[eadmund]

> the scientific opinion is that there are no safe amounts of alcohol consumption

That is incorrect. For it to be true, a single drink in one’s life would be an unsafe amount — and that is clearly nonsense.

Alcohol and tobacco have positive and negative mental, physical and spiritual effects. Abused, they are terrible. Employed properly, they are key factors in a balanced, pleasant, meaningful and rewarding life — a healthy life.

I do acknowledge that the balance may be much less than folks commonly use. I hope that weekly use of alcohol and tobacco is safe enough, but fear that daily use may not be. I will not accept that yearly use is negative.