A French cardiologist has claimed that he is no longer an alcoholic because an anti-muscle spasm pill that he had been taking for many years caused him to lose desire to drink liquor.

The claim by Dr. Olivier Ameisen, 55, is contained in his book "Le Dernier Verre" ("The Last Glass") set for release in the U.S. next year under the title "The End of My Addiction."

The nation won't soon forget the Wal-Mart employee in Long Island, N.Y. who was trampled to death trying to hold back thousands of angry holiday shoppers bursting through sliding glass doors anxious to get their hands on discounted merchandise the day after Thanksgiving. And for the next few weeks, people in Palm Desert, Calif. will likely discuss the two men who shot and killed each other in the aisles of Toys "R" Us, seemingly to settle an argument their girlfriends were having.

Stories like these capture the nation's attention and make headlines around the world. Commentators and newspaper editorials questioned whether greed and consumerism are trumping our values and making the holidays a particularly violent time of year.

Russians are drinking less of vodka because of the hard times. According to the National Alcohol Association, the November inventories of unsold vodka went up to 82 million liters, a 600 percent rise from 2007 level.

To prevent losses, vodka manufacturers reduced their production after vodka drinking dipped by 15 percent in October.

French winemakers are complaining about the increasingly difficult business environment they face caused by the rise of anti-alcoholism sentiment in the country. They fear the French wine would one day go the way of the cigarette, which was banned in public places.

At the heart of their anxiety is a government proposal last week to raise the legal age for purchasing alcohol to 18 from 16. Aside from hiking the legal age, the proposal will also prohibit the sale of alcohol at highway gas stations and will not allow all-you-can-drink open bar evenings at French high schools.

The Eustis Police Department has fired one of its officers who tasered a teenager for fun during a birthday party he hosted last month.

Dan Nesmith, 22, lost his job after a video of him demonstrating his taser on the back of 15-year-old Taylor Davis surfaced and a subsequent check of the officer's taser gun showed it was fired on the day of the party. The taser gun is equipped with memory that indicates the date when it was fired.