Seven alcohol myths, smashed

Blame it on craft beers, inexpensive wine or the down economy — North Americans are sipping more alcohol, more often. (Twenty-two percent of you say you drink too much, up from 17 percent a decade ago.) And while you all know that problem drinking is a serious health risk (any more than two drinks a day makes your RealAge older), the current hoopla about how wine is good for you may have led even the most abstemious sippers to believe there’s no harm in a good belt or two. So we’re going to blow the cork on the most common myths about alcohol.

» Myth No. 1: Seven to 14 drinks a week is a heart-healthy number, so there’s no harm in having them all in a day or two!