wow, CW, I'm sorry about your mom, that must been terrible

ah, s'okay, Lubi...."terrible" is quite accurate, but it's just one of many ways to describe it.
Mom's death has been a very important experience in my young life, and I've learned a lot from it. That, plus my "Perspectives on Death & Dying" class last year, have given me a whole new approach to death AND life.
and of course, it makes me think very carefully about drinking (my own and others close to me), and about safely going down stairs.  ;D

  I was brought up in a family of heavy drinkers and although my oldest brother was killed by a drunk driving the car which he was a passenger in, stupidly I still followed my families example and began drinking heavily, thinking that this was fun. I would not be able to pay my house payments and other bills but would still be in the bar in the evenings until closing time. ...
  The moderation thing might work for some but again I ask why would i want to drink in moderation that which is not good for me, and which in excess causes so many troubles to so many people.
 ...there are just too many people like my brother who have been deceived to think that alcohol actually adds something to their lives when all it does is take away. It tales away their health, their money and often times their lives. 

I'm really sorry about Your brother, pg. That really is such an injustice to lose someone that way.
What's worse is when it doesn't enforce the changes in others as it ought to....My sister, for instance, has been a heavy drinker since she was about 16, and her lack of control has gotten worse since our mom died. That, and the fact that both of our parents are/were alcoholics with anger issues/manic depression (respectively) hasn't deterred her from using alcohol and other substances in excess.
She's vowed to never use or be intoxicated in front of her young children, and as far as I know she's kept that vow.....but that's easily done for her, since she only has the kids every other week (joint custody thing). Nothing I've said to her seems to persuade her to change, and I really worry about what's going to have to happen before she does make those necessary changes in her life.

I'm proud of You for turning Your life around! You finally took control of the problem and You've been much healthier and happier...and for 30 years! Hopefully Your brother will see things more clearly sooner than later.

as for moderation vs. abstinence, well.....it's up to the individual to make that choice.
My advice for LZ or anyone worried about his/her alcohol intake, just be very self-aware, and heed the advice and observations of those around You, if they offer any. Maybe a few drinks here and there will do no harm, or maybe You'll find that alcohol isn't good for You in any amount.
You'll live and learn, I guess.

Oh, I'm stealing your thread.

I need some vegan cheap, white wine suggestions. I don't drink..and I've never purchased any vegan alcohol. We are having a guy over for dinner..and he's bringing wine. I want to suggest something so that P can drink, if he wants. I've looked at the lists..but I don't even know which ones are common/easily found.

Two things first:

1: Don't know if they have this in US or anywhere outside of Australia.
2: We call it Casks, or "goon bags/sacks"... Its the one in a box. I think Americans call it "Space Bags" (ala Johnny Hobo).

But, at heaps of wholesaler places you can a 5 litre (around 1.5 gallons) cask. It says "WHITE WINE" and "suitable for vegans and vegetarians - not produced with the aid of animal products" on the back.
I think it's a cooking wine, but it surprisingly doesn't taste heinous. It's not art gallery opening material, but if you keep it in the fridge it tastes alright and the price is right - it's like $AUS 12-15 here.
I'm pretty sure it's made in Argentina, or somewhere in South America, so they might import there and have it in your area... Maybe??
Sorry I can't help more...

Here's just ONE link I've found so far, AC......make a checklist of the wines that Your local stores have in stock, then check this list. I'm sure You'll find something on there. good luck!

Yeah, that's the list I was looking at. Like I said, I don't know which of those are commonly found in stores.  :-\

The only ones I have seen at my grocery store from the vegan wine guide list are: Yellow Tail, Rosenblum Cellars, Mumm (champagne), Louis Jadot, Bollinger Champagne, Piper Heidseck (champagne), Martini Asti Spumante (champagne)

Someone might have mentioned this already, but I didn't see it... Do you guys know about barnivore.com? You can just enter some names of wine or whatever that IS found in your local shop, & get the DL on whether or not it's vegan-friendly... not 100% of everything is there, but a huge amount of wine, beer, & liquor is represented.

I'm a wine fan, & my favorite staple is Bota-box cabernet... great portability for beaches, woods, etc.! & pretty tasty, for its price range...

Anyway... I digress. Barnivore.com is a cool site, for vegans who enjoy the 'fruit of the vine;' that's my main point. Cheers!

i've always loved beer but it probably have to do with drinking it so young... my dad would put it in my kiddie cup just a little when i was young... so i kinda grew up liking it... wine and hard alcohol r super gross though to me

Found it; carmine (crushed beetle insects) :o