The Myth of Social Drinking
MAX HAYMAN M.D.1
1 Research Psychiatrist at the Alcoholism Research Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine, and Director of Education and Research, Compton Foundation Hospital
The author casts doubt on three well-accepted myths: that social drinking is a definable entity, that it is not harmful, and that it is helpful. While he notes that there is no definitive proof that social drinking is either harmful or helpful, the flimsiness of the evidence in its favor should act as a spur to further investigation. He calls for a comprehensive, objective study similar to the Surgeon General's report on smoking.
