Sunday 15 April 2012

The Demon Drink

I’m sure we all have cringe worthy embarrassing moments tucked away in a box, bolted down and buried under 3000 tonnes of rubble that we don’t ever wish to be reminded of. Usually, I’m guessing these may have happened when we were younger, lets say inexperienced and perhaps as a result of “encouragement” from so called friends or more likely heavily influenced by alcohol.

I was reminded of one of mine the other night, which involved me stripping off in my flat after inviting some friends round after the pub closed. I obviously would not have done this had I not been very drunk. To make matters worse I passed out sometime later and woke up in the morning with absolutely no recollection and unable to find any of my clothes.
I sat puzzling for a while, checked the washing machine, and checked the laundry basket. Nothing. When the others started to wake up, they were all laughing at me and said that I had stripped off on the way home and had been running up and down the street naked. Actually, I hadn’t and they had hidden my clothes for a laugh but they didn’t tell me until later that day. I decided it was probably time to start drinking less at that point. On the positive side, at least they didn’t shave my eyebrows, there was no tiger in the bathroom and I didn’t wake up with a lady of ill repute. Although there were a few other occasions where that may have happened.

Another one I really cringe at was when a group of us were out all day one Sunday and by early evening I was worse for wear. I went on to confess my undying lust for a friends sister in front of everyone, including her and it didn’t go down well at all. It was really one of that “oh no he didn’t” moments and I really wished I hadn’t with retrospect.
One thing that struck me as I got older was actually how many units of alcohol are in drinks. I didn’t think about this when I was young. I just drank without any thought to what I was consuming. It’s only now that I fully appreciate that drinking seven pints of lager, six bottles of lager and a half a dozen vodka’s is more than enough to floor an elephant, and not particularly wise either.

I also didn’t fully understand that drinking different things was like a cocktail of chemicals waiting to unhinge you. Hence the time I once drank lager along with wine chasers. Absolutely do not do this under any circumstances. I think it took me some time to crawl sideways home after that one. Don’t mix your drinks, that’s good advice.
Of course, different brands of the same drink can also range in potency. When I was first introduced to Stella Artois, I thought it was beautifully smooth and had about seven pints one night. I couldn’t get up the next day. I thought I’d been run over by a truck. It wasn’t until a couple of years later that I learned that there are three units of alcohol in one pint of Stella.

Similarly, red wine is an accident waiting to happen if you have too much. When you are out having dinner it is very easy to consume several glasses of wine over an hour and a half and fail to realise you’ve just polished off close to nine units of alcohol – and the night is still young and full of further temptations to finish you off.
These days and in fact for the last twelve years or so, I drink far more responsibly than before. My “Withnail and I” days are most definitely over, however I still like a beer and particularly enjoy red wine….no longer at the same time of course.

8 comments:

  1. Ah yes. Been there. I once woke up in an empty paddling pool with a mouthful of grass cuttings the morning after a bottle of tequila - straight. I also woke up one morning with scaffolding pipe work on my arms. Still don't know how that happened.

    I now have 1 drink max as any more than that makes me want to throw up!

    Love the Stella description tho!

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    1. Now That's what I'm talking about ! Scaffold poles though ? Lol ;-) thanks for confessing !

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  2. Even tho I'm a woman I've had many moments - several years in the City can do that for anyone! It's easy to be blase. I think posts like these are important, informative and very worthwhile. Thank you for writing it!

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    1. I'm sure there are plenty women out there in the same position ;-) the effect of alcohol is blatantly indiscriminate, as is the accompanying shame and embaressment lol
      thanks for commenting.

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  3. POh no - they are too numerous to mention, and never lurking too far from the surface...I once woke up with a disfiguring red weal across my throat. No sign of psycho serial killer in the flat - and then I remembered that I'd put my chin on the top of the chip counter on my way home and burnt myself... In fact I have systematically managed to eliminate most forms of alcohol from my diet due to over consumption at one time or another. Fortunately I am still left with gin and white wine.

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  4. Hello, here from the blog party! I never thought about just how much alcohol I could consume. I can't drink like I use to. Now-a-days I'd rather have one good-tasting drink and be done. That's definitely a change from years ago!

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    1. Quality over quantity ! Thanks for stopping by ;-)

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