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1. "Loosen Up"?

   I, in no way, intend to judge in this post but I do have an opinion and it may sound judgmental. To me, the function of an alcoholic drink at a party or family dinner is not to loosen up, but simply to partake of a beverage whose flavor I enjoy. If I found the beverage having any effect on my mood, or found my judgment as to appropriate comments or laughter affected, I would quit immediately. In that case, I would consider it rather a drug than a beverage, and I take drugs only in the case of medical necessity. I realize that this post reads as though I am making a personal judgment, and I do not mean to do so; I merely am stating my opinion on alcoholic beverages.

   2 months, 4 weeks ago In response to Should You Drink With Your Kids?

2. Analysis of study

   In regard to the study from Oxford Journals referred to above, I note that they use a 2002 highest consumption of PURE alcohol (in the Moldova Republic) as 24.9 liters (1 liter is approx. equal to 1 quart). That equates, at a percentage of pure alcohol in beverages ranging from 4% (such as beer) to 40% (80-proof liquor), to a total annual beverage consumption of, at 4%, 622.5 liters per year to, at 40%, 62.25 liters per year. Yes, I agree: drinking over a quart of distilled spirits a week, or more than 10 quarts of beer a week (52 weeks per year), is apt to cause disease. (The study quotes a more healthy World average of 7.1 liters of pure alcohol per year.) The study also compares drinking behaviors, e.g., whether public drunkenness is acceptable in a particular country (which I personally do not consider acceptable at any age), and the effect of inferior-quality liquors containing 1-propanol, isamyl alcohol, isobutanol, aliphatic alcohol congeners, and up to 35% ethanol, which are all linked to liver disease and cirrhosis. These are not typically found in U.S. beverages, to the best of my knowledge. Also, the study did not break out data by age, but by national drinking patterns and quantity. I think we can all agree (at least I do) that children between the ages of, say, 11 and 15 should not have more than about 6 oz. PER YEAR of an alcoholic beverage, not pure alcohol; for instance, an ounce or so of champagne at New Year's, on his or her birthday, on July 4th, and on one or two family or religious holidays. This is my suggestion for a MAXIMUM; I have no problem with an absolute prohibition until about age 15, later if the teen is not interested. I would like to know the source of your statistics on date rape (I suspect more aligned with illegal drugs) and implied approval of drinking location.

   2 months, 4 weeks ago In response to Should You Drink With Your Kids?

3. Great Post

   No, I don't think you're too idealistic. Many other countries have fewer personal-behavior laws; France comes to mind as a place where our smoking restrictions are criticized. We seem to have lost a "take responsibility for your own actions" outlook, to some extent, and it seems that education has become less about learning to think and more about following rules. These are not good developments. Passing laws is a shortcut to meaningful dialogue and individual/community responsibility, IMHO, but I don't know exactly how to reverse the trend. Suggestions?

   3 months ago In response to Cold But Not Cool: Time to Close the Door?

Being a responsible employee means asking questions instead of pretending you know everything.