<p>Following on from Alpin&#8217;s thread, where someone mentioned starting a new thread on this subject&#8230;</p> <p>Last night, I was sitting chatting to a mate, about drink and drugs. He&#8217;s a smoker, where I&#8217;m more of a drinker. He was saying he quite likes the odd pint or two, but really hates getting drunk, whereas he&#8217;ll smoke weed until he keels over. Cannabis seems to be a drug more suited to him, and his lifestyle (he has 3 kids, and needs to feel in control, which he can&#8217;t do, if he drinks).</p> <p>I explained how I love beer, and enjoy the buzz of going out to a pub, and sitting chatting with others, with lowered inhibitions and all that. I really do like that nice pub atmosphere. Of course, it&#8217;s a double-edged sword, as things can quickly turn nasty on booze, and I&#8217;m prone to becoming a vicious little C when riled. And there&#8217;s nowt worse than when Booze Goes Bad&#8230;</p> <p>But mainly, I can either go out with friends, and just have 2 or 3, or if sat at home, just have a couple, and feel little ill-effects. I&#8217;d say &#8216;using&#8217; alcohol is summat that I&#8217;m glad to have, as part of my life.</p> <p>But what of the &#8216;bad&#8217; aspect of booze? Is it &#8216;bad&#8217; to drink regularly? Is alcohol as inherently evil, as religion may suggest? Or is it the evil within us, which is unleashed if we drink to much?</p> <p>Of course, none of us &#8216;need&#8217; alcohol, but considering it&#8217;s widespread use, I&#8217;d say it&#8217;s a fairly important aspect of our social structure. Alcohol is often the lubricant at social events; weddings, funerals, birthdays, gallery openings, football matches, Royal Garden Parties, even Holy Communion. So, do we [i]need[/i] summat to oil the wheels of social interaction? Or should we find summat else? </p> <p>Is it [i]bad[/i], to drink?</p>