Federal alcohol guidelines fail. That is, they’re too low. That’s because most people greatly under report their alcohol drinking. Suppose a study shows a medical problem may occur if people report drinking four drinks per day. That really means that the problem might occur if they have five, six, or many more drinks daily. The …
A reader emailed this question. “Why do so many researchers, governments, agencies, etc. put so much energy into showing the negative effects of alcohol? It seems like there’s a concerted effort to discredit all alcohol drinking.” In other words, why all the anti-alcohol bias? That’s an excellent question. But the answer is fairly simple. …
Women and temperance were closely linked. The temperance movement relied heavily on their enthusiastic support. And they were essential to the establishment of National Prohibition (1920-1933). OVERVIEW I. Martha Washingtonians II. Daughters of Temperance III. Woman’s New …
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) was founded in 1980 to reduce drunk driving, but the group has become neo-prohibitionist, and a self-serving bureaucracy.
The host of this web site is David J. Hanson, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Sociology of the State University of New York at Potsdam. Professor Hanson has researched the subject of alcohol and drinking for over 50 years, beginning with his Ph.D. dissertation investigation. Shortly thereafter, he began a continuing series of nation wide studies …
You really can control your alcohol drinking. A popular myth is that if you have a drinking problem, you have to abstain from alcohol. But that simply isn’t true Most people who have a drinking problem are not alcoholic. But even many alcoholics can learn to drink in moderation. For example, federal government did nation-wide …
A person with a drinking problem usually has a direct negative impact on 4-6 others. Most people don’t know how to help a problem drinker. In fact, most feel helpless. There are also two common myths. The first is that anyone with a drinking problem is alcoholic. The second is that those who are alcoholic …
Government dietary guidelines must be be reasonable and based on science. Imagine you’re at a friend’s party. You finish nursing your first beer and casually reach for a second. Everyone stops and stares. Your friends start whispering to themselves. They wonder if they should stage an intervention. Ridiculous and unjustified, right? Wrong! At least according …
I. Potential Problem Industry funding of research can sometimes bias research findings. That was the case of tobacco company support of smoking research. Many people are concerned about alcohol research funding. They think research on health effects of moderate drinking by producers may bias the findings. That’s a very logical and sound concern. Here’s a …
Practicing Alcohol Moderation. A Comprehensive Workbook is a practical guide on how to drink alcohol in moderation. It’s written by Cyndi Turner, LCSW, LSATP, MAC. She is co-founder and Clinical Director of Insights Into Action Therapy and Insight Recovery Centers. The book is based on harm reduction. That is, recognizing goals short of abstinence as …
