I have a fairly healthy respect for alcohol - I have a family history of alcoholism. The trouble with alcohol is that one of the first things it effects is your judgement. That makes knowing when you've had too much more difficult. I have one drink about 4-5 days a month. I enjoy a good beer or a nice glass of merlot every now and then and see no problem with that. I know a lot of people who drink very responsibly

Its easy to get worked up over alcohol though. People get drunk and do destructive things and that is tragic. From a health standpoint, I would bet sugar kills more. Fructose has a similar effect in your liver to ethanol and it doesn't matter if the fructose comes from corn or cane - its all the same. The point is, having a few indulgences every now and then, be it a glass of wine, a beer, or a slice of pie, is not the issue. When those fairly harmless things start to cause harm, you have to deal with it.