<p>It is beyond ridiculous to claim that alcohol is more harmful than smoking.</p>
<p>Nicotine is physiologically addictive, meaning that your body becomes dependent on it to function normally. 3 in 20 current smokers will develop lung cancer. 15%. That's a huge proportion. And that's not even beginning to count other respiratory ailments, like emphysema. The very nature of smoking is unhealthy. </p>
<p>You don't see statistics anywhere NEAR those from smoking for drinking, even daily drinking-- otherwise all of Europe would die at 40 from liver failure. Drinking in moderation (a glass of red wine after dinner each day, for instance) has actually been proven to have certain health benefits like reducing one's risk for heart disease. While I wouldn't argue that most college students are sipping on a glass of vino instead of taking vodka-charged jello shots or guzzling beer, this at least demonstrates that alcohol, unlike smoking, is not inherently unhealthful. </p>
<p>The risks of drinking come from a few things. One is continual binge drinking, which will over time destroy your liver. That is completely avoidable provided that one has the capability to recognize addictive tendencies in oneself and therefore control one's drinking habits. The vast majority of people who choose to drink are able to achieve this and consume alcohol without becoming alcoholics.</p>
<p>Another risk is alcohol poisoning. Quite frankly, you have to drink a lot of freaking booze to get to this point-- I've seen girls who are around my weight (110lbs) down 11 shots. They vomited, they were not in good shape, it's not healthy (or fun, at that point) and I certainly wouldn't recommend it, but they didn't die. It takes a concerted effort to drink a TON in very very short period of time. This is, again, completely avoidable if a person sets reasonable standards for himself at the beginning of the night, determines to stick to them, and has friends who will take care of him if he strays. </p>
<p>The last risk is plain old risky behavior. The cure is simple: don't drink so much that you're out of your head, don't drink when you have to drive or navigate, and don't drink when you're emotionally vulnerable. If you're in a dorm with some friends that you know and trust and consume only enough to get mildly drunk without vomiting or stumbling, it's really pretty safe.</p>
<p>Is drinking, especially to get tipsy, the safest thing? No, of course not. I don't think anyone would argue that a night of partying is safer than a night of staying in. Yet the danger isn't inherently huge, like it is with smoking. You can choose to drink a certain amount. You can choose to have a sober friend to drive or watch out for you. You can choose, even while intoxicated, not to go crazy. You can choose the events for which you drink. Almost any enjoyable activity has risk factors attached-- sports, driving, travelling, etc. Weighing them and doing your best to minimize them is a completely rational choice.</p>