Mr. Vino and I had just finished eating dinner at my house and were polishing off a bottle of Bethel Heights Pinot Noir from Oregon.

He wiped his mouth with his napkin and said, “Thanks for drinking responsibly.”

I smiled, but was curious as to what he meant.

After taking the last sip of the pretty pinot, he explained: “It has become almost a cliché for a vodka or whiskey commercial to say at the end ‘please drink responsibly.’ The mantra has been repeated so often that is almost has no meaning. It is what allowed Jack Daniels whiskey and Grey Goose vodka on the air. For much of the history of television, liquor commercials were not allowed. The spirits business is a multibillion dollar enterprise, and television for years wanted this advertising money – but how? You must remember that there is a strong anti-alcohol sentiment in the country. The compromise is the ‘please drink responsibly’ slogan. With the inclusion of that slogan, liquor commercials magically appeared on the air.”

“Liquor commercials are beautiful pieces of film,” I said.

Mr. Vino nodded his head. “With all the money behind these commercials, why wouldn’t they be? But there is a greater meaning about please drink responsibly. In fact, the slogan has many meanings.”

He waved his hands and went on: “In social situations, it is important not to criticize people for what they are drinking. If they are drinking Wild Vines Strawberry White Zinfandel, so be it. A person should be judged by their character and not what alcoholic beverage they are drinking.

“It is very sad but a true fact of life that most wine drinkers will never experience a bottle of first growth Bordeaux and will never have Lafite or Latour in their glass,” he said. “But how important is it really? As great as those wines are, they are just wine, which is fermented grape juice.

“I’m sure you have been at parties and there is always a pretentious wine snob that wants to feel superior to everyone else because they are drinking a 93 point Napa Valley cabernet or one of the luxury brands like Silver Oak or Insignia,” he added. “Those people need to get a life and try to understand that wine is not intended to be a put-down; rather it is an experience best shared by friends who enjoy camaraderie and the pleasures of life. That, my friend, is responsible drinking.”

I grabbed a bottle of Pommery Brut Royal, popped the cork and poured us each a glass. “What are the other ways of responsible drinking?” I asked.

“If you are talking about the intoxication issue, it is important not to drive,” Mr. Vino answered. “It is also important to drink water and eat if you are planning to drink alcoholic beverages. Having a designated driver is talked about frequently, but a lot more could be said about drinking and dining at restaurants within walking distance of your home or that are close to public transportation like the bus. That way all your friends can have a good time instead of one person feeling like a chaperone at a high school dance.”

“I understand that very few people who are arrested for DUI having been drinking wine,” I said.

Mr. Vino filled my champagne flute to the rim with the delicious Pommery. “That is correct,” he replied. “Just a very small percentage of wine drinkers have been arrested for DUI – a little more than 1 percent – and most of those arrested were consuming wine coolers.

“It is because of the relationship with food and wine,” he explained. “You enjoy wine slower because you are eating while you drink, instead of slamming down martinis on am empty stomach. Your liver will process alcohol, but timing is still a key element. If you are sharing a bottle of wine at dinner and your meal takes about two hours, then each of you will have about two glasses of wine. You will be sober by the time you finish dinner, according to the legal definition of driving under the influence, but it is better not to take chances and it is not a bad idea to see a movie or take a long walk before taking the wheel.

“I think it is wonderful to drink at home,” he added. “It is always great to have a great bottle of wine with dinner at home. That way you never worry about flashing lights, police sirens or sobriety tests.”

I poured myself some more bubbly and inquired, “Any other ways of responsible drinking?”

Mr. Vino gave me his toothiest grin. “Why, my friend, it is important to be gracious and share the bottle equally,” he said with a laugh as he grabbed the bottle of champagne from my hand.