No wonder Koreans live longer and longer.
Some of them have "Ban-ju" every meal every day.

For me, no more drinking, though.
I had my share. 

Alcohol에 대해서는 이종구 교수의 글 (우리 website)에서 하루에 alcohol 25gm 마시는 사람이
전혀 안마시는 사람이나 25gm이상 마시는 사람보다 오래산다고 했지요.
본인도 전혀 안마시다가 요새는 하루에 혼자서 한두잔씩 합니다.
친구들과 만나는 술좌석에서나, 남이 권할때도 받지 않고 (받었으면 또 권해야되니까),
건배를 빼고는, 본인이 필요하면 본인이 딸아 먹습니다.
이것이 friendship을 상하는것 같지는 않습니다.

In spite of the findings quoted earlier,
I believe one should not try to drink alcohol because it is supposed to be good
for the heart.
American Heart Assn, American College of Cardiology and American Medical Assn,
as far as I know, have not made an official recommendation as such.

There are many reasons. First of all, the harmful effects are so many.
I've seen many patients over the years who are so called social drinkers and
develop cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation or flutter.
When they stop alcohol for 6 months as a test, their normal rhythm would return.
There is an old teaching in internal medcine, i.e. when someone says he or she is
a social drinker and drinks two cocktails a day, the physician should double or triple
the number.

There is a conditition called, "Holiday Heart," which is specifically defined as the
paroxymal atrial fibrillation which occurs in weekend binge drinkers, particularly
among college students drinking lots of beer over the weekend.
These young people come to the ER with rapid atrial fibrillation whick converts
to normal rhythm usually overnight in the hospital.
This clinical entity was recognized many years ago and appears in
standard medical textbook. It is not uncommon.

The main reason these national organizations never officially recommend it as such,
I believe, is that they do not want to be responsible for the lack of discipline many men and
women, including myself and all the celebrities, politicians, business people, you name it,
have shown to medical profession. Any medical student would agree with how flimsy and
unreliable our human race is as far as their behavior is concerned.
It is like the founding fathers of this nation who did not trust humans and their behavior
so that they came up with check and balance principle in their manufacturing of
the constitution.

When I used to have one cocktail after a hard day, I realized that soon I go for the second
after a while, then the third. I was able to stop on time each time
after realizing what was happening to me.

Like Dr. Bang, I stopped alcohol altogether a few years ago, partly thanks to my BPH.
The only time I drink is when I am with some friends, which is rare.
Even then I often refuse whenever I can.

이한중

Doc, "..then I often refuse whenever I can..." is not enough.
I know exactly what you mean about our unreliable behavior.
One glass turns into one bottle, and then... turns into another bottle...
It seems that there are always one or two drinkers among us who turns the matter worse.

However, instead of blaming them, the other guys should be able to decline and stop the offer.
But some of us succumb to the pressure and join further drinking.

Well, Doc, have you seen me joining that?
When I say, "No, Thank you", it is "no thank you".
Next time, you'd better stay with me. I will protect you from these trouble makers.
You can count on me. ㅎ, ㅎ, ㅎ.
It's 25gm maximum. After that, "Hey, don't dare to give it to him !!".

What you said above is a very good article itself, sun-bae-nim.
Now I know what "Holiday Heart Syndrome" means.
( I'll start to use the term like I use Honeymoon Syndrome)

By the way, sun-bae-nim, I did not stop drinking for any medical
or health reason. Just taste of alcohol left me one day several
years ago. Since then, I only drink Beer when I go to Korea with
good old friends.

Like in our human relationship, relationship between Alcohol and
Me probably became Stale and Bored after so long years.
And we just said Goodbye to each other under mutual agreegment.

WM,
Yes, I've seen you and respect you for that.
Thanks for your offer to protect me although it seems unnecessary any longer.

"The moderation is better than the extreme."

  is applied to

  every different facets of our life!    KJ