Sponsored
For over 90 years, Superman has stood for truth, justice, and the American Way. But does that also mean that the Man of Steel also stands for sobriety? That’s a question we’re pondering today as the new Superman movie debuts in US theaters.
But it’s not easy being a superhero. To shoulder the responsibility of not only saving the world but setting an example for it, Superman has rarely picked up a drink. Since 1938, he has shrugged off vices that can harm the American people—or himself as their champion, including addiction.
Does Superman Drink? Behind the Backstory
Various creators have explained why Superman, and his mild-mannered alter ego, Clark Kent, doesn’t drink. One 1991 backstory revealed that, in his teen years, Clark succumbed to peer pressure and drank with his high school buddies, only to emerge physically unscathed but emotionally traumatized from a devastating drunken car crash that left one childhood chum in a coma.
A more pseudoscientific reason is that Superman’s powers come from metabolizing the solar energy from the sun, which negates the intoxicating effects of alcohol.
A Role Model to Span Generations
But beyond the backstories, the real-life explanation is simpler. Superman has long been heralded as a role model for kids.
Since his inception, the “Big Blue Boy Scout” has shown children how to be model citizens, from donating to the Red Cross and smashing the KKK in the 1940s.
In the 1960s, Superman teamed up with President John F. Kennedy to promote physical fitness among the youth of America. And in 1982, he took a stand against cigarettes by saying “no” to the arch villain Nick O’Teen.
And so, as a rule, Superman doesn’t drink. Because when he does, it makes headlines, and not just in The Daily Planet.
In 2017, an artist drew Clark Kent kicking back on his Smallville farm, chatting with his Pa and holding a cold one. The editors caught the drink in time and swapped the bottle label for root beer, but not before generating buzz, and none too happy buzz at that, among fan circles.
When Superman imbibes alcohol on a rare occasion, his lack of tolerance makes him unable to hold his liquor. In the Hollywood film Superman III (1983), audiences got to see Christopher Reeve portraying Superman as a poor drinker, inflicting property damage before flying off in shame.
Fittingly, a child’s plea pierces his alcohol-induced haze. It’s a kind of cinematic crisis intervention that leads him to shape up for the big finale.
Neither shot glasses nor bullet shots can harm Superman, but he himself knows that he’s not invulnerable. Just as Superman prevailed over kryptonite, it’s up to each of us to overcome our personal challenges.
If drugs or alcohol are threatening to take control of you or someone you love, help is available.
Explore Rehabs.org to find an affordable treatment center near you or call
800-914-7089
(
Sponsored)
to find recovery resources that will help you achieve your own super potential.
More Stories Like This
Low-Cost Medicaid Addiction Treatment Expands in Missouri
Communities Provide Free Thanksgiving Recovery Help
Arizona Rehabs Expand Insurance Covered Treatment
North Carolina Veterans Get Free Addiction Help With New App
