[HankReardon]

Tell that to the thousands of lives and families ruined and lost each year because of the habitual, addictive use of the drug alcohol. Now how does this compare with caffeine? Some people use alcohol addictively the same manner other drugs are used. They hide it, they lie about it, they cheat and steal for it. This compares to caffeine in what way? If you use the drug alcohol, you are a drug user. Caffeine has nothing to do with it, a way of rationalizing to protect and defend one's drug of choice.

[tjwmason]

Tell that to the thousands of lives and families ruined and lost each year because of the habitual, addictive use of the drug alcohol. Now how does this compare with caffeine?

What about people who develop rheumatoid arthritis, heart-disaease, ulcers, and women who have an increased risk of still-birth?

All drugs, including alcohol and caffeine, have bad effects if taken in excessive quantity. However, they also have positive effects in the right doses. You are not comparing like with like, to compare a reasonable coffee drinker with an alcoholic is a nonsense; compare a normal coffee drinker with a normal alcohol drinker, and in both cases all is merry (though caffeine would appear to be slightly more dodgy).