the wiring of the body-temple, and makes it impossible for one to access our divine higher self, and to hear/understand Guru's teachings.

I hope this answers your question.

God bless you,

-DKK