Chatty, I can hear Mom saying the same dang thing.

I agree with Eagle. It's possible she doesn't know how to interact at parties without a drink in her hand.

This is one of the things I tell my kids about drinking. The drinking age is 21 for many reasons. One is so you can get to a certain age and have already dealt with hardships and celebrations without a drink. Bt the time you are 21 you have probably managed to survive life's ups and downs and know how to do so without some substance clouding your thinking. Some people never learn that because they begin drinking so soon. So sad.

Dotsie, I never looked at it that way. It's true, though, especially these days, kids do go through alot before they turn 21.

The social pressure to appear "normal" at public gatherings sometimes centers around drinking for some folks.

I've gotten criticized by people who seem offended by the fact that I don't drink. Example of one person's response: "well, I'm not a Mormon!" Neither am I, I just don't care for the stuff. I see nothing wrong with a person who enjoys a glass of wine with their dinner or a cocktail at a social gathering. It's when some people over do it and get loud and offensive.

For anyone out there who is a Mormon I hope there was no offense taken because I personally think Mormons have some wonderful values.

More than Mormons don't think a party means slopping up liquor. I don't and I am not Mormon either, just sensible and like keeping my wits about me. Seen many drunks and none were a pretty site. I mean getting drunk here not just socialy drinking in moderation...

I come from a semi Itilian family and I like the idea to have red wine with every supper. Just one small wine glass worth is ok for me. However, I am living with my father in law that think's drinking wine or beer is a sin. I can't even cook or bake with it LOL. So I talked to my husband about this and he said he will allow me to do this when we have our own place. However, I don't get drunk on it and I only buy what the recipe alots for. Anyways be careful of what you serve on the holidays for Alcholic beverages.

Any alcohol you use in cooking from wine to rum or whiskey, will be completely burnt off by the heat before you eat the dish, so all you really get is the taste but no alcohol. Maybe your hubby doesn't realize that.

As a general rule, I don't serve alcohol to other folks. I prefer to keep it for myself. I've got one friend who will drink me out of a bottle and look for more. For him I serve something I know he won't fully tip the bottle. Actually, Dave is the one who got me started doing this. I used to serve really, really good alcohol. My thinking was, and is, I'm only going to have one, maybe two at the most, drinks and I want them to be very good drinks. Life is too short to drink bad wine or beer or Scotch. ---now that I know how to make smiley faces, I'm gonna bore ya'll to absolute *tears*!

Unfortunately, there are folks who drink and drink and drink...never mind the taste nor the cost. For them I keep and serve cheap stuff. I don't want them leaving here drunk and with truly nasty alcohol they find it easier to leave sober.

I like a good cocktail, one at the most. Two, I'm under the table, three I'm under the host.

Ha ha ha, you should be writing...ah....never mind. I don't want to end up cleaning the moat this weekend. If she'd only let me clean the wine cellar...
chick