I consider myself a moderate drinker, but I'm nearly twice your age so your previous statement probably isn't meant to apply to me. I don't drink to get drunk. Some might ask, what's the point? To that I'd say, health. That may seem counter intuitive, but I'm talking about 4 to 6 oz. or red wine (cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, or pinot noir) with an evening meal. It's been shown that the three wines I mentioned are high in antioxidants and pinot noir from cool wet climates is high in reserveratrol, an anti-aging chemical. This may help explain the French paradox. The French eat a lot of fatty foods which are often high in calories, but most people in France don't have the weight and health problem associated with such diets in the United States. If you watch French films or visit a French family you may notice that the children appear to be drinking pink cool-aid, but it is more likely to be watered down red wine.
I'm not saying that children should drink alcohol, but noting a difference in culture. In the US, alcohol is associated with binge drinking, but in many European countries it is merely a beverage to be consumed with dinner. Also, alcohol consumption (read binge drinking) by teens in the US has recently been shown to have very adverse effects on the developing brain.
