Boozing
June 2, 2023
#189
Drinking is part of our culture. It is very social. It is nice to be able to grab a beer with co-workers after a day at the office. Or be out with friends watching a game at a bar. It is an excuse to spend time together. For me, having a drink is a signal that I am off-duty & it is time to relax. Plenty of good stories start with “after a few drinks, we …“
That said, I am not a good drinker. For many, this might mean they drink too much & overdo it. Alcoholism is a hell of an addiction & has a hugely negative impact on many lives, including those in our family. For me, ‘not a good drinker’ means that I don’t feel good the next day. I don’t sleep well after even one drink.
I have certainly imbibed too much on occasion, more frequently when I was younger, but I have never felt like I couldn’t stop or was reliant on alcohol. When younger, there was almost a sense of jealousy I had for friends that could handle their booze when I couldn’t. Those feeling of envy have long since passed. Approaching age 50, you start to see the toll alcohol takes on the body, for even the most professional drinkers.
I probably have 1-3 drinks per week on average over the course of a year. I rarely drink at home. Almost never drink alone. For better or worse, I have developed the reputation of being the first to arrive & first to leave the party. I know “morning me” will appreciate “nighttime me” going home early.
My opinion of drinking is that it is a privilege & wonderfully social activity. But if abused or becomes controlling in any way, it can destroy lives. If you are drinking by yourself or to the point where you regularly lose control, take note. These are not good signs.
Get to know your body & how you react to such things. There are some people whose chemistry just does not agree with alcohol. If you find your chemistry handles booze well, be careful.
Beer:
With rare exception, the only beer I drink is Coors Light. “Real” beer drinkers would hesitate to call Coors Light beer. I have found CL easy to drink with minimal hangover effects. For whatever reason, even one sip of an IPA will give me a big-time hangover.
Liquor:
I like an occasional brown liquor cocktail. Bourbon “neat” or with one big ice cube are good sipping drinks. An Old Fashion with a good Luxardo cherry is a good drink. Liquor is much more potent & one drink is typically plenty.
Wine:
Wine is a wonderful hobby for a lot of people, but I have never gotten into the wine scene. While I generally will enjoy a glass of wine with the right meal, this is not something that has ever appealed to me.
