You Are What You Drink

Luks and Barbato are certain to stir up controversy as they add pithy and persuasive fuel to the debate on American drinking habits. Unlike most popular works of the genre, which address alcoholics, this book focuses on social drinkers--those not addicted to alcohol who drink to relax or simply for enjoyment. The authors present a range of voices--from Harvard professors to actress Brooke Shields--to verify that even casual drinkers incur a multitude of short- and long-term health problems in addition to damaging their appearance. Urging that alcohol be viewed in the same light as red meat or ice cream--as a potential obstacle to maintaining desired levels of fitness and well-being--Luks and Barbato recommend ``brewing your own highs'' by using exercise and meditation to stimulate the body's production of endorphins. Luks is a lawyer and professor at Fordham University Graduate School of Social Work; Barbato is a PW contributing editor and former director of public information at the Alcoholism Council of Greater New York . First serial to American Health; author tour. (Apr.)