I do drink, but maybe one drink a month or less. I find this satisfactory. I agree with everything you said, except the taste is ok to me. My husband drinks every day and he becomes someone else, without control and forgets what he says the next day. I don't understand the appeal, and I agree that people should examine why they drink. I think it is ok at weddings or other celebrations. I guess that is the point: it should never be a habit, or something that you would do daily, it should be out of the ordinary and special. If one feels as you do that the taste is yukky, then of course why would you think it enhances any celebration? But I think a drink is ok for me in these cases. Otherwise, I totally completely agree that it can ruin your life, it can control your life when you (we all) should have that control exclusively. I also completely agree that people respect the one who does not drink. They may not want to admit it, they may try to get you to drink, but they have the respect and wish they had the control you do. I think that people see me after one drink, I am the same as before the drink, and that I am totally happy and fun to be around either way. I think they envy that, because a lot of people cannot be "fun" unless they drink first. And usually that turns them into a stumbler as you said, not really a fun person at all. It's sad! Life is fun! But I do know it is my spiritual outlook as a devout Roman Catholic that gives me peace and no need to drink to obtain peace or a sense of well being. Sorry I wrote so much:)