Many tourists like to drink alchohol in Amsterdam. The worst that happens is that someone drinks too much. This is pretty easy to do when you have so many colorful bars and places to hang out. Then again you want to try drinks that you don't get a home, or not as local and fresh.
I have noticed in myself that I would drink a little bit each day, controlled for the most part, but then I would go to far. For a while, I would get a type of rum called 'Players'. It seemed to me so unique, so Dutch, something from their islands, not available in the USA. Or better yet, some Cuban rum.
2 years ago, I got sick from too much of the Players. Just a sick feeling that you get from too much alchohol. Being in an alchoholic daze for most of the last day. Wow what a waste as I think back.
You know the drill, I throw out the remainder of the players and never have it again, but I find other things to drink, like wine.
Finally I went to AA in June 2007, in New Jersey, and I have not had a drink since.
In Amsterdam, there are meetings every day at various hours, some are in English.