My $0.02
Everything we ingest into our bodies affects us in some ways. I know some people who wouldn't touch alcohol but will make multiple trips to the buffet line and stuff themselves with food. Is that any better or any worse? I don't think there's an easy answer.
I think a key thing to this conversation is awarness. Awareness of what alcohol does to your body (both good and bad), how it affects your psychology (both good and bad), why you drink, etc. (And this isn't just about alcohol...I'd extend the importance of awareness to everything including what you eat, the decisions you make, etc.).
If you're not aware, that's a bad thing period.
If you're aware and don't want to drink (or overindulge) but find yourself doing it anyway, that's also a bad thing.
If you're aware and make a conscious decision then I see little wrong with it.
It's like a line from the movie "The Doors" where one of the band members pulls Jim Morrison aside (this was later in their careers) and says something like "We took drugs to open our minds not to escape from our lives." Sadly, most people use alcohol/drugs/food/sex as the latter. That's ultimately where the real harm comes from...IMHO...
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