Alcohol consumption would not be my liquid of choice while dieting and the draw backs will far outweigh any health benefits your red wine drinking friends may tell you. The liver cannot metabolize alcohol and fat at the same time so this means that while you are drinking you are NOT burning fat and won't be until the alcohol is completely out of your system; and depending on the amount you drink that could be up to 24 hours, if not more. Not only does alcohol stop the fat burning process it also causes your body to dehydrate along with raising estrogen and cortisol....combine those two and say good by to your abs and hello to love handles and thunder thighs. Personally, I drink alcohol in my offseason MAYBE once a month, I just do not desire to drink it anymore. Now if I'm prepping for a show I don't even think about touching the stuff. I work too hard to let an alcoholic drink wreck my abs. No only do I not want alcohol hindering my hard work but I honestly hate the way it makes me feel. I feel lethargic and slow, I also get a massive headache when I drink these days...maybe that due to me aging, I really don't know but I do know I don't like the way I feel when I drink. Now that being said if you are just trying to loose weight and not be ripped then you are find to drink as long as the drink fits within your calorie range. You can have a glass of wine or a liquor drink a few times a week and still make progress. Of course if you are wanting to radically transform your body my best advice is to forget the alcohol.