in the nation's down economy, which seems to exempt consumption of beer, wine and liquor from the cutbacks most people are making these days, due to job cuts, spiraling inflation and the mortgage mess which have influenced spending decisions. Economic analysts agree that spending on food, clothing and shelter are essential, but when it comes to the extras, people are setting some straightforward choices between their needs and things they can live without. Except, apparently for booze. Read More....

banning cigarette sales in pharmacies and stores with walk-in health clinics has ignited a nationwide movement which appears ready to spread across America. And, an Illinois measure now under consideration would extend the ban to alcohol sales in such stores as well. Read More....

and adjusting from life in high school paves the way for lifestyle changes in more ways than most of us realize. For example, many students gain up to 15 pounds during their freshman year. Sure, you say, that's to be expected as they typically eat more and exercise less. But researchers at Indiana University have identified another change in lifestyle which may turn out to be the biggest reason for weigh gain. Read More....

lfor high school students on occasions such as the prom or homecoming isn't easy, but many parents have tried to solve the problem by booking a limousine for their kids to avoid the potential problem not only of drinking and driving, but alcohol use at all by underage kids. That strategy may work, but when limo driver Leonel Cesar called the police to report that a group of Chicago area teens tried to smuggle booze into his "party bus" on homecoming night, he came under fire from some parents.
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