Straight Edge Kegger
Damien Linnane (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons
Straight Edge is a subculture that emerged within the hardcore punk movement in the United States. Rooted in a deliberate rejection of what adherents viewed as destructive tendencies within punk culture, the movement emphasizes abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drugs. Beyond substance avoidance, many straight edge participants adopt additional lifestyle practices including vegetarianism or veganism, sexual restraint, and rejection of caffeine and prescription medications. The movement takes its name from a 1981 song by the hardcore punk band Minor Threat, which became an anthem for the philosophy. Straight edge has since evolved into a significant cultural and social movement within punk and alternative music communities.
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