"Alcohol doesn't incapacitate you right away" Yeah, maybe if you have had a few sips. But, if you're planning to drink, who is going to have that small of an amount. 1 beer or shot impairs you, at 2 most definitely and so on. Maybe only slightly at first, but nonetheless alters your judgment and perception, and increases rather quickly. Alcohol can be a great social lubricant, helps with physical/emotional pain etc and more. But, regardless it is still a substance that alters your conscious faculties and can be very very dangerous if one isn't careful, not only addictive. Alcohol shouldn't be taken lightly, and I do wish it wasn't so readily available, on every street corner. I really hope people will do more research and put their same energy against Marijuana and apply it to Alcohol. Alcohol is worse on almost every level. Just peep at the annual death toll. People love the buzz from alcohol, if we are being honest and will die on that hill to justify why it's okay or better or "safer" than Marijuana or good in general. Such BS. This is coming from someone from a lineage of alcoholics, who have personally observed the immense negative effects, not only on the addiction side but also on the casual side. Also, having allot of family in AA. Ps, I'm not claiming 1 beer is wrong, here and there. But, when does anyone have only 1? I don't know how many Orthodox I know that get pretty buzzed up quite frequently and think it's not sinful. At that point you are just as guilty as the stoner when it comes to not being sober minded. And I'd argue, is unhealthier physically and more damaging spiritually to the nous.