# Ban beer to save water

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-joke-ban-beer-for-drought
- Themes: humour, politics, drought, alcohol
- Life situations: drought, wanting lighter politics

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

During a Western Australian drought he told politicians they should ban beer, because it goes straight through the body and wastes water. Amazingly they didn't think it was a good idea for the electorate.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

we've been suffering from a big drought here in Western Australia just need to go and visit our monasteries in the bush to see how many trees have died so there's a great water shortage around this state and so in order to address the water shortage I was thought we should actually ban beer because if you drink beer it just go straight into the body and back into the L after half an hour and hour it waste so much water so in order to preserve the water resources of our state we should actually make beer illegal but amazing the politicians didn't think that was a good idea they could take to their electorate here in Australia

## Teaching point

Humour can make a serious scarcity visible — and show why monks stay out of politics.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

During a WA drought, Ajahn Brahm suggested banning beer, since it passes straight through and wastes water. Strangely, politicians weren't keen. Behind the joke is a serious point: much harm follows alcohol and drugs, often through peer pressure. You don't need to follow the crowd to have a good time.

## Source

- [Why Do People Do Bad Things? | Ajahn Brahm | 17-06-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaEI0Z2tesA) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 2:52 to 3:30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaEI0Z2tesA&t=172s