Ok finally an article where I disagree with you. I too am a high off life type..very focused and never distracted. I have an appreciation for fine wine...but never had to acquire an taste for it...if your getting your wine from 7-11 however...well you get what you pay for. Why is alcohol so deep in our culture? Maybe because there was a time when beer was all we had to drink because they water wasn't safe to drink (when the early settlers arrived) I know it is hard for non drinkers to understand that there are people out there that actually like the taste...hey ty there's an idea even too extreme for you. I drink wine more as a sport...you actualy teach you tastebuds to recognize the subtle differences...Just to clear it up for you, wine is harmless to your body...it isn't processed and is natural. Unless your liver was already severely damaged and you were hanging on by a string. The amount of wine your would have to drink at a time to damage your organs is insane (even excessive amounts of water will kill you). The only liquids that touch my palette are fine wines, fresh squezzed (or centrifuged) juice, I also drink fine waters as a sport, and black coffee...I do not drink for any other psycho reasons or to be cool and esp not to get drunk....so it's not either or...I can't stand smokers (of any kind) agree about meds because they actually make your body more weak. I also eat a raw diet and keep a very clean healthy active lifestyle. But to believe that all who don't completely abstain from alcohol is doing so for a trivial and seemingly distructive reasons is frankly misguided, grossly stereotypical, an outright insulting. Can't wait to read your post on religion that should be interesting to say the least.

-ACT