Sipping at a single glass of red wine before, with, or after dinner is not the same as drinking 3-4 glasses a day or as over-indulging to the point of sloppiness in 1+ bottles.
Whereas I recognize the latter choice to be somewhat taboo, for reasons of health, focus, time wasting, and my practice, I do not feel that the single glass a day option does any harm. For once, the 'middle way' is not my preferred choice, and I would like to stick to the one glass regularly, allowing an extra glass for special occasions or rumbly-tummied liquid-only fast days.
Obviously, getting totally sloshed to the stage of vomiting is not a good thing, even if I do not show characteristics of violence, argumentativeness, or other mind malfunctions in accompaniment, but I can see no harm in taking a single glass.
In fact, when I do not drink a daily glass of red wine, it is detrimental to my physical well-being. I tend to get constipated without it. I have not yet explored why this is so, or any alternatives, because I do not see the harm in drinking that solitary glass in order to choose to opt out on it.
If it is for the sake of health that Buddhists are encouraged to take no alcohol, then I must be an exception to the rule, because it aids my health, without causing detrimental defects in my practice, to take a single glass of red wine.
If it is for the sake of mental clarity, one glass does not make any difference - and I tend to use a deeper level of citta to that which becomes affected by alcoholic beverages anyway. It does not have a negative effect on my practice or life.
If it is for the sake of money unwisely spent, the dollars would be going on anti-constipation medicines otherwise - and frankly I prefer the option of wine to that of modern medicine.
If it is for the sake of setting an example, most of my friends drink more than me and live overseas, my son has learned that alcohol comes in minimal amount except for special occasions, and the rest of my family live overseas.
If it is for the sake of remaining natural, there is no issue with wine arising from the inner depths, suggesting it to be incompatible with my practice, health,m lifestyle, or Buddhism.
So, I can find no reason for a 'complete' ban. It is better for my body-health and not 'unnatural' for me to partake of one glass per day. Though obviously, regular over indulgence is neither physically healthy or mentally.
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