I work in a pub. It might seem strange, but it gives me a good fix of that social world without having to get pissed. The problem is that everyone else is getting drunk. There is nobody there for the good of their health. They are there to meet some very basic requirements – companionship and booze. This is a very solid part of peoples day to day life. It smoothes over the edges and makes problems disappear. The interaction between friends who are merry is a joy to behold. I do feel that serious deadly sin “Envy” when I see people out on the beer enjoying themselves. It makes me remember the good old days….
Drinking
Have you got a drinking problem?
When I was in College some twelve years ago, I stumbled along the following twelve questions, which are posted on the Alcoholics Anonymous website. Now, at the time I was in full drinking and party mode. I would drink pretty much every night of the week, as well as smoking plenty of hash and popping ecstasy pills/yokes/bangers at the weekend. There was never a question in my mind as to whether I had a problem or not – I was sure that I was good. I was still playing football at a high level and studying a pretty heavy degree. I was in good spirits most of the time and never had any trouble with the ladies. When I answered these questions back then I honestly answered ten out of twelve as yes. For me this meant only one thing – that Alcoholics Anonymous were seriously wrong when they were vetting who had a problem and who didn’t.
The World According to Beer
I think it is only fair to speak on behalf of everyone who has ever had a problem with giving up the drink. It is my right. I will use this right.
People have this commonly held conception that you are responsible for your actions. Of course you are!! Otherwise you could be controlled from afar and manipulated into doing things for others without ever knowing. You could be coerced into buying things you never wanted but suddenly own three different colours of. If we did not have control over ourselves, we could find ourselves believing everything the politicians and oil companies tell us, living a life of ease and comfort.
The Distraction
It has been a long week since I posted the interview with Des Bishop. I plan on getting as many informed reformed famous people as possible to talk to me about the drink, and am working away on it behind the scenes. Watch this space for some other “celebs” who will share real life battles with the booze with us. It is reassuring for me to know that getting messed up on drink happens to so many people from all walks of life.
I went to see Des at his gig here in Sydney and was really impressed. Very funny. He has a good gag about drinking where he talks about the symptoms of alcoholism…..
What about the pub?
Now, if you have come to this website and are trying to give up drinking, one of the first pieces of advice I would have for you is DON’T GO TO THE PUB.
If you have decided that you want to cut down, reduce or eliminate your alcohol intake, then the simple first step is this – NO PUB
It seems simple. I know lots of people like me who think they need to change their alcohol habits, but who don’t believe they are alcoholics. My life gets messy with drinking, mistakes are made and I always regret things afterwards. I also get unfit and lazy. But, I don’t believe I am an alcoholic. Not in the terms the AA would have you believe.
Why do we love so much the drink?
I’m sitting here in Sydney domestic airport waiting for a cheapo flight to Melbourne courtesy of Tiger, and I’m pondering the nature of the Irish mentality towards drinking. We love to drink. We love to go and get sozzled and sizzled and have a good messy time. In our teens and twenties the average Irish person binge drinks at least twice a week. I know that having over six standard drinks a night is considered binge drinking, but we should be cognisant of the fact that it is only certain cultures that really drink hard.