Alcohol

If someone has taken the time to write a blog about alcohol then you're probably thinking it's going to be some kind of sermon.  Well I hope it isn't because it isn't intended that way, just my perspective on something that can sometimes needlessly cause friction between people who differ in their lifestyle choices.  Back when I was in my late teens I was probably stronger in my opinions (not that I would have actually voiced them out loud back then) and it served as subject matter on a few of my songs.  But I'm not going to tell anyone how to live their life, it would be pointless anyway, we all make our own choices.

I'm guessing you probably know which side of the fence I sit on, so yeah as I write this I'm 37 years old and in terms of alcohol I've had no more than our family's traditional Christmas and New Year drink of port and lemon (shut up) and the odd curious sip of beer as a kid in all that time.  That obviously means I've never been drunk.  Not even slightly.  And no, that's not meant to paint me as some master of abstinence or whatever, I'm just giving some background.  And to answer the most common questions that would crop up at this point, no I'm not religious, no I've never had a family member with a drink problem and no, I don't have a health condition.  So that's that part out of the way....but if not for any of those reasons, why am I this way?

The most important part surely if you're talking about food or drink is the taste.  I don't like the taste of alcohol, pretty big one for me that, I think.

So I guess you're then thinking the solution is I can mix it with something or just buy alcopops or whatever (are they even a thing any more or am I just sounding old?).  Not for me, if I want to buy something that tastes like coke, for example, then I'll buy coke, seems like a no-brainer?

"But it gets you drunk!!"  Alongside the taste that's another pretty big stumbling block.  I guess I must be a control freak or whatever, but I really really dislike the idea of not being in control of my actions or of having no idea what I did the following morning.  If I'm going to make myself look a bit daft then I'm totally proficient in doing that on my own terms.

"But that's only if you get REALLY drunk, you can still have a few and not be totally wasted?" This one often gets a laugh, but I am half serious....I'm not that thirsty.  I don't sit at home and have 3 or 4 pints of orange juice or whatever on an evening, so why would I do the same with alcohol if I was out?

I'm also not a big fan of eating or drinking as socialising, if I'm going to venture out somewhere I'd rather it was to watch a band or something with an activity, for it to actually have a purpose.  And in terms of pub culture etc. I'm not really one for small talk or chatting, add to that if you put more than a group of about 3 or 4 people together then I'm probably not going to say much anyway.

I remember getting into a debate with a mate at university who was trying to invite me on a night out with a few others, my argument was that I could probably push to going out with them, but I wasn't particularly keen on spending the evening with an increasingly different version of them.  I know EXACTLY what I meant by this and it seems quite obvious to me, but he struggled to understand what I was trying to get across.  Whichever side you're on at that point in time, sober and drunk people don't really mix that well.

I've had conversations with people who react incredulously as if I'm stupid when they find out that I don't drink (including the ex-colleague who asked if he could have my liver when I die, he didn't take kindly to my reply of "assuming I die first".....which was maybe a little harsh).  Then there are the equally ridiculous comments of being boring or not being able to have fun.  Of course sober people can have fun, I have to admit I find that argument a little sad because it implies that people think alcohol is a pre-requisite for fun......it most certainly isn't.  I'm pretty skilled in being an idiot every day and I'm fully aware of what I'm doing.

But this probably comes from people who know someone that does rant and rave about alcohol and talks about people who drink negatively, the more militant faction if you like.  It exists everywhere, whether it's alcohol, meat-eating or whatever, but it doesn't mean every non-drinker is going to tut and roll their eyes at everyone who likes a drink.

I'm totally aware that I'm in the minority here and the majority of people who have read this do like a drink, mostly in moderation and occasionally in excess and it hasn't really done any long-term harm, a few embarrassing stories here, a few terrible hangovers there.  Nothing that I've said here has suggested that is bad or wrong and I hope no one has taken it that way, it's simply a choice, maybe an escape in some cases.  If I want to escape then I'll do it into a great album, a good book, a film or TV programme etc. and if that makes me boring to you then I'll happily be boring.

Drink.  Or don't drink.  Whichever one you adhere to you'll have your reasons for doing so.  But don't look down on the person on the other side.  They'll have their reasons too and they'll be equally as valid.




*If you're thinking I missed out a huge chunk of any debate on this topic by not mentioning drinking to excess, it was deliberately avoided as it could have changed the overall tone, which wasn't my intention for this piece.  Although it goes without saying that it is a massive problem in many different ways that normally shouldn't be overlooked.