Alcohol!!! It's a staple of many lives and provides a whole industry and employment base. It causes enjoyment, fun and at the same time, can devastate lives. It divides many people in different cultures and unites others.
I thought I'd write a little about my relationship with alcohol. As many of you will have read, or know, or probably don't know, I don't really drink. I'm not a tee-totaller as very occasionally, I will drink something, but largely, I steer clear. This has, in the past, made some people regard me with bafflement and in some cases a little suspicion. I had a boss who really couldn't understand it and told me that people don't trust people who don't drink when they are and that if I just kept drinking, I'd acquire a taste for it. He used to go on and on at me if the subject of alcohol came up.
As a child, my parents drank around me, and it was never taboo, they'd always offer to let us try things. My older sister really liked most things she tried, whereas I would try with a look of abject disgust and then later on, refuse it, knowing that I would not enjoy it.
It wasn't until I was a teenager, that alcopops came out. I tried an orange hooch at a party and quite liked it. I would then have one or two of these at parties or if we went out. However, I'd never have more than two or very occasionally three because it did seem to me that it was a bit of a waste of money (I earnt all my money through working in a chip shop, dog-walking and occasional gigs- I didn't get given any for going out). I wanted to spend my spare money on clothes since I bought those myself mainly and also saved for University. I always hated the idea of having no money so I was determined to save it when I had it. Also, I was always absolutely determined not to appear drunk or as an idiot. Furthermore, the idea of being sick from alcohol was utterly abhorrent for me. I really hated being sick.
When I got to University, again, I earnt all my own money and my student loan was strictly for buying my flutes and eventually my year in Bali. I drank a few drinks at the student union but I tended to find I absolutely hated wine and beer- so bitter and foul (liquid fart if you want me to be totally honest), though I would drink some white wine to be social, and those fruity drinks such as Archers, Bacardi Breezers, Metz and even cider were just too sweet for me, I could only drink a little.
There were two occasions at University where I experienced the nasty side of alcohol. At a party nearing the end of my First year, I drank some Hock wine with my friend and then realising I was a little drunk, I grabbed what I thought was a glass of water of hers and gulped it down, which turned out to be neat Vodka- I was SO ill after that drink and blacked out for much of the evening. A scary experience.
The second occasion was in my third year, I went to the same person's party and was not very well though I didn't drink much. That kind of sealed it for me.
Throughout my study, I would have 1, 2 or 3 drinks when we went out (maybe after a concert, maybe every other week or so) but not always alcohol. Again, I was so aware of the amount of money I had and I loved buying clothes. My Mum couldn't bail me out if I had got into debt, I had to be responsible.
The final nail in my coffin of alcohol-drinking was going to study in Bali. Before I went, I thought about my situation. I was a girl by myself in a foreign country a LONG way from home. I had no idea of what life would be like and I decided it wouldn't be safe for me to drink at all when I was there. I was in a foreign country alone and didn't want any opportunity for not being in control of myself there . And do you know what, I didn't miss it at all. To be fair, all that you could get there cheaply was nasty, yucky Bintang beer (Beer- I detested) and horrid Arak- femented rice drink. I wasn't missing anything. If I had bought imported alcohol on the rare occasions I went out to tourist areas, it would totally mess with my very strict food and drink budget and I valued being able to eat and enjoy my food rather than drinking alcohol just to be social.
When I returned from Bali, I decided there was no point in drinking for me then on. I realised I've never really liked that bitter taste that it has and I could have a lovely tasting alcohol-free drink for cheaper! Why pay more money for something I'm not really fond of just to be 'socially acceptable.' And who cares if people think I was boring, if I can't be myself around people without alcohol, then I'm not sure I want to be around those people. Mind you, even when out, I don't have loads of soft drinks, as again it feels like a waste unless I am actually thirsty. Too much sweet stuff is just too much for me. As I said, I not tee-total, occasionally, I might have a glass of Pimms (nice!) at a wedding and grimacing over the toasting wine or one cocktail or a glass but that is very very seldom as London-prices are extortionate! One, very very rarely would be enough.
As a Christian too, I do not want to be beholden to anything that would control my behaviour negatively or otherwise and so this is just another reason that I prefer to avoid it.
Furthermore, I am aware of just how much money I save through my not drinking. Not having a drink on those occasions I go out will mean being able to afford something else I want instead. Plus, several friends have told me the wine is what they think increases their waistline. Whether that's true or not, I like to think I am holding off any potential weight-gain.
I am not against other people drinking, that is their business - though as an aside I find the whole 'going out just to get hammered' a little wasteful and pointless. I have known two people I really like die from alcohol poisoning being alcoholics- one was my childhood-next door neighbour- he predeceased his parents- he was such a nice man and it was such a waste. Another was the husband of a friend. I immediately clocked his alcoholism within weeks of getting to know him. He died too, around 3 years after I first met him and I just found it futile that they essentially killed themselves. Two other people (another neighbour) and another friend's husband both have similar alcoholic tendencies- I can see it happening again and that makes me sadder than I can say. When I see alcoholics on the street, homeless or otherwise, decent people who have become prey to a liquid, that really gets to me.
So that's my take on alcohol- something I would rather avoid due to personal preference, financial reasons, experience of others and A bit rambly but tells you my picture.
