Friends,

Through various exchanges on this board, mostly motivated by fun and enjoyment,  I have been fingered (appropriately or not, that is for you to decide), as being an alcohol afficionado, or promotant.  One person has voiced concern to me in private Email, others have thanked me for Martini recipes, and some Reg responses have been downright funny. 

First, let me say that I do NOT encourage anyone to drink or use drugs.  That is an adult decision; I presume we are all grown up and know by now what we choose or choose not to put into our various orifices. 

The reason I post is thus: where is the line drawn between drinking/smoking for enjoyment, and the addiction/alcoholism etc.. side?  This is a potentially very serious issue, particularly in the current non-tolerant society of ours, and the fallouts in terms of personal freedoms can be quite frightening.  Several of you have posted at various times, problems or concerns about your own drinking or other habits.  Robert and I had a serious discussion about this issue at dinner the other night, and I won't go into further details, but I did reveal to him a very distasteful chapter in my own life, in which I ended up in very adversarial circumstances in seeking my own answers to the question of consumption, and nearly getting on the potentially dangerous merry go round of American based "treatment" protocols.

  I have attached a very interesting link which opens up alternative views; views that I think are largely positive, and constructive.  I invite you to click on, and read.  I know you have your own opinions, and I would be interested in hearing your thoughts.

Gene

http://www.peele.net/lib/positivedrinking.html