Even though I chose to make a funny outta the "I'm an alcoholic" there is a part of me that very well understands alcoholism... I spent several years working as a GED teacher and counselor in a drug treatment program and then a year as :outreach" director of an alcoholism treatment program...

The way we defined alcoholism is that if the consumption, irregardless of type ot quanity, was creating problems fir you, you needed to stay away from it... A lot of folks here have mentioned drunk driving. Well, yes, if you driving drunk you definately haver a problem with alcohol but not everyone who has ever driven impaired needs to enter a 12 step program and quit fir life... This is where education comes in. If someone who has driven while while impaired is capable of learning that it is not right and discontinues the practice then they may very well not have a problem with alcohol.. But if they stay home and drink and get beligerant with the neighbors, well then again, they do...

See, drivin' isn't the only yard stick here... Other behaviors, like missin work ot getting in senseless arguments, can be as equally damaging to either one's self or others... And there are folks who can have two or three drinks and they are terrors and others, like me, who can drink 6 beers, have a mellow evening playin' here at Mudcat, tuckin' my purdy wife in at 10 and catchin' the 11:00 news before turning in...

Bobert