The worth of a pint

Richard Reeves: It's hard to quantify the social costs – and benefits – of drinking. Moral panic can offer no new solution

Relationships: Not just for Christmas

Editorial: The welfare state was developed to ensure material needs were met, but its architects presumed that emotional and psychological needs would be met by family and community. That is not always so

Rules made to be broken

Andrew Martin: The figures show that a huge majority don't hit healthy targets. Can't we all just lower our sights?

Health and safety fears are real

Matthew Stockwell: Zoe Williams may mock Cameron's 'elf'n'safety' speech, but they agree with each other that over-cautious officials are the problem

End the gay blood ban

Peter Tatchell: Any man who has had sex with a man, even once, even 50 years ago, and even if they test HIV-negative, cannot give blood

Now is not the time for health cuts

Rachael Jolley: The NHS spends millions on treating avoidable lifestyle diseases – any cut in public health budgets would be a false economy