Drinking alcoholic beverages is no problem, it's just the quantity that counts.

Beer, wine, and spirits may enhance your enjoyment of meals, but they supply calories and few or no nutrients. Dieters who eliminate alcoholic beverages save about 150 calories per 12-ounce bottle or can of beer or eight-ounce mixed drink, and 100 calories per 5-ounce glass of wine. In addition, the alcohol in these beverages has physiological effects and is harmful when consumed in excess.

If you're an adult and you choose to drink alcoholic beverages, consume them in moderation, defined as no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men. (One drink equals 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.)

Moderate drinking, especially of wine, is associated with a lower risk for coronary heart disease in some individuals. Yet a higher alcohol intake raises the risk for high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, certain cancers, accidents, violence, suicides, birth defects, and overall mortality (deaths). Drinking too much alcohol may also cause cirrhosis of the liver, inflammation of the pancreas, and damage to the brain and heart.

If you belong to any of the groups mentioned below, you are advised not to drink, no, not even in moderation:

• Children and adolescents.

• Individuals of any age who cannot restrict their drinking to moderate levels. This is a special concern for recovering alcoholics and people whose family members have alcohol problems.

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• Women who are trying to conceive or who are pregnant. Major birth defects, including foetal alcohol syndrome, have been attributed to heavy drinking by the mother while pregnant. While there is no conclusive evidence that an occasional drink is harmful to the foetus or to the pregnant woman, a safe level of alcohol intake during pregnancy has not been established.

• Individuals who plan to drive or take part in activities that require attention or skill. Most people retain some alcohol in the blood up to two to three hours after a single drink.

• Individuals using prescription and over-the-counter medications. Alcohol may alter the effectiveness or toxicity of medicines. Also, some medications may increase blood alcohol levels or increase the adverse effect of alcohol on the brain.

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