Prudie, don't apologize for your views on "demon rum," and do pat yourself on the back for realizing when a letter writer or the subject of their inquiriy has an "alcohol problem." As a sober member of AA, I can tell you that a person is most likely an alcoholic if:

Any threatened curtailment of their alcohol-related "fun" provokes anger or defensiveness;

"Fun" itself is associated with getting drunk (a result of "drinking for effect")

They are as selfish and self-centered as the roommate the letter writer describes.

These traits, and many more, are some of the true signs of alcoholism -- not just the amount or type of alcohol consumed or the terrible things that happen to the person who consumes it (and those around him/her).

So don't apologize for your warnings about "demon rum," but (sadly) don't expect them to have much effect on the people who need to hear them the most. Thanks for a great column.

Congratulations! How many years?

I thought the roommate sounded like a very dangerous sidekick to have around/be responsible for/get kneewalking drunk with on a regular basis. Bad things happen to young people who spend a lot of their time in an incoherent state.

As a person who's perfectly happy to drink during social occasions, I'd've suggested the problem is not that the girl drinks, but that she's an entirely selfish b****. What kind of friend tells someone with an impacted tooth "How dare you have that medical concern seen to in a timely manner! I need a babysitter while I party!"? It's not as if she planned to have dental surgery just to inconvenience her partying pal, but you'd think so to hear her so-called friend's reaction.

Thank you. I've been sober a few 24 hours.

Congratulations Helen! That is really good that you kicked the habit.

Terrils I agree that the girl would be a selfish bitch with or without alcohol in the mix. I've had a couple a girls like her as friends and I've spent many nights trying to get them home safely and holding their hair while they hugged the porcelain god. The last straw would always occur when I'd put my foot down (usually by wanting the leave the club early or *gasp* declining an after hours party).