Last week, a study was released that said the consumption of a beer or two a day might be better for your heart than red wine. It included the usual disclaimers (this study represents only preliminary results, we're not saying you should get plowed every single night, etc.), but it makes sense to me.

There is definitely something therapeutic about a buzz. You know, that elevated feeling that makes you feel invincible. Or, at least, somewhat less vincible than before you drank. It's a good feeling. I think that goes without saying.

Even when I was in junior high school, the kids had figured out the whole "buzz" phenomenon. The sophisticated 13-year-olds had already learned to drink "to the buzz" and not past it into reeling drunkenness. Exhibiting characteristics of the latter generally tended to alert parents to the whole underage drinking phenomenon, which was most certainly not advised.

The buzz. Oh, that wonderful buzz. Shakespeare, Jesus, Aristotle ... most of the literary, philosophical and even religious heavies (with the obvious exception of Mohammed) have come down in favor of the buzz. And why not?

Well, the sense of invulnerability that accompanies the buzz can lead people to do silly things. Often this comes in the form of talking a bit too loosely. Perhaps saying what's on your mind rather than thinking about it first. You might profess some sort of forbidden desire or speak intimately of a recent bout of venereal disease. You might be a bit too effusive when complimenting your best friend's comely girlfriend. Or you might let slip that you donated a grand to Lyndon LaRouche's latest crusade for the White House.

I've never worried about such things. But then, once you've been photographed in bed with a really big dog (German shepherd, as I recall), there's just not much room for embarrassment left. I prefer to stick with the question asked by Gib (John Cusack) in The Sure Thing: "Haven't you ever gotten shitfaced and made a complete fool of yourself and still had a great time?"

Well, yes.

Of course, there is the downside to excessively chasing the buzz. It's called getting drunk. Signs of this are a desire to walk through (still burning) campfires or the aforementioned photo shoot with the dog. Signs the day after include vertigo and a splitting headache. I try to avoid extreme drunkenness more to avoid the aftereffects than the stupid things I might do while drunk. Because, quite honestly, I have had some great times while completely blotto. And I remember then all. In all my years of drinking I've never blacked out, and the only truly weird experience I had was waking up 45 minutes before a job interview and realizing I spent a chilly November night in a tub of frigid bathwater. This was the day after Clinton got elected in 1992. I had worked on the campaign, and so a bender was clearly in order. Good thing my mini-hot tub was small. Prevented an ignominious drowning death.

Anyway, I got the job and did not contract hypothermia. No harm, no foul.

So we get to this question of wine vs. beer in terms of health benefits. I say, why quibble? Why choose? Get a little high no beer or wine. Or both. Without considering any of the chemical questions, getting a buzz on is definitely a great stressbuster. That alone would take a load off anyone's heart. My own layman's opinion is that any buzz is good. Certainly experience has taught me that much.

I had a psychology professor who preached the virtues of one or two Budweisers a day. He was actually a psychiatrist (thus had a medical degree), and even 10 years ago he said there was evidence that a little drinking was good for the soul. Now, I'd never endorse the drinking of Budweiser, but it seems to me that his theory was sound (with the exception of brand choice, of course).

I believe it is time once again to chase the buzz.

Jon Worley has found that the high B vitamin content in homebrew (and bottle-conditioned beer in general) leaves little chance for a hangover no matter how much time is spent chasing the buzz.