Yes, I did have too much to drink recently. Yes, it was the inspiration to finally write this piece. But no, I don’t write this *just because *of a hangover. I’ve been contemplating this for a while, actually.
Maybe the idea of too much to drink is ridiculous. Because maybe any is too much.
I’m not the first to realise it, and I won’t be the last. Nevertheless, I find it important to share my thoughts irrespective of how generic they might be.
Society makes drinking not only acceptable, but in fact encouraged. However, if you take an outsider’s perspective, as I have done most recently, alcohol, pubs and the like are…quite insane.
Spending an hour’s wages *per drink *(That’s foodservice for you!) just to get a bit of a buzz doesn’t seem like such a good idea in the cold light of day. It seems like even less of a good idea when your head is spinning and you’re trying to make sure someone you care about, who’s also had too much, is safe. That was the moment that was the real wake up call. I was angry. Angry at myself because I was powerless. Trapped inside my own body, almost. That’s an awful feeling.
So I say again. Maybe any is too much.
Alcohol is destructive. Sure, it makes you feel good, and gives you (false) confidence. But the reason it does this is it is literally poisoning you.
Don’t even get me started on drinking and driving. Not even drunk driving, drinking at all. Personally I feel the law should be zero tolerance on that — forget the ‘safe limit’. Particularly as a motorcyclist — in which I refer you to my open statement about self-destructive nature — I’m vulnerable enough without impairing my judgment. Or god forbid (but more likely), being hit by someone else who’s impaired their judgment. It has more of an effect than you think. Just don’t do it. Tangent over.
Don’t get me wrong, drinking — or not — is entirely a personal choice. I’m by no means going to become a militant teetotalitarian. But regardless I’d encourage you to step back as I have.
No doubt I’ll have to fight society on this. That’s the worst part of it, in fact. If someone doesn’t want to drink, for whatever reason, they’re often peer pressured into it. As in all things, ‘No’ should be an acceptable answer. No explanation required.
Call me a ‘fun sponge’ or whatever if you like. But if you find yourself thinking you ‘need’ alcohol to have fun, maybe you need better hobbies. Or better friends.
I’m not going completely teetotal, mainly because there are some drinks I enjoy a glass of for the flavour, not the effect. You won’t catch me doing shots anytime in the foreseeable future, though.
With a clear head, signing off.
Thought for the day:
Mary Pettibone Poole — Alcohol is a good preservative for everything but brains