Straight-Edge: What it is and What it Isn't The term "straight-edge" means  a great deal to those who follow the straight-edge lifestyle, although there are varying degrees of it.  The basic philosophy behind it is that no alcohol, no illicit drugs, and no use any substance for the specific purpose of altering mood or state of consciousness.  There are also many straight-edge people who follow vegetarianism or veganism, for the reason that they believe that meat products are harmful to the body and cause self-indulgence, and/or they believe in the freedom of life and liberty for a