If you get medicine on prescription, or even over the counter, the label may say avoid alcohol
Avoid has distinct overtones of try not to take; alternatively it means do not take alcohol under any circumstances while taking this drug
I once saw a poster in a hospital pharmacy explaining that undesirable consequences range from facial flushing to death. So there is a need to explain the strength of this injunction, especially to alcoholics, but even to social drinkers. Or even to consumers of sherry trifle, or salad which may be dressed with wine vinegar
Otherwise people may fail to take a drug which could do them good, even after a single glass of wine
In the 1970s it was popularly believed in some quarters that the combination of port or brandy + stilton could have fatal consequences for those on one type of heart medication
Unless you know why, you cant make a considered judgement about whether to risk - the plus of therapeutic effects against the negative of combination with alcohol
Especially as some drugs which are potentially very dangerous in conjunction with alcohol - perhaps over a longer, chronic time period - eg paracetamol & HRT - carry no warning
