I read with great interest this article by Jill Stark, health writer apparently, who also liked a tipple far too much from the sounds of things. She went a year without alcohol, and labelled it a "declaration of war"
Well, she didn't actually, but she said it was almost like declaring war.
Why is this?
Why are teetotallers expected to toe the line with the drinking fraternity and not the other way around?
My dad is a teetotaller, only because he doesn't like the taste of the stuff. His doctor once prescribed him a "small glass of red wine" to deal with a heart condition, and thought that news would be greeted with shouts of joy. Instead, dad said "is there something else I can take?"
He now has 2 small pieces of good quality dark chocolate a night, and is happy as Larry.
My uncle, also a teetotaller, made this wry observation when asked once too often "why not join us in a wine?", "Why not join me in an orange juice?"
Why not, indeed.
I think a lot about my relationship with alcohol. I think it's a lot better than it used to be. I don't use it as a crutch or as social lubricant. But I often wonder why I drink at all? It's part taste, but also part cultural.
When I am out with friends, it seems downright unsociable not to partake in a glass of wine. At a cocktail bar for a friend's birthday? I would feel uncomfortable ordering a Shirley Temple or any other variety of non-alcoholic beverage.
When alone at home, I will often have a glass (or two) with dinner just to make it feel more like an occasion than just fuelling my body.
I wonder if I would be able to do a year without alcohol.
Could you?
Well, she didn't actually, but she said it was almost like declaring war.
Why is this?
Why are teetotallers expected to toe the line with the drinking fraternity and not the other way around?
My dad is a teetotaller, only because he doesn't like the taste of the stuff. His doctor once prescribed him a "small glass of red wine" to deal with a heart condition, and thought that news would be greeted with shouts of joy. Instead, dad said "is there something else I can take?"
He now has 2 small pieces of good quality dark chocolate a night, and is happy as Larry.
My uncle, also a teetotaller, made this wry observation when asked once too often "why not join us in a wine?", "Why not join me in an orange juice?"
Why not, indeed.
I think a lot about my relationship with alcohol. I think it's a lot better than it used to be. I don't use it as a crutch or as social lubricant. But I often wonder why I drink at all? It's part taste, but also part cultural.
When I am out with friends, it seems downright unsociable not to partake in a glass of wine. At a cocktail bar for a friend's birthday? I would feel uncomfortable ordering a Shirley Temple or any other variety of non-alcoholic beverage.
When alone at home, I will often have a glass (or two) with dinner just to make it feel more like an occasion than just fuelling my body.
I wonder if I would be able to do a year without alcohol.
Could you?
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