drinks

1. The Cocktail: This New Orleans drink made from rum and fruit juices was invented by Pat O’Brien in the 1940s. Interestingly, O’Brien only concocted it because he needed to get rid of a lot of excess rum. He even gave them away for free to visiting sailors. The drink is now a staple of Mardi Gras and Cajun-flavored parties across the country.

According to a new survey from Gallup, 66 percent of adults drink alcohol, up from 64 percent last year. But are these Americans who imbibe enjoying the occasional glass of wine or are they pounding beer after beer?

Alcohol is known to be a social lubricant. But many people also use booze to help them recover from too much action and interaction.

Frightening new data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reveals that in 2009, more than 14,000 people visited hospital emergency room for intentional drug poisoning. Peter J. Delany, PhD, the director of SAMHSA’s Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality in Rockville, Maryland defines intentional poisoning as an attempt “to harm someone by deliber