What about you? What's your take on it?
I thought I'd write a little about my relationship with alcohol. As many of you will have read, or know, or probably don't know, I don't really drink. I'm not a tee-totaller as very occasionally, I will drink something, but largely, I steer clear. This has, in the past, made some people regard me with bafflement and in some cases a little suspicion. I had a boss who really couldn't understand it and told me that people don't trust people who don't drink when they are and that if I just kept drinking, I'd acquire a taste for it. He used to go on and on at me if the subject of alcohol came up.
As a child, my parents drank around me, and it was never taboo, they'd always offer to let us try things. My older sister really liked most things she tried, whereas I would try with a look of abject disgust and then later on, refuse it, knowing that I would not enjoy it.
It wasn't until I was a teenager, that alcopops came out. I tried an orange hooch at a party and quite liked it. I would then have one or two of these at parties or if we went out. However, I'd never have more than two or very occasionally three because it did seem to me that it was a bit of a waste of money (I earnt all my money through working in a chip shop, dog-walking and occasional gigs- I didn't get given any for going out). I wanted to spend my spare money on clothes since I bought those myself mainly and also saved for University. I always hated the idea of having no money so I was determined to save it when I had it. Also, I was always absolutely determined not to appear drunk or as an idiot. Furthermore, the idea of being sick from alcohol was utterly abhorrent for me. I really hated being sick.
When I got to University, again, I earnt all my own money and my student loan was strictly for buying my flutes and eventually my year in Bali. I drank a few drinks at the student union but I tended to find I absolutely hated wine and beer- so bitter and foul (liquid fart if you want me to be totally honest), though I would drink some white wine to be social, and those fruity drinks such as Archers, Bacardi Breezers, Metz and even cider were just too sweet for me, I could only drink a little.
There were two occasions at University where I experienced the nasty side of alcohol. At a party nearing the end of my First year, I drank some Hock wine with my friend and then realising I was a little drunk, I grabbed what I thought was a glass of water of hers and gulped it down, which turned out to be neat Vodka- I was SO ill after that drink and blacked out for much of the evening. A scary experience.
The second occasion was in my third year, I went to the same person's party and was not very well though I didn't drink much. That kind of sealed it for me.
Throughout my study, I would have 1, 2 or 3 drinks when we went out (maybe after a concert, maybe every other week or so) but not always alcohol. Again, I was so aware of the amount of money I had and I loved buying clothes. My Mum couldn't bail me out if I had got into debt, I had to be responsible.
The final nail in my coffin of alcohol-drinking was going to study in Bali. Before I went, I thought about my situation. I was a girl by myself in a foreign country a LONG way from home. I had no idea of what life would be like and I decided it wouldn't be safe for me to drink at all when I was there. I was in a foreign country alone and didn't want any opportunity for not being in control of myself there . And do you know what, I didn't miss it at all. To be fair, all that you could get there cheaply was nasty, yucky Bintang beer (Beer- I detested) and horrid Arak- femented rice drink. I wasn't missing anything. If I had bought imported alcohol on the rare occasions I went out to tourist areas, it would totally mess with my very strict food and drink budget and I valued being able to eat and enjoy my food rather than drinking alcohol just to be social.
When I returned from Bali, I decided there was no point in drinking for me then on. I realised I've never really liked that bitter taste that it has and I could have a lovely tasting alcohol-free drink for cheaper! Why pay more money for something I'm not really fond of just to be 'socially acceptable.' And who cares if people think I was boring, if I can't be myself around people without alcohol, then I'm not sure I want to be around those people. Mind you, even when out, I don't have loads of soft drinks, as again it feels like a waste unless I am actually thirsty. Too much sweet stuff is just too much for me. As I said, I not tee-total, occasionally, I might have a glass of Pimms (nice!) at a wedding and grimacing over the toasting wine or one cocktail or a glass but that is very very seldom as London-prices are extortionate! One, very very rarely would be enough.
As a Christian too, I do not want to be beholden to anything that would control my behaviour negatively or otherwise and so this is just another reason that I prefer to avoid it.
Furthermore, I am aware of just how much money I save through my not drinking. Not having a drink on those occasions I go out will mean being able to afford something else I want instead. Plus, several friends have told me the wine is what they think increases their waistline. Whether that's true or not, I like to think I am holding off any potential weight-gain.
I am not against other people drinking, that is their business - though as an aside I find the whole 'going out just to get hammered' a little wasteful and pointless. I have known two people I really like die from alcohol poisoning being alcoholics- one was my childhood-next door neighbour- he predeceased his parents- he was such a nice man and it was such a waste. Another was the husband of a friend. I immediately clocked his alcoholism within weeks of getting to know him. He died too, around 3 years after I first met him and I just found it futile that they essentially killed themselves. Two other people (another neighbour) and another friend's husband both have similar alcoholic tendencies- I can see it happening again and that makes me sadder than I can say. When I see alcoholics on the street, homeless or otherwise, decent people who have become prey to a liquid, that really gets to me.
So that's my take on alcohol- something I would rather avoid due to personal preference, financial reasons, experience of others and A bit rambly but tells you my picture.
What about you? What's your take on it?