Alcohol is a drug, and potentially very dangerous.  Alcohol is the most misused drug in the united states.  It is probably abused by more people than all other drugs combined.  Because seven out of every ten adults drink alcoholic beverages, it is important that people practice responsible drinking.

What is responsible drinking?  It is drinking alcohol in such a way as to not hurt your family or society.  To drink or not to drink is not the only question to answer where responsible drinking is concerned.  You must also ask when and how much you should drink. Whether or not you drink, and how much, are directly related to what your needs are.  The better your understand values, and set goals for yourself, the easier it will be to act responsibly in all of life's situations.

What are some of the signs of problem drinking?  Certainly the one most common sign is getting drunk.  Another is using alcohol to try to relieve emotional problems.  Another warning of alcohol abuse is when it causes physical, or emotional harm to those you live, or work with.

There are several points to consider in preventing alcohol misuses.  Let's look at them:

It is not necessary to drink, and those who choose this, should not feel pressured to drink.  (remember that many people use non-alcoholic beverages in drinking settings).

drinking does not make boys more masculine or make girls more grown-up (though they may feel that way).

A person addicted to alcohol is not weak or immoral.  They are ill, the same as a victim of cancer or diabetes.

Responsible drinking requires an understanding of what alcohol does every time you use it even in small amounts.  Scientifically proven damage caused by any alcoholic beverage includes:

Damage to delicate brain cells, which often is permanent.

Toxic effects on the heart muscle.

Slowing of nerve reaction time.

Loss of precision hand function.

Decreased muscle strength of the shoulders, and also the thigh areas.

Impaired ability to discriminate between right and wrong decisions.

Severe stress on the liver which causes irreversible damage in 8% of even social drinkers.

Now if you must drink, responsible drinking requires preventing drunkenness, never averaging more than one drink per hour, and accepting that drinking cannot solve emotional problems.

Health experts in the area of alcohol now generally agree on the approach that the decision to drink or not to drink should be a personal and private decision.  Again, anyone choosing to drink has the responsibility to see that it doesn't damage his family or harm anyone else, realizing that each drink will cause physical damage to the body.  This, in its broadest sense, is responsible drinking.  The most important single principle is never drink before driving.  Let's not forget that alcohol is a drug--and a very dangerous one.  It is a foreign chemical to our bodies.                                                                                         

Finally, there is no difference between one can of beer, a shot of whiskey, or 3-5 ounce glass of wine.  They all have the same amount of alcohol in them.  The body is stressed the same no matter what beverages you choose.