Uno más

Following some medium-to-heavy nights recently, I have vowed to steer clear of alcohol until Friday at the earliest. (I am sure that the previous sentence would have been much more impressive had it ended ‘until the end of the year’ or even ‘until the end of the month’. Let’s not be crazily unrealistic however.) Anyone that knows me now might find it worrying that I certainly don’t drink as much as I used to. This could be a reflection of my age… Don’t you just hate that?

I fondly recall those university days (and/or nights) during which a multicoloured multitude of what I will loosely name ‘drinks’ were consumed in the customary rapid fashion. These were followed by astoundingly few after effects the next day, leaving us fresh-ish faced and at a receptive enough level to be taught some stuff (eloquent or what?) Hangovers and students go to lectures hand in hand, so unless you’ve got your head permanently down the toilet or you’ve somehow wound up 100 miles from your halls there is no excuse. At the time I didn’t realise it but this exercise was in itself a life lesson in mind over matter. If I can do it then you can. I couldn’t live like that again and, more importantly, I really would not want to. Again, age rears her withered, grey head.

How many times must we utter those (probably false) words ‘never again’? Why do we do it to ourselves then? It could be the same reason each time or a pick-and-mix of any of the following – confidence, escape, celebration, commiseration, Friday night, boredom, peer pressure, stress, etc etc. You know all of this though and whatever your reasons they are your reasons. If you are comfortable to accept them then no dramas. If there is someone in your life that you feel needs help, it is not your call – they must make that decision if they want to make a change. Or that is my opinion, for what it’s worth. Of course you can discuss and support but until the acceptance is there I don’t believe that anything can help.

My reasons for consumption vary and evolve according to the crests and falls of life (and hormones – sorry guys but I don’t even understand them myself). Mostly it is about enjoyment. I enjoy alcohol, I enjoy wine and cocktails and occasionally a beer. I like the flavour and I am not ashamed to admit it. So, come Friday, I will raise a tasty toast to our good health. Cheers all.