9781422282434

CHAPTER ONE

ALCOHOL AND SOCIETY

Alcohol and tobacco are often discussed together—as they are in this book—because they are legal drugs that are both frequently used in social settings. But there’s a huge difference between them: while you might hear about “safe” amounts of alcohol, there is no “safe” amount of tobacco. It’s well known that smoking is unhealthy, and that the best thing any smoker can do is quit. The question of whether smoking is good or bad is easily answered: it’s not just bad, it’s very bad. (See chapters four and five for more on tobacco, nicotine, and smoking.) The situation with alcohol is much different. Many factors come into play, some biological (like age, gender, and family history) and some social (like religion and community standards). Ambivalence about alcohol is nothing new. The truth is, human beings and alcohol have a long, complicated relationship. And the line between “acceptable” and “unacceptable” alcohol consumption has continued to evolve and change

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