Seven Basic Facts in Alcohol Education

1. Approximately one person in fifteen is a potential alcoholic. Fourteen are not. This ratio holds good in all groups.


2. No person can know in advance of his drinking if he is or is not a potential alcoholic. Therefore every person, whether he drinks or not, must know the facts about alcoholism.


3. An alcoholic is a person who repeatedly gets into trouble after drinking but who continues to drink and, as a result, gets into trouble again.


4. An alcoholic can never drink alcohol in any amount however small without having serious consequences.


5. There is no one generally accepted cause, nor is there any known cure, for alcoholism. Only abstinence brings recovery.


6. The symptoms of alcoholism can be observed in people of any educational level, socio-economic group, age, sex, race or creed very soon after the person who drinks is free to drink as much or as often as he desires.


7. Alcohol education is education in a "way of life," plus basic information. Either one without the other is actually harmful whenever alcohol is involved.