Dear Jason:

Drunkenness is to be Intoxicated with alcohol or recreational drugs to the point of impairment of physical and mental faculties. Alcohol in moderation does not cause drunkenness. Drugs, even in tiny amounts causes immediate impairment and can never be done without sin.

Symptoms of drunkenness may include emotional swings ranging from anger, sadness, swings of depression to euphoria, joviality and lightheartedness, and sexual inhibition. Other symptoms may include slurred speech, impaired balance, poor coordination, flushed face, reddened eyes, reduced inhibition and other uncharacteristic behavior not normally observed in the person. The person may have a hangover the next day.

We can know that we are crossing the line when we have the "buzz". At the point that we begin the feel the buzz that is the time to immediately stop and not take another sip.

I should add, however, that even one drink causes a mild impairment of reflexes and thus one should not drive or operate machinery even if they have had one drink. In general alcohol metabolizes in the body at a rate of one ounce per hour.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary