"It seems to me that one's risk-taking behavior may reduce brain matter volume, yet still improve quality of life because experience itself (literally the way t

"It seems to me that one's risk-taking behavior may reduce brain matter volume, yet still improve quality of life because experience itself (literally the way the brain is wired) is worth far more. Some experiences are practically impossible without alcohol due to its social and cultural significance" Yes, sadly that might be. In my youth heavy drinking was the norm, all the cool kids and pretty girls did it and to connect to them, you had to do it, too. Those who did not, were the depressed loosers. So to socialize, you had to poison yourself. From an individual point of view that makes sense, but overal I believe it makes more sense, to change that culture around alcohol. And luckily since then, I met people who can have crazy wild parties, without being wasted. I love dancing, but I hate to avoid uncoordinated drunk idiots on the dancefloor. I mean, I still do like a beer or a coctail occasionally and I see nothing wrong with it. But needing alcohol to socialize or party is not healthy at all and I would like to see the obligatory drunkness to go away. Not just because of drunk parties, but also because this culture gets people hooked into alcoholism and then families get destroyed.