[Hyper Sonic]

To anyone studying chemistry please forgive my blatant lie in the title. I am fully aware that R-OH is an alcohol and thus there are thousands of them most of which are in fact extremely toxic.
However, to most people alcohol means an aqueous solution of ethanol

Please note I am referring to people old enough to drink and have no medical reason saying they shouldn't drink.

Anyway, back to my question. Is alcohol really that bad for you or is it just that people are idiots? I mean used correctly a drink or two reduces inhibitions and makes people more social which leads to lively talk and a good time. It is people overdoing it that gives it such a bad name but then you can hardly blame alcohol for that - a lot of things are dangerous if misused such as cars, painkillers, irons, electrical sockets even water. Should all of these be banned?