Choice A:

Mr. Johnson: Hey, I like to drink – how about just cutting back?

Attending: The limit for men is no more than 4 drinks per day and no more than 14 drinks per week. If you can reduce your drinking to within those levels, then your condition should improve.

Choice B:

Mr. Johnson: Hey, I like to drink – how about just cutting back?

Attending: Perhaps. I understand that it’s difficult to stop cold turkey. Why don’t you try cutting down for next 3 months? If you are successful, then we can talk about quitting completely at that point.

Choice C:

Mr. Johnson: Hey, I like to drink – how about just cutting back?

Attending: From a medical standpoint, I strongly recommend that you quit. If you don’t stop drinking, your cirrhosis will get worse and you’ll likely end up back here with another bleed or liver failure.