Question: My husband is a salesman and drinks a lot with his work. I think he uses his work as an excuse to get boozed. One of his mates has had pancreatitis. Could he get it too?
The pancreas is the organ that produces your digestive juices and sits in the centre of the abdomen behind the belly button. People who drink a large amount of alcohol can damage the pancreas, causing the digestive juices to leak out into the belly. These juices then try to digest your insides, which causes severe pain. The treatment is difficult and often involves long hospital stays.
Pancreatitis is not a common disease, but is a well recognised complication of alcoholism. Anyone who drinks excess amounts of alcohol, either constantly or intermittently, is placing their health at risk in many ways.

Question: I’m not an alcoholic, but I do like a wine with dinner and an occasional beer after gardening. Can I drink alcohol with medication?
Medication and alcohol do not mix. Alcohol may exacerbate side effects, prevent the drug from working correctly or the drug may increase the effect of the alcohol. Always ask a doctor or pharmacist about any interactions between alcohol and even common over-the-counter medicines.