Prescribed metronidazole topical cream to apply to face 2x day. pharmacy paper stapled to rx says avoid alcohol while using but nurse says that's only for oral version. is it safe to drink alcohol with topical cream? so many contradicting views?

Even oral metronidazole is entirely safe with alcohol. It was long believed the two together could cause nausea and vomiting, but that is now known to be erroneous. In STD clinics (where MTZ orally is used in hundreds of patients a year), we no longer give the alcohol warning and nobody reports vomiting. For sure no issue with application on the skin. Of course always drink in moderation!