Alcohol
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Alcohol is an organic compound which is formed naturally during the process of chemical decomposition of some plants. Its presence in the human body in quantity leads to a number of effects, some of which have led people to recreate this chemical deliberately. A wide variety of drinks exist in which a certain quantity of alcohol is a significant constituent.
The Prophet Muhammad led His followers to abandon the drinking of alcoholic drinks, and in this age, Bahá'u'lláh has advised humanity to avoid the consumption of alcohol, and indeed not even approach it! He questioned why, when God has given us reason, we would wish to deliberately take a substance which takes that reason away. He noted that it causes people to commit acts of absurdity. He asserted that it destroys the mind and consumes the liver. In the years since Bahá'u'lláh issued this guidance, a number of other problems have emerged. A significant number of people are required, as part of their employment and even during their recreational activities, to control significant pieces of machinery. Disasters are on record where consumption of alcohol was the chief, or only, cause of ships running aground, collisions in the air, on the ground or at sea. Many countries which do not have a complete alcohol ban nevertheless forbid the consumption of alcohol before taking control of any vehicle.
The Universal House of Justice issued a compilation on the subject, taken from the Baha'i Writings. It is entitled "Prohibition of Intoxicating Drinks" and was published in booklet form by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i of New Zealand in 1986.
