From weddings to boardroom conferences there is barely a social gathering that doesn't warrant the casual drink or two, as a means of rejuvenation or social bonding. Consumption of alcohol is widely accepted, if not encouraged, by many societies all over the world. But this seemingly harmless drink, which is often a pleasant addition to a great evening of relaxation, does have a dark and vicious side to it. Enslaved by the temporary 'high' that alcohol grants them, many individuals begin to rely on alcohol as a means to handle stress and unwind after a long, hard day. And with every drink that he reaches out for, either as a habit he is accustomed to, or as an escape from his tensions, he draws closer and closer to falling prey to the vicious disease of alcoholism.

Alcoholism as a disease is very deceptive as often the victim himself is prone to shrug away his excessive drinking habits as something he can 'deal with'. The perception of those who are in his vicinity is also apt to be skewed as society by and large believes that this is a phase the alcoholic himself can pull out of, with just a little determination and will power. But not many are aware of the disastrous effects alcoholism has, both on the victim and those he interacts with, until it is indeed to late. Apart from the physical havoc that alcohol wreaks on the individual's body, this disease also has several far-reaching consequences on society as a whole, both in terms of the huge dent it causes to economies all over the world, and also the delinquent behaviors it can lead to.

Alcohol first lashes out against the physical well-being of the individual, weakening his heart, tormenting his liver and kidneys, which leads him to skip work for prolonged periods of time. Gradually, as this disease overcomes its victim, it can even result in him losing his job, which in turn negatively affects the performance of the organization as a whole. And every organization that incurs such losses, contribute to loss of revenue for the economy of the country, slowing down its progress and growth.

With the decline in income that the individual faces, there is also the rising expenditure he has to incur as a result of his addiction, which compels him to buy increasing amounts of alcohol. The financial security of his family being at stake, the alcoholic will also have to face marital tensions, which he tries to evade by drinking more alcohol which traps him in a malicious circle. Unknown to many, alcohol is a depressant, which means that the more you drink, the deeper your depression grows until you are finally drinking to escape the gloom alcohol has brought on to you.

Conventionally, society has little patience with victims of alcohol abuse as, instead of recognizing it as the disease it is, the alcoholic viewed as a weak-spirited individual who is unable to resist, what seems to them, a mere indulgence. This plunges the victim into despair and brings about low self-esteem. Alcohol also interferes with the functioning of the brain and the nervous system, aggravating the victim's depression until it develops into more severe conditions like schizophrenia and paranoia. Alcohol addiction also makes an individual more susceptible to other types of substance abuse, which further complicate the problems alcoholism itself is accountable for.

Children who come from alcoholism-wrecked homes are also more likely to suffer from depression, which sets in right from early childhood in the form of uncontrollable crying, bed wetting and nightmares. Older children tend to exhibit extreme behavioral patterns where some of them are overtly rebellious, irregular in their study habits and destructive in their behavior, while those at the other end of the scale tend to be extremely docile, excessively meek and eager to please and compulsive about their grades. These children also cut themselves off social activities, with no one to speak their hearts out to, and despite their valiant efforts, are convinced that they are failures.

Alcohol abuse has become increasingly prevalent with the changing times and the ever increasing burden of stress it encumbers people with. In such circumstances, taking to the bottle as temporary relief may seem to be a viable solution, but on closer inspection, is it really such a wise decision? Can you afford to sacrifice not only your health and well-being, but also that of your family and those you care about, all for the sake of a few minutes of relief that alcohol grants you? Stop drinking today and open your doors to a world of opportunities that await you, every step of the way.