Drinking//alcoholism

[Anonymous]

People seem so worried about whether the label is "alcoholic" or "problem drinker" and there is such hope that a loved one is only a problem drinker. But so what? It may be a relief to lay claim to the label which is less scary but it doesn't change the fact that someone is worrying a lot about a family member's drinking, regardless of the label.

Maybe some folks should take the George W. Bush approach. He quit drinking. It wasn't good for him and he knows that now. He doesn't consider himself an alcoholic. Fine.

[Anonymous]

<i>Maybe some folks should take the George W. Bush approach. He quit drinking. It wasn't good for him and he knows that now. He doesn't consider himself an alcoholic. Fine.</i>

Or take the Michelle Obama approach, which is to have an occasional glass of wine, and drink in a responsible adult manner.

[Anonymous]

So much of the health issues seem GENETIC. For example --- one of the alcohol risks is cancer. Your chance of getting cancer if no one in your family has ever had it (pretty much whatever you do, unless it involves an asbestos inhaler or a gasoline cocktail every night)? Just about zero. Your chance of artery cloggage if you have the genes that your good cholesterol is amazingly high no matter what you eat, and your bad cholesterol is low? About zero.