Drinking too much -- or not enough?

"Americans may be drinking less alcohol, on average, than in the past -- and they're cutting back on beer and sipping more wine as they get older."

So says a story from CBS News, courtesy of WebMD. It's based on a recent study in the American Journal of Medicine.

If you're worried about your own alcohol consumption, err on the side of caution. You can even take this quiz from AlcoholScreening.org: How much is too much?

But if you simply want to enjoy a drink and not feel guilty about it, relax.

Unlike smoking, drinking alcohol can be good for you. (And the recent Health section package on smoking athletes never claimed smoking was healthy, folks, hence the first six words in the research analysis: "Sure, smoking is bad for you...")

Here's a story, A drink a day, from Health writer Susan Brink explaining the health benefits of alcohol.

-- Tami Dennis 

Photo credit: Stefano Paltera / For The Times

Comments

[Cabrilla]

Oh dear, the end IS nigh. The LA Times now has to crib third-hand (AMJ > CBS > WebMD) stories from other sites? Ouch.

Last one out, turn out the lights.

[Vincent Border]

I took the How Much is Too Much test, and apparently I drink more that 99% of the Americans out there. Im not trying to brag or anything like that but thats impressive. The test however is extremely inaccurate because everyone I know drinks just as much as I do, and I guarantee there are thousands of other people like me out there.