Jehovah's Witnesses  follows in "Booze Rutherford's" footsteps.

Jehovah's Witnesses never let's any opportunity go by without telling you about how wonderful people they are and how well behaved and disiplined they are in every respect. They do not want to bring shame on "Jehovah's Organization".       Therefore everything is perfect among "Jehovah's people".  When it comes to alcohol the Witnesses has historically had quite a macho attitude to drinking, this seem to have been started by the Society's second president, J. F. Rutherford, who became known as "Booze Rutherford".  The strict dicipline and totalism in the Watchtower Society also reminds us much about orthodox communism, and as under the communist regimes in eastern Europe, alcohol became the only means of escaping this mindnumbing environment and let off some steam under the influence of alcohol.  The excessive drinking at the Brooklyn HQ and around the WT Branch offices in the world are well known phenomenon's.  This drinking are sort of ok, as long as it  is kept under wraps and doesn't interfere with the WT facade, then it is time to take some action, as we will give an example of here:

The following letter was sent to all the JW congregations in Sweden on the 22 of January 1996:

"Dear Publishers

We would probably all recognize the truth in what Jesus half brother Judas wrote in his letter, that we must "to put up a hard fight for the faith that was once for all time delivered to the holy ones". (Jude,3) This was true back then, and not less so in this time. And the apostle Paul urges us: " And let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works,"Hebrews 10: 24.

What is it we should focus upon now then? Yes, it seems to have become a trend among certain youth in our midst to go to gatherings and parties with unfitting music where some use alcoholic beverages to excess, parties that goes far beyond the reasonable in relation to the Christian norm. There should be no doubt among Christian youth which attitude they should have in this matter. We have the advice that we should "walk decently, not in revelries and drunken bouts, not in illicit intercourse and loose conduct, not in strife and jealousy". (Romans 13: 13) We also have the advice in 1 Corinthians 10: 31, "Therefore, whether YOU are eating or drinking or doing anything else, do all things for God's glory".

The fact that our young ones are misusing alcohol has become known to outsiders. Not least in connection with our district assemblies this has been going on and has brought great shame on Jehovah's name and organization. At our district assemblies young people has roamed around the town late at night and made noise. Our friends in Straengnaes has heard the following during field service: "We have been talking a lot about Jehovah's Witnesses in our neighborhood, and we are wondering why there among all these well dressed, well groomed and nice people, are young people who's drinking like camels here in Straengnaes." A majority of the friends in Straengnaes has heard that the state liquor store (Systembolaget) has to stock up extra when Jehovah's Witnesses have their assemblies. This can not be caused only by the young, as we understand.

We think that some parents should find out what their children and teenagers are doing. It is first and foremost the parents who bears the responsibility for their children and young ones. But it is not only the young who's influenced by the world around us. We could surely rejoice over the fact that not less than 894 was baptized during tha last service year in this country, but at the same time 270 was disfellowshipped from our congregations because of unchristian behavior which they did not regret and correct, and 629 became inactive as Christians. In addition to this there occurred many divorces in marriages where both are Jehovah's Witnesses, without any cause has been put in writing We have the warning in 1 Peter 5:8: "Keep YOUR senses, be watchful. YOUR adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour [someone]." How can we stay on guard? The protection are according to Ephesians 4:23,24: "but that YOU should be made new in the force actuating YOUR mind, and should put on the new personality which was created according to God's will in true righteousness and loyalty." The "force" actuating our mind we get trough studying the word of God and the theocratic literature, the meetings, the assemblies, socializing with other Christians, the activity in the field service etc., in fact, all the positive impressions we get in connection with the true worship of Jehovah.

Each and every one of us should ask himself: How much of this "power" influences my life? This is a matter that concerns us all, and in this matter we can make a difference. We can "consider one another to incite to love and fine works," It is true that the body of elders carries the heaviest responsibility in helping when need be, but as a Watchtower study recently pointed out, everybody can contribute in such cases, when we become aware of someone who needs comfort, encouragement or has ventured on a dangerous course. If we personally are unable to help someone who needs it, we can always ask an elder to do it. Of course, we all feel a exhausted at times, and then it is vital that we seek the right help. Vi are thinking about the words in Isaiah 40:29: "He is giving to the tired one power; and to the one without dynamic energy he makes full might abound." We should look closer at our burdens. Are some of them self-inflicted, in addition to the unavoidable ones? We are convinced that such a close investigation would be of great help to many of us. The question then is: What are influencing us most? The world around us or the education from God? With the seriousness of the times in mind we should take to heart the words in 1 Peter 4:7 "But the end of all things has drawn close. Be sound in mind, therefore, and be vigilant with a view to prayers. Above all things, have intense love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins."

To many, TV and video films take away the precious time that should be used for personal study or family studies. We can't emphasize enough the value of every family conducting a study every week. Yes, we have to "close our ranks" by coming to each others aid, so that all of us can get "nourished with the words of the faith and of the fine teaching" 1 Timothy 4:6. But nobody should believe that we have only negative things tell about last service year. In addition to 894 was baptized, 106 disfellowshipped has been reinstated to the Christian fellowship, and 391 inactive ones became active Christians again. This brings us happiness, but what we really hope to do are helping brothers and sisters, before someone becomes inactive or breaking the law of God, with disfellowshipping or other undesirable results as a consequence. We also want to protect our young and children against worldly, demonic music and misuse of alcohol etc. We all have a certain influence over others in the Christian congregation. The many young in our ranks who stands firm in the truth can wield a good influence on other youth. Yes, through acting like spiritual minded we can have a good influence to the benefit of those we come into contact with. We do not want to lose anybody now, when the new world are so near. This letter are going to be discussed at the service meeting the week that commence on January the 29'th 1996. Therefore, bring this letter with you to the meeting. United with you in the struggle for the clean worship, we are sending our greetings.

Your brothers

Watchtower Bible and Tract Society"