<p>So preaching is no good, but education is acceptable. Here is some education. If you enjoy drinking, you are likely to continue. If you continue drinking, alcohol will damage your body, mind, and soul. Eventually, alcohol will control your life. Everyone is different. Some people can drink for many years with little effect. Others are seriously damaged quickly with relatively small amounts of alcohol. Until the harm is very advanced, you will not recognize it. You will believe you are in control and you have the power to decide. If others recognize there is a problem and confront you, you will not believe them. You will deny there is a problem. All your reasoning and rationalizations will convince you that you decide to drink because it is fun, you enjoy the taste, and you can handle it. For these reasons alcohol has been called cunning, baffling, and powerful.</p>
<p>If abstinence is not acceptable, I am not sure there is a better way. You can always try to drink less frequently and in moderation. Maybe that will work, maybe not. You won’t know until it is too late to avoid serious, lifelong damage. If this sounds like preaching, it could be you just do not want to hear the facts. There is no shortage of information. You can do your own reading and research. The facts are pretty depressing and scary, but you can always choose to ignore them. Many people do.</p>