65% of U.S. adults 21 and over drink alcoholic beverages.   This Gallup poll annual percentage dipped to 55% in 1958 and rose as high as 71% in the 1970s.   However, for households annually earning $100,000 or more, this rate is 80% for 18 and over adults.  Those homes earning less than $40,000/year has a rate of 49%. While in 1992 beer was favored by 47%, with 27% for wine and 21% for spirits, in 2022 this disparity narrowed to 35% beer, 31% wine and 30% spirits. Drinks international released its annual list of the  most popular liquor ( or distilled spirits ) brands  in the world.  In this list of the top 30, only 2 gins made the cut.  Here are a few of them, and you will be surprised. #30 Aperol:  a bright orange Italian bitter, it was created in 1919 and is used in spritzes. #29 Jagermeister:  a German digestif, I noticed it was able in South Korean movie theaters. #28 Gordon's Gin:  dates back to 1769, a bottle is sold every six seconds. #24 Ballantine's Scotch Whisky. #23

The medical profession generally discourages alcohol drinking at any age.  Basically, alcohol has caused traffic accidents, ruined family relationships and generally harmed the body of those who drink to excess.  For example,  alcohol is a factor  in about: 30% of suicides. 30% of fatal motor vehicle crashes. 40% of fatal burn injuries. 50% of fatal drownings and homicides. 65% of fatal falls. Over the past few decades, though,   research has shown that : Moderate drinking makes you 25% to 40% less likely to have a heart attack, stroke or suffer from hardening of your arteries. Turns out that "small" amounts of alcohol can raise your high density lipoprotein (HDL), which removes other forms of cholesterols from your body, thus lowering the risk of heart disease. Alcohol also increases bone density and brain health. Alcohol does enhance mood, relax you and aid in combatting insomnia. 70% of American adults drink alcohol.  Which ones are best? Red wine contains antioxidants, wh