It is not mind altering for me and I drink primarily for alcohol's protective benefits. I ran thhe calculations and decided that moderate consumption, primarily of red wine, offers a net benefit for me. While it does increase the risk of breast cancer, my risk is not big due to. Late menarche, having children early in life and having logged almost ten years of breastfeeding, all factors reducing estrogen exposure. Alcohol in moderations reduces the risk of heart disease which is nice to have but not critical for me since my risk is already low due to below normal cholesterol, good diet and cardio. Alcohol also reduces the risk o stroke which again is merely nice to have since I have low blood pressure as a rule. The critical part for me is the reduction of the risk of the diseases of cognitive decline of old age - Alzheimers, dementia, things that ruined the last years of both my grandmothers. Also, red wine offers antioxidant benefits, again in moderation and only in moderation. That alcohol does not interact with my meds was something I determined from experience. But of course there are other non-achoholic methods to reduce Alz risk, such as cardio and baby aspirin. I personally choose to do all I can to help myself be independent as I age. Granted, I have the luxury of benefitting from alcohol because I do not have what is called addictive personality so I do not run the risk of overdosing and consuming toxic quantities.