Choosing to drink alcohol is always a personal choice and will always be. Governments rarely, if ever interfere when it comes to the drinking habits of their adult populations. However, it is important to understand the health benefits and risks if you do choose to drink.

There are few better authorities than the Mayo Foundation and their accompanying website, MayoClinic.com to advise you on the benefits and the risks of drinking. The key takeaway - drink in moderation which means no more than 2 drinks a day if you're a male adult under 65 or 1 drink a day if you're a female or a male over 65. Read Alcohol and your health - Weighing the pros and cons for more important information.