During the past few months, I’ve been furiously writing and trying to get all the requirements for my PhD out of the way. In that time, I’ve probably imbibed about 10 gallons of wine – most of which was consumed a glass or two at a time. Lately, though, alcohol and I have been not getting along. Our friendship, I think, has just about run its natural course.
I first had a beer at age 18, at a keg party, and I hated the taste of it. In fact, I tried different kinds of alcoholic beverages and hated every single one of them. Like coffee, I think that it’s an acquired taste. The tastes of adulthood – or at least that was how I conceptualized it back then. At 18, it seemed important to ‘act’ like an ‘adult’ – whatever that meant. Now, I still feel like I’m acting like an adult most of the time, but I realize that a good performance has nothing to do with beverages.
I think that, deep down, you probably know you have a small problem if you have a drink or two every night “to relax”. Moderate drinking is medically defined as one serving of alcohol per night for men. Any more than that and you would be a ‘heavy drinker’. Yikes. Light drinkers have one to two servings per week, just for comparison’s sake.
Last night was a friend’s birthday party. There was wine everywhere, and I knew that I probably shouldn’t drink anything, but when she offered, I immediately caved in to peer pressure. Apparently, peer pressure extends well beyond the cut-off of high school. I drank one glass, then poured myself another small glass. By the end, I think I had about four or five glasses of wine.
I went home, managed to write from midnight until 2am, and then had a shitty night’s sleep. I always have a shitty night’s sleep when I drink more than a glass of anything alcoholic. And as I tossed and turned, at some point in the middle of the night, I thought to myself: “I’m an asshole.” I simply cannot drink anymore. My body does not like it, and I do not like it when my body revolts.
My dad was a functioning alcoholic. Kept a steady job, got promotions, paid his bills. But, also, drank every night (2, 3 or more whiskey on the rocks). And, occasionally (it was more than I would like to admit, anyway), kept me up until 3, 4, or 5am drinking and telling me stories. Or yelling. There was always a fair share of yelling.
My mom never drank. When she did, I hated it. She would only have a glass or two on holidays, but it always went straight to her head. She was a giggler, and it weirded me out. It just didn’t seem like my mom anymore, you know?
So, I have no idea why I ever thought it was a good idea to drink. Ever.
Here are some statistics from Gallup to sober you up:
1. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines “excessive drinking” as an average of more than one drink per day for women, and an average of more than two drinks per day for men.” (at this rate, I am excessive)
2. “Nearly a third (32%) of Americans say that drinking has been a cause of trouble in their families. Interestingly, women (who are less likely than men to drink and to report drinking too much) are slightly more likely than men to report that drinking has been a problem in their families (35% compared with 29%).”
3. “There were nearly 20,000 alcohol-induced deaths in 2001, the last year for which data are available from the National Center for Health Statistics. And these numbers do not include deaths resulting from unintentional injuries or homicides, many of which may indirectly be related to alcohol use.”
4. “The 2006 poll showed 71% of American drinkers said they had an alcoholic drink in the last week, which is significantly higher than the 54% who said the same in 1996.”
5. “Also on the rise is the number of drinks Americans are drinking. The poll shows those who drink alcohol report drinking an average of 4.5 drinks per week, compared with 2.8 in 1996. “
Are we stressed out? Working too much?
I’d love to see the numbers now, in the midst of the worst economic crisis to hit the U.S. in decades. I’m betting that the numbers for alcohol consumption are up (and, now that I think of it, I’m betting that gambling rates are up, too).
I’m cutting myself off. From now on, I’m going to try to be one of the 37% of Americans who completely abstain from drinking. I’m tired of being in the other camp.
Dearest Alcohol-is-not-my-friend:
You my dear, are one extremely smart individual !!
And this article you’ve written, please ensure it stays out there !
At the present time, there are five extremely common, well-known, health afflictions, solely caused by moderate drinking ! Grand-Mal Seizures, Progressive Blindness, Progressive Deafness, Corroded Livers and Severe Heart Attacks. None of these have any cures, just permenant noose’s around any decent persons neck ! In addition to the fact that all of these mostly hit, well educated, career orientated, good holesome family men & women alike !!!
Many of us have been & still are attempting to convince our Canadian Gov’t to pass legislation for mandatory Health Warning Labels on all liquor containers.
Its too late to save us old farts…………..But our youth are now following in our filthy footsteps, which could result in their health being damaged as well ! If that happens, who’s going to take over, all our many professions, once we’ve been stashed in Nursing Homes, being spoon fed & diaperred ?
Good Work !
Don’t know who you are, but your parents should be very very proud of you !!
God Bless & take care !
/sjg
Call it the remorse you feel after having had one or two too many. I feel like crap after four or five glasses of wine, too, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop enjoying a glass or two with dinner and an early evening’s glow. There’s a basic human need to alter reality from time to time with whatever suits you – be it drinkable, smokeable, whatever – and as long as you’re doing that in moderation, you should enjoy yourself.
Good Flipping Morning Ian: It is 6:55 am over here in BC Canada. Why am I up so early you might ask ? Well, lets see…………..oh ya…….another freaking Doctors appointment also at the crack of dawn………one of many, along with a multitude of snotty tests, why ? Oh ya, again…………because in my younger years, as one of the top notch Retail Lenders, knowing that when your Boss asks/tells you to go out for lunch with him/her (which always included a couple of good stiff drinks), along with making your monthly quota, you could ensure you’d get a good raise/promotion at the end of the year. Now……..what were we talking about….? Right, Doctors appointments, and why…………………I was hit with one of those five health afflictions, Grand-Mal Seizures, in my mid 40’s !! So they might as well have a sleeping bag & tent for me in the Doctors/Medical Clinic…………………………as I’m always there, it seems !
Yes………I felt the exact same way as you………..everything in moderation ! If I’m never drunk, or passing out, maintained excellent career, clean drivers license, spotless home/garden, good friends/family…………….what in the world is wrong with alcohol ?!?
Does this answer your question somewhat ?
Take care Ian…………………and please don’t trust your fait to alcohol…………or, you might end up like me……..or, my late husband, watching down from Glory above !
God Bless.
I’m really sorry to hear of your health afflictions, but unless the doctor has made a direct diagonis, how are you to ascertain that they can be directly pinpointed to alcohol?
I would never counsel anyone to trust their fate to alcohol, but I would say that enjoying a drink now and then is OK. I have about one a day, which isn’t a lot.
Dear Ian: Here in Canada, when Graduate Doctors are given their license to practice, one of the many terms/conditions laid out, is that they are not to recommend non-alcohol consumption, in any way shape or form ! We were not told outright, that it was the cause of our illness’s, no……….but doing massive amount of research & speaking with Doctor’s who were mostly not here in Canada, except for one, who must remain unidentified, 1-2 per week is the only safe amount, and even that, could depend on heritage. I’ve a cousin who’s daughter was born with Grand-Mal Sezures, while her parents have never drunk at all, her Dad was adopted from birth, and with some investigation, he discovered that his biological mother drank. And its the same case with myself & my late husband, except, we picked up the nasty love of it ! So there’s no ryme or reason, really, to this at all !
Just be really flipping careful Ian……….!! I’ve never been more serious in my life !!
It literally destroyed our lives, as we had enjoyed them ! As I’ve said before, there’s no warning, just all of a sudden it strikes, with no intention of ever leaving !
Please take care !
God Bless,
Sheila