Introduction
The consumption of alcoholic beverages has been a prominent
characteristic of many cultures since the times of the oldest civilizations. Throughout history, the advantages and disadvantages of
the consumption of alcoholic beverages have been discussed. It is
very well known that the long term ingestion of large amounts
of alcohol has harmful effects on health. For instance, it increases
the risk of aerodigestive tract cancers, hepatic cirrhosis, foetal
alcohol syndrome, fatal car crashes, and suicides. Recent projections suggest that, without intervention, the number of deaths
from stroke will continue to rise to 6.5 million in 2015 and 7.8
million by 2030, with the highest incidences occurring in poor
countries