Guest Author - Lisa Schaffer-Harris

Although Baha’is have no other dietary restraints, we do have one prohibition that we must follow: We may not consume alcohol. My family has a history of alcoholism. This seemed liked a very sensible law to me and I had no problem at all following it; however, for many new Baha’is this is a particular challenge. I never realized just how prevalent and entrenched alcohol consumption was in our society until I started refusing all alcoholic beverages. Before declaring my belief in Baha’u’llah at age 21, almost 22 I had the occasional glass of wine, after becoming a Baha’i I started to politely decline alcohol. Many friends and acquaintances were uncomfortable with this response; however, when pressed to drink I remained resolved to stay the course. If they did not respect my decision, I would often excuse myself early from events or parties where I felt uncomfortable.

Abdul Baha explains the reason for the prohibition against alcohol: “…alcohol leadeth the mind astray and causeth the weakening of the body…it hath been proved and is established medically and scientifically that liquor is harmful…I hope that thou mayest become inebriated with the wine of love of God, find eternal bliss and receive inexhaustible joy and happiness. All wine hath depression as an after effect, except for the wine of the Love of God.”

Additionally, Baha’is are prohibited from serving alcoholic drinks to others. Guidelines outlined in 1982 by the Universal House of Justice are very clear on this topic. Baha’is who own restaurants must also not serve alcohol in those establishments. Cocktail waitress or bartender for a career option would definitely be out.

Alcohol is permitted as it exists in medications, and when taken as prescribed. Of course, other intoxicants of any kind or opiates are not allowed. Baha’is who persistently and flagrantly ignore this law would be subject to administrative sanction and most likely a loss of administrative rights and privileges within the Baha’i community. For example, a person who has a longstanding habit of going to the local pub after work on Fridays for a beer, and continues this practice after formally becoming a Baha’i. This person could still go and socialize with his friends and have a soda; however, if they were to continue to drink alcohol in a public place the Local Spiritual Assembly would first ask this person to cease and try to educate them to the Baha’i Law on this topic, of which they may not be aware. Ample time and opportunity to allow this person to become more deepened in the Faith and to change this habit; however, after some time had occurred and both informal and formal opportunities of educating and persuading this person had failed, formal sanctions would follow.

“As to those believers who continue to drink, they should be lovingly exhorted, then firmly warned and eventually deprived of their voting rights.” –The Universal House of Justice, 12 November 1965