The drug policy debate often overlooks or takes for granted the question of culture, although the debate is ultimately a cultural debate. Ignoring the social reality of any particular form of drug taking invites failure when implementing policies for social change. In the contemporary United States, patterns of alcohol and other drug use emerged within the framework of fundamental social and cultural changes intimately related to the structure of work. For many people, the use of alcohol and other drugs has offered a clear delineation between work and leisure. In addition, the language of prohibition for currently illicit drugs and the language of moderation and responsible use regarding alcohol express cultural beliefs developed more than a century ago. However, it is inconsistent to be moderate in the face of continued pressure to increase productivity and efficiency. The combination of this pressure and the perpetual celebration of leisure and freedom indicates the need to reassess the meanings alcohol and other drugs have in our culture. Creating further prohibitions and stricter penalties only conceals the complex situation today and the need to consider completely new questions about human needs. Reference notes