Wine Tags

The federal government is going to allow a Napa Valley vintner to tell consumers about the health benefits of drinking wine (“Tag Telling of Wine Benefits Uncorks Anger,” Oct. 24). The item quotes a “60 Minutes” program that includes the claim that moderate drinking of red wine “reduces the risk of heart disease.” How about cancer?

I recently had a pre-cancer condition in the mouth that required two painful biopsies. I was asked if I drank. When my response was wine, the doctor told me there was a connection between alcohol and cancer and I risked coming down with the disease if I continued to drink. I’m an ex-wine drinker.

I’m not against people drinking. I just don’t believe alcohol should be sold as promoting good health with the government’s blessing.

CHICK CHUCKROW, Sherman Oaks