"Our results are consistent with the possibility, but do not prove, that regular moderate drinking decreases the risk of cognitive impairment in older men."
pops cork
Heavy alcohol use will destroy your memory though. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wernicke%E2%80%93Korsakoff_syndrome
It's not the alcohol abuse that causes Korsakoff; it's the thiamine deficiency that results from using liquor as your main source of nourishment. > Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome in the United States is usually found in malnourished chronic alcoholics, though it is also found in patients who undergo prolonged intravenous (IV) therapy without vitamin B1 supplementation, gastric stapling, intensive care unit (ICU) stays or hunger strikes.
As I recall (though my memory isn't what it once was..) it refers to use by alcoholics and not the casual use of alcohol. I'm pretty sure that there are a number of positive effects from moderate alcohol use and I'd guess that such use doesn't put ones memory in jeopardy. I could be wrong though and perhaps I'm just attempting to reassure myself.
I regret somewhat my choice of heading for this post. I'm sure there's any number of ways alcohol can damage your brain (not least by damaging your liver, which removes toxins from your bloodstream, which in turn could have a deleterious effect on the health of your brain over the long term). That said, the folk belief that alcohol directly destroys your brain cells just doesn't seem to hold water.