What is alcohol? What constitutes alcohol abuse and alcoholism? What effect does it have on the body? Understanding these questions can help you become educated to prevent alcohol abuse and alcoholism, and prevent any problems before they arise.
Alcohol is a drug! Alcohol is classified as a depressant, which is why after drinking you develop slurred speech, decreased reflexes, and unsteady movements. Everyone reacts differently to alcohol, which is why it is important to know how you react to alcohol and at what point it starts interfering with your life. When your drinking affects your life, you have a drinking problem such as alcohol abuse or even alcoholism.
Resources:
http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/alcohol.html
Tawni Kobielak RN-BSN 
I agree with your post regarding the importance of knowing when alcohol interferes with your life because it is at that point when you may have a problem. The moderate use of alcohol has been shown to be ok and even beneficial. Throughout history alcohol has been used medicinally. The medicinal properties of alcohol are even mentioned 191 times in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has reported that moderate drinkers have the greatest life span. The Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has commented that “Numerous well-designed studies have concluded that moderate drinking is associated with improved cardiovascular health.” And the Nutrition Committee of the American Heart Association has reported that “The lowest mortality occurs in those who consume one or two drinks per day.”
http://www2.potsdam.edu/alcohol/files/Moderate-Social-Drinking-May-be-Good-for-Your-Health.html#.VTQO8CFViko retrieved 4/19/15
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