while the studies may lean more one way or another, i think this is the kind of thing that varies from person to person. some people get drunk a few times and end up letting alcohol take over their lives. some people drink for many years and noone knows because it's only a bottle of wine one weekend, a few beers there. i think it's more about self control than anything. again, excercising is necessary to your health, but abuse it and that too, can kill you.