Saying NO; Alcohol

The above heading is separate.

I have been encountering situations where I know or feel that I should say NO...n also situations where I feel others should say NO. We can't always please others by agreeing with them, esp when they are wrong. It is not just a sin to do bad things but also when we fail to do good things and this includes saying no at times. I guess for me, it's so ingrained to maintain harmony and 'avoid the topic' but how can we just stand by whilst people carry on doing what we know is wrong? It's not easy and I hope I would be able to do it. By seeing and letting it go on, we are all accomplices to that act, whatever it may be. Sigh. It's never easy being a Christian.

I've been drinking more alcohol than normal recently. Started thinking back to my IMH stint where I had the chance to run group sessions with those in the Community Addiction Management Program (CAMP). I rem getting quite scared cos after the sharings I realised that most of the alcoholics started off as social drinkers. I was afraid that I would become like them too esp after all those sessions at Chris' place when I was in yr1. heh but then again I got this adversion to 'pure' alcohol aka shots. heh. What's more, most of them were Indian! Of cos got Chinese too lah! But majority were Indians. Whatever it is I would say these are the warning signs to look out for:
1. Turning to alcohol whenever you feel stressed or as a form of relief.
2. The consumption of increasing amounts of alcohol to get the same desired effect (tolerance).
3. The urge to consume alcohol at certain times of the day (eg. b4 sleeping, during meals).
I can't think of any others for now...these are not really scientifically proven but from what I have observed during my group sessions. So be careful.

Tomorrow alcohol and fags beckon.
Will I succumb?