In the past few years, every time I've fallen off the wagon of ANY diet (especially one where I'm limiting carbs and refined sugars), it was alcohol that started the fall.

IMO, Primal/Paleo isn't a diet, it's a lifestyle change. Many people, myself included, have special treats they imbide. For me, I refuse to give up my daily coffee w/creamer (for now). Others choose wine or something else.

If you want to keep alcohol, keep it, but don't be surprised if it makes you slide. Alcohol lowers inhibitions, thus resulting in decisions you wouldn't normally make.

....Doesn't make me get fat, never has. I'll continue to have my chardonnay and not get fat! My advice is see how you react to it, do the pros outweigh the cons? And base your personal decision from there.

Does this help? http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=893

Like others said... when you drink alcohol, it's not Paleo so consider it your treat. If you're gluten sensitive.. avoid beers unless you get a GF one.

This is the "official" Paleo drink: NorCal Margarita... invented by Robb Wolf (so he says)

2 shots (4 oz) of top shelf Tequila
juice of one lime
club soda
ice

But remember, as Mel Joulwan of www.theclothesmakethegirl.com says... "First you have a drink, then your drink has a drink, then your drink is ordering cheese fries."

You can do the exact same drink as above without the tequila, throw in a few olives, and everyone will think you're drinking booze.

My drink of choice is Stoli and soda water with a few limes....

I typically will drink a few glasses of Merlot, and do a few shots of tequila with friends. I don't do it every weekend, maybe more like once a month, so my tolerance is low. I no longer drink beer but I do like those Angry Orchard Ciders once in a while.

Also, if you're gonna eat, do it before you drink and that way you're less inclined to eat empty-carb bar food.

I'll remember that if we ever finally get to hang together. I never drink anymore, so when I do, one wine hits me hard. Two wines and I'm dancing on tables. Add tequila? Puking in the bushes.

I rarely eat when I drink, it's the day after I usually slip but I am going to plan and have yummy food ready for my next day hangover

To be straightforward with you. If you plan to drink and you gotta to expect to gain weight at some point. No one could drink alcohol and lose weight, unless he/she don't eat anything for most of the day and it is less than 1k calories.

Alcohol has a huge amount of calories in it, so you gotta play with the calories math to keep it under 3k calories in order to maintenance your weight. For example, 4 oz of Whiskey/Jagerimester is about 250 to 300 calories. If you want to get buzz then don't eat anything for the day and drink, you'll lose weight but you could black out easily. I could tell from your comments that you are a very social lady and you drink to the point where you have a good buzz to loosen yourself up with someone (not in the bed thing but in the conversation with someone) is understandable in your age and in the area where you live at.

I am not an alcohol hater club. I love alcohol but it messed me up during the Christmas break, which I want to share with you from my own experience. My blood is Czech and the Czech people are #1 drinker in the world (google if you want to know the fact), therefore I know what I am talking about.