To Stew's original point. I just came across this article that was cited in MD last month. It may be an extension of the study Stew noted in the first post:
"Dr C.H. Lang and colleagues from Penn State University found that even moderate drinking decreased the rate of protein synthesis by 20 percent. Alcohol interferes with the way amino acids are lined up to make specific proteins. It also blocks the action of the most powerful anabolic hormone IGF-1. This is important information for bodybuilders and other weight trained athletes."
(Int. J Biochem Cell Biol., 33:457-473, 2001).
"Dr C.H. Lang and colleagues from Penn State University found that even moderate drinking decreased the rate of protein synthesis by 20 percent. Alcohol interferes with the way amino acids are lined up to make specific proteins. It also blocks the action of the most powerful anabolic hormone IGF-1. This is important information for bodybuilders and other weight trained athletes."
(Int. J Biochem Cell Biol., 33:457-473, 2001).