Choose Responsibility

American history has been regularly punctuated by “temperance moments,” which generally occur in conjunction with religious revivals, rapid social, economic, and especially demographic change. Temperance efforts have followed a common pattern. They begin with a program of “moral suasion,” grounded in a conviction that alcohol has altogether evil effects, proceed to seek political solutions, secure legislative or constitutional enactments, and broaden their agendas, which begin with an emphasis on moderate use or voluntary abstinence and end with an advocacy of prohibition. Laws enacted have both intended and unintended consequences. They prove difficult to enforce, easy to evade, and have little effect in reducing possession or consumption. The end of “temperance moments” is generally marked by more zealous, verging on extreme, behavior by the most ardent advocates, a growing and general realization that the laws enacted are not working, their eventual repeal, and a decline, albeit temporary, in temperance advocacy.