I think that it is possible for frequent moderate drinking can be healthy for many many people and problematic for others. I'm no expert but I think I've got some insight to offer on the topic an access to experts if people have detailed questions. I've also contributed to a
recent thread on the same topic. I consider myself fortunate that my family and I have never had issues but I've got friends that drew the short straw.
Discussions of alcoholism in American culture are rather tainted by a large portion of the population that find it easier to see excessive drinking as a personal failing and have difficulty accepting it as an illness that can benefit from medical treatment. It's also pretty easy to intermix colloquial language with medical language. Steeping a culture in several generations of treatment dominated by AA and other twelve step programs (that without doubt have helped a great number of people) and it's easy to get pretty confused about the rather complex issues involved.
There are good medical interventions available but not all physicians are comfortable discussing problem drinking or well versed in the treatment options. Your own physician is always a good first step but delving into the
ASAM directory is a way to find a specialist. One should be aware that it is common for professionals involved in addiction treatment to be in recovery themselves which may color their analysis of the various treatment options. Don't give up on seeking professional support if your first inquiries aren't satisfactory, there are lots of options.
There's a variety of group support programs in the world beyond traditional AA that most of us are already aware of.
Agnostic A.A. and
Secular Organizations for Sobriety use approaches acceptable to people who are more comfortable with an agnostic/atheist approach to recovery.
Moderation Management emphasizes self awareness, coping skills, and lifestyle changes that may not require lifelong abstinence.
Smart Recovery is a newer organization that offers a fusion of group meetings, individualized exercises, and medical therapies that have a more direct path to recent clinical research. Several of these organizations now have some sort of online meeting/group/forum even if they are not active in your geographic community.
As I mentioned in a
recent thread here I think the
NIH Rethinking Drinking web site is a reasonable first step if one wants external guidance on evaluating their own drinking or needs help locating resources.
Finally many of us who don't necessarily have an issue with alcohol probably aren't at an ideal body size. It is may be easier to drink fewer empty beer calories than making other changes to our diet or adopting a vigorious exercise regime. Perhaps some of us could even find a way to set goals and motivate positive changes by rewarding healthy behaviors with an occasional extra beer.
). I can’t wait to make and taste the next recipe and compare it to the big boys. 
