Everyone knows that getting wasted on Cinco de Mayo (May 5) is an enduring tradition for many in the United States. But most people don't know the stats -- specifically,  how much people actually drink. Here are a few fun facts that put this in perspective: Tequila sales typically double in bars and restaurants on Cinco de Mayo, making it one of their most profitable days of the year. In 2014, Americans bought over 12 million cases of tequila. That's a lot of booze! Margaritas accounted for nearly half of all cocktails sold on Cinco de Mayo in 2011 and 2012. Consumers spend over $2.9 billion on margaritas annually, which accounts for roughly 14 percent of all cocktail sales! 30 percent of the margaritas sold are flavored. The United States sells twice as much tequila as Mexico, the country where it originated. On another note, more than 81 million avocados are consumed by Americans on Cinco de Mayo, which are used in guacamole. Tortillas are also widely consumed i...

My wife and I went to a family get together at her parents' house last night, where one of her brothers and two of her sisters-in-law got completely wasted. Her family knows full well that neither my wife nor I drink. It's not as if I've never tried. I've tasted a slew of drinks and have found all of them, with exception to the fruity daiquiri, to be almost intolerable. I simply lack the taste buds for alcohol. As for my wife, she likes only a couple of drinks, but for the most part refrains from drinking as well. As you can expect, this doesn't exactly sit well with them. For years now, they've made every attempt to get us to take a few sips at every gathering. The pressure to drink last night was more palpable than usual, ostensibly in light of the fact that my wife and I are now married and I am "part of the family." I fret at the pressure society puts on people to conform to what everyone else in the group does. When it comes to drinking, I t...