In moderation there are pros believe it or not. There are horrible cons in excess of course too. For anyone interested, here are some pros and cons from the Mayo Clinic site.

Pros

Moderate alcohol consumption may provide some health benefits. It can:

* Reduce your risk of developing heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and intermittent claudication
* Reduce your risk of dying of a heart attack
* Reduce your risk of strokes, particularly ischemic strokes
* Lower your risk of gallstones
* Possibly reduce your risk of diabetes

Cons

Excess alcohol consumption can lead to serious health problems, such as:

* Cancer, such as gastrointestinal, oral, pharynx, larynx, esophageal and liver cancers, as well as breast cancer in women
* Chronic pancreatitis, especially in people with high levels of triglycerides in their blood
* Elevated levels of triglycerides in the blood
* High blood pressure
* Miscarriage
* Injuries due to impaired motor skills
* Sudden death in people with cardiovascular disease
* Heart failure
* Stroke
* Alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver
* Fetal alcohol syndrome in an unborn child, including slow growth and nervous system problems
* Suicide


I personally enjoy a glass of wine (Chardonnay is my favorite) or a bit of brandy from time to time. Sometimes when eating out at a Mexican place I have a margarita . I also enjoy Amaretto/coke as a treat. I have no alcoholism in my family. I don't think I'd say MOST people don't know when to quit but I would say definitely there are plenty who don't. There are plenty who do though too .

Edit: This article goes even more indepth about the benefits of moderate drinking and the risks of heavy drinking http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritio...e/alcohol.html