Javed Akhtar compares religion to alcohol, says both are fine but only in moderation: ‘Two pegs are never enough'

Indian Express

13-06-2025

Writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar, a noted atheist who often speaks against organised religion, addressed the topic once again in a recent interview. Comparing religion to alcohol, he said that both are fine as long as they're consumed in moderation, but they are rarely consumed responsibly. Appearing on Aaj Tak Radio, Javed said that two pegs of whiskey in a day are actually beneficial; the trouble arises only because people aren't able to stop at just two pegs. Javed has been sober for many decades, and has spoken often about the regret he feels about having wasted several years of his life to alcohol.
He said, 'Alcohol and religion have a lot in common. The Americans did a survey once, about who lives longer; the person who doesn't drink or the person who drinks an entire bottle every day. It was discovered that neither is advisable. Those who live the longest are the ones who strictly have two pegs before their dinner. Medicines have alcohol, how can it be so bad? What's bad is overconsumption. If a person has two glasses of milk, it's fine. But if he has two glasses of whiskey, it's not okay. People never stop at two, do they? They don't go overboard with milk, but they go overboard with whiskey and religion. It becomes harmful. A few cancer cells will keep you slim, but they'll multiply and kill you.'
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In an interaction with mid-day, he recalled the measures he took after discovering that he'd lost an appetite for whiskey. 'I got allergic to whiskey. Then, I thought that I must have only beer. However, I used to drink 18 bottles of beer in only one sitting. Fir mujhe laga ki yaar yeh kya pet phoola raha hun main apna (Why am I increasing my belly fat with beer)? So, I quit it and started drinking rum.'
On Arbaaz Khan's show, he said that he'd drink for pleasure, and not because he wanted to drown his sorrows. 'Main isliye peeta tha ki main enjoy karta tha (I drank because I enjoyed it), it was a pleasure. I was not drowning any sorrow in it. Magar mujhe ek baat samajh mein aayi, common sense kehta hai ki 52-53 tak mujhe marr jana chahiye, if this is how I drink. Isse upar umar meri jani nahi chahiye with this kind of drinking (But I understood one thing, common sense dictates that with this kind of drinking I would die by 52-53).'
He has been equally vocal about his dislike for all sorts of religions. Some years ago, he had an argument with the spiritual leader Sadhguru. 'Anything that is devoid of reason, rationale, evidence, witness is faith. I really wonder what is the difference between faith and stupidity, because stupidity has the same definition. I am willing to accept 'belief', but it has to have rationale,' he said.