No other choice will make the impact on one's life and the lives of others as the decision whether or not to drink alcohol socially. Aside from caffeine and nicotine, alcohol is the most available drug in our society. It is found nearly everywhere and hidden in many substances. With few exceptions, flavoring extracts used in cooking- Vanilla, Almond, Lemon- are alcohol based. Often over-the-counter cold medications are alcohol based. Many well loved, traditional, dishes of cultures all around the world have alcohol as an ingredient; the French Coq-a-vin, English Plum Puddings, and Oriental stirfries with rice wine in the marinade, for example. Many churches celebrate the Eucharist with wine. So, it is virtually impossible for a person to avoid alcohol entirely.

However, the decision whether to drink alcohol socially or not is one which each person must make for himself. Alcohol is a gateway drug; a substance that frequently leads into the use of stronger drugs. Just as the right to free speech ends where that speech would endanger others, the right to choose how to behave ends where that behavior would endanger self or others. The decision not to drink alcohol socially means that a person will never bear the guilt of having caused another person's injuries or death because of drunk driving. A decision not to drink alcohol socially is the responsible one to make both for the sake of one's health and the safety of one's world.

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