Dial A-L-C-O-H-O-L: In the Beginning

Series: Dial A-L-C-O-H-O-L series

Year Published: 1976

Description: "Dial A-L-C-O-H-O-L" was a 1976 alcohol awareness series about young people working at a hotline for alcoholics. It shows their efforts to help callers who are struggling with alcoholism, highlighting the challenges and emotional toll of addiction. The film was produced for educational and awareness purposes, similar to other films about alcohol abuse. This particular film "In the Beginning" centers on Pete and Liza, an engaged couple whose families clash over whether to serve alcohol at their wedding. Liza’s Baptist parents strictly forbid drinking, while Pete’s family, more culturally relaxed, sees alcohol as a normal part of celebration. Their disagreement over faith, social expectations, and personal values nearly ends the engagement. Interwoven scenes from an alcohol hotline reveal similar conflicts faced by others—teens pressured to drink, families torn by addiction, and misunderstandings about alcohol’s role in society. As Pete and Liza ultimately choose a small, private wedding free from family pressure, the film underscores the importance of personal conviction, open communication, and resisting social or cultural pressures surrounding drinking. 0:00 – Guests comment as a family gathering begins. 1:18 – Pete is congratulated on his upcoming wedding to Liza; light banter and toasts follow. 1:50 – The group discusses religion and alcohol, contrasting Baptist beliefs with Catholic drinking traditions. 2:36 – Conversation shifts to the history and making of alcohol, from ancient wine fermentation to beer brewing. 3:28 – They mention ancient civilizations’ role in winemaking and the Roman god Bacchus. 4:11 – Guido, a liquor distributor, offers wine and catering as a wedding gift to Pete and Liza. 4:54 – Liza declines, explaining her family’s faith forbids alcohol. 5:16 – Guido calls Liza’s Baptist parents to persuade them to serve liquor; they firmly refuse. 7:02 – Several adults argue over the issue of serving alcohol at the reception, escalating tensions. 8:19 – Pete and Liza quarrel about their families’ opposing beliefs and the role of alcohol in their lives. 10:06 – The disagreement leads to talk of canceling the wedding. 10:28 – Friends at a hotline receive calls about alcohol problems, including pressure to drink and family conflicts. 12:41 – A counselor explains alcohol distillation and its effects. 12:47 – A teen caller says her mother pressures her to drink to appear sophisticated. 14:01 – The girl resists her mother’s influence, seeking advice on asserting herself. 15:05 – Meanwhile, Liza’s parents argue with Pete’s family, declaring there will be no wedding without adherence to their beliefs. 17:04 – Counselors advise another caller about confronting an alcoholic father. 18:00 – Liza expresses exhaustion from conflict but defends her family’s religious stance. 18:18 – A discussion explains alcohol as a legal drug and recalls the failure of Prohibition. 19:17 – Pete admits both families refuse to compromise, leaving the couple uncertain. 20:04 – Pete and Liza reconcile, deciding to have a small wedding on their own terms. 21:07 – The story shifts to Tina, a girl at a social event pressured to drink by her mother. 22:09 – Tina pretends to drink but grows uncomfortable at the adult party. 23:16 – A confrontation erupts when Tina rejects her mother’s social pretensions, exposing the emptiness behind “refined” drinking culture.

Online Copy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KcHX9mPtP0

Metadata Source:YouTube