Hi everyone!
I see alcohol as a wonderful but very yin substance to be taken in moderation if at all.
As an almost vegan macrobiotic my motto has been "one beer (or glass of wine) a year!"
I do love non-alcoholic fermented beverages such as amasake and NA (non-alcoholic) beer at the end of a hard day's work, when it's hot or during long periods of time while writing on the computer.
When I am eating lots of fish or denser flesh, I naturally gravitate toward stronger yin including wine or beer but not before driving and not usually in public because I tend to have more expansive expressions when imbibed or intoxicated.
I live in a society where everyone eats more animal foods than I do, and they drink and smoke a lot and their behavior is often quite loud and noisy (last Friday and Saturday [from midnight to 3 am in the morning] the patrons of several bars while outside to have a smoke were quite loud and rowdy, making it difficult for people like me to get to sleep)!
While I would not choose to live in a society where there is no personal freedom, I would like to see my fellow citizens exhibit more self-control and maybe an educational process would be desireable, maybe along with a permit to consume intoxicants (like a driver's license).
By the way, alcohol is many different things, besides being poisonous to some, it is a medicine, a food, and a tool for many different activities.
Some things misused by some, can be used wisely by others.
Be well, be your best, and be blessed.
Thank you, very much.
Bruce Paine