1. Editors from the National Institutes of Health argue that those who begin drinking alcohol before age fifteen are more likely to become alcohol abusers or alcoholics than those who begin drinking later in life. Dwight B. Heath contends that young people in Europe are taught to drink at an early age and are no more likely to develop an alcohol disorder than those who do not drink until they are twenty-one. Who do you think makes a stronger argument? Explain, citing from both texts.
2. NIAAA argues that alcoholism is a complex disorder influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Stanton Peele and Richard DeGrandpre maintain that disorders such as alcoholism have no genetic basis. What do you think the effect would be on the behavior of drinkers if scientists were able to identify conclusively the genes that affect alcoholism? Do you think people would drink more or...