Best Places to Knock Back a Few

Alaskan fatalities from alcohol-related diseases plunged when levy was raised

(NEWSER) - Higher liquor taxes may reduce deaths related to alcohol consumption, the Chicago Tribune reports. A new study examined Alaska’s alcohol tax rates over a 30-year period in conjunction with deaths from alcohol-related diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver. When taxes were raised, such deaths decreased by as much as 29%. More»

Drink offers the same benefits as wine: researchers

(NEWSER) - Beer lovers, rejoice: ale or lager in moderation is good for you, a new study suggests. It offers folic acid, calcium, vitamins, and iron, and its benefits match those of wine, the Daily Telegraph reports. The study of 1,249 men and women older than 57 found that those who drank beer regularly and moderately—think small glass instead of a pint—had a lower risk of diabetes and high blood pressure. More»

Sure, the food is gross, but the wine might make up for it

(NEWSER) - At some hospitals, you just might be able to enjoy a glass of wine alongside your Jell-O and boiled carrots. Indiana’s Parkview Ortho Hospital is the latest to allow patients or family members to bring alcohol in—with doctor’s approval, of course—and it’s not the only one. According to the Association for Healthcare Foodservice, a Tennessee medical center and “many other healthcare facilities” stock beer, wine, and sometimes liquor, NPR reports. More»

No drunk horseback riding in Colorado, and other weird rules

(NEWSER) - Growlers may be the new hipster trend , but good luck finding one in Alabama. Any beer bottle larger than 16 ounces is banned there, along with "sensuous" wine labels. That's just one of a dozen crazy liquor laws complied by Mother Jones :

• No sunrise mimosas in Alaska: you can't buy booze between 5am and 8am.
• Stay out of the driver's seat and the saddle if you've been imbibing in Colorado, where drunk horseback riding is illegal.

National Bohemian tops list of cheap crowd pleasers

(NEWSER) - It's no small task to find a robust, canned American beer for less than $1, but these six passed the bar—albeit just barely—in a blind taste test conducted by the Washington Post:

• Baltimore's National Bohemian tops the list with its secret strategy: "Actually tastes like beer."
• Miller High Life has a refreshing fizz, but drink too many and expect to be bloated.