I think that one of the reasons so many people are loath to suggest that
alcohol is ok is that they have been confronted by too many people who have
abused this particular (currently legal) drug. To come out in favor of its
use implies that they accept the use of drugs which may not be their
orientation at all!

I know when confronted by women who want to "get blind drunk on the
weekend" (their words, not mine), I am not thrilled with how well/poorly
they are likely to be able to care for their baby during that same time
period.  In those situations, I have raised this issue with the mother
rather than telling her not to drink (so much).

Often, it  has not occurred to them that a) they should not/cannot drive
under such conditions, b) they may not be responsive to the baby, c) it
might not be a good idea to sleep with the baby when they are so drunk, d)
perhaps they need to find someone else to take care of the baby after they
have "tied one on."

Each of us counsels as we ourselves are most comfortable. I agree with Jack
Newman that we seem more uptight about this (legal) drug than we do other
(also legal) prescriptions and that perhaps we need to look at the larger
picture of ALL drugs/toxins, etc. before coming out so strongly against one
(or two) in particular.

My .02 for the day....

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"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly
disguised as impossible situations."
Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Ferndale, WA USA) [log in to unmask]
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