How much is OK to drink?

Well, that depends.

Unlike with tobacco products where there really is no safe amount at all, for many folks there is a safe level of alcohol intake.

Potentially harmful drinking is defined as over 7 drinks/week or over 3 drinks/occasion for women, and as over 14 drinks/week or over 4 drinks/occasion for men. The reason for the gender difference is the generally greater muscle mass in men than in women.

A drink is defined as a 12-ounce beer, a 6-ounce glass of wine or 1 1/2 ounces of liquor.

When we say that exceeding these limits can be harmful, we mean that we start to see a real increase in both medical and social problems at these levels.

Social problems can involve DUI's, loss of drivers' license, job loss, absenteeism or divorce.

Medical problems that can occur as a direct result of drinking include depression, heart failure, liver failure, cirrhosis, bleeding ulcers, anemias, malnutrition, nerve damage and sexual dysfunction.

On the up side, safe levels of alcohol consumption are seen to lower risks of having a heart attack. This is, for some reason, particularly true of red wine.

Mind you, if you do not ordinarily drink there is no medical reason to start. Also, if you have problems with alcohol, it may be better to abstain entirely.