If you need to have a strict health-based regiment for eating and drinking to have a joyful life, I'm even sorrier for you.

In the end, it's less about health and living life to the fullest, and more about a modern hysteria based on fear of living (or fear of the thought of our eventual demise, which is the same).

That's so dishonest; c'mon man - there are millions (likely billions) of people who enjoy a drink, I am rather confident you have absolutely no sorry given for the extreme vast majority, nor it bothers you.

The vast majority of people enjoy drinking and do so responsibly.

I absolutely respect people who drink in a measured way to enrich their life, instead of trying to maximize their lifespan by some minuscule amount.

if you think that enjoying stuff is bad, I'm sorry for you.

I also don't need carbonara, pizza, gelato, the beach, snowboarding, my friends, my family to survive...

Joy and need are not necessarily related things. Get over yourself.

I half agree, the keyword being “need”.

There’s no reason you can’t have a joyful life without alcohol. The biggest joys in life don’t directly correlate with it.

But, a good glass of wine with a nice meal adds something beautiful. The dinner parties where everyone is 3 glasses in produce some of the most memorable, happy, joyful conversations of my life.

There’s a reason that throughout history people always mention “moderation” with respect to alcohol. In moderation, it adds a unique pleasure to being alive. You don’t need it, but it’s nice to have.

Everybody needs things to have an enjoyable life. Alcohol can be one of those things. It can also destroy your life, of course. As can too much sugar, too much sun exposure, etc etc

> I'm sorry for you.

We don't think about you at all

Do you need sugar, red meat, fat to have a joyful life? You do, don't you. Having a glass of wine or two should be treated the same.

If you have religious reservations, please use your energy to fight off islamists who deal drugs, take bribes and marry with young children. Those sin more than people who indulge in a glass of wine or two.

If you need to judge people for what they enjoy to have a joyful life I’m sorry for you.

I bet you're a fun person to hang out with!

Alcohol is so culturally embedded in West the replies here are so sad. Alcohol is poison and it fucks up kidney, liver and brain. Sets cortisol base levels higher and perpetuates a habit in such a way that, you HAVE to drink to feel normal and relaxed. This cycle perpetuates and you associate alcohol with relaxation all the while alcohol is imposing higher and higher tax on you.

It is like a robber - robbing $100 when you are sleeping and giving $50 when you visit them. Its the unawareness that you are being robbed of hundred makes him look like a good guy.

note: I do not mind your downvote.. but if you are downvoting - please schedule a bloodwork and take a look at your numbers.