Firstly, let me preface everything i'm about to say with the fact today will be my 7th day off alcohol. Addtionally, i've been trying to write this post for 7 days.
Since entering this new years resolution / life decision of sorts (3 months dry for those at the back), more than a couple of people have remarked that there is the potential that some people I know have never actually seen me sober. Just to clarify, that is not potential and it is not some. There are very definitely many people who have never seen me in any other state but drinking or en route to drinking. This is not designed to be an emotional or depressing fact, it is what it is and I dare say there are a lot of people out there who, if they thought about it honestly, would say the same.
Since my youth, I've always had a somewhat interesting relationship with the bottle. I wouldn't necessarily say damaging (although there were definitely times when it was), rather, I've just always had an oversized healthy appreciation for it (thanks mum!).
Right now, I would definitely call myself a social drinker (albeit a VERY social one)and the reasons behind social binge drinking have always fascinated me. We often talk about health, standard drinks, joke about kidneys and livers, transplants and ice baths and swap war stories of near death and the pumping of stomachs. Ironically, most of this is usually done over a cold one at the local or a cocktail or champagne at your favourite bar. We also kick around the term 'alcoholic' like its a badge of honour. However we very rarely talk about how or why. Please note, I say this not from a position of judgement at all (lest I need judge each of my former selves, :P), it is simply of mere observation.
This brings me to my next question: what actually constitutes an alcoholic? I have argued this at length with a great number of people in my life. I have heard everything from, 'anyone who drinks in the morning' to 'an alcoholic is someone who drinks to the detriment of their own finances' amongst a plethora of other reasonings. But to this I say, what about the shift workers, the once-weekly bingers and what to those who can afford it? Since when was affordability a measure of addiction? Dictionary.com (AKA The Bible) defines an alcoholic (amongst other things) as a person who is addicted to intoxicating drinks. Dependency and addiction are definitely the safest arguments i've heard so far but even that is fraught. For example, I once knew a guy who couldn't start his day without three shots of whisky, neat. Dependent, yes. Addicted, yes. Alcoholic, most would say without question. Problem was that was the only drinking he did, ie. if you erased the hours between 7-8am, he was an utter and complete teetotaller. He just needed his whisky in the morn'. He could afford and it never affected anyone else in a social context adversely. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.
I am perfectly willing to admit the primary motivation for my 'anti-booze' kick was monetary. While I certainly don't think my health is going to suffer for the fact i'm doing it, i'm entirely unsure of my commitment to it if my back pocket wasn't also feeling relief from the sting. As such, I think all of my comments here are merely me letting my brain run, rather than any sort of general avowal to give up the booze on a more permanent basis. I also seek not to deride alcohol or anyone who has suffered or is suffering the effects of alcoholism in any way. I just find it interesting that for a product that is so over saturated in society we rarely talk about the negative effects, or the fine line a fair percentage of us are treading.
So why this rant? Well, I spent the better part of 7 days trying to come up with a purpose or an overall question or even just a justification for wasting my time and others in investing in this post. Its taken me till now to realise I didn't need one.
Drinking is / was / will always be a big part of my life. My task this year was to spend more time looking at each of the components that make up the whole. So here itis, my perspective, on day 7 of shininess, with the glimmer of a sober #shtbox in my eye. Dear readers, I encourage you all to share yours.
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5 comments:
well personally I'd say you're an alcoholic if you get withdrawal when you stop. You haven't mentioned a bout of the horrors, so I figure you weren't physically addicted. Mental addiction is another thing, and harder to define, but you seem like you're doing pretty good on that front as well.
Alcohol withdrawal can be really dangerous, even fatal. So actually it's a really good thing you're not an alcoholic or this past week of cold turkey could have killed you.
Hey Dan, thanks for the comment love. I have been physically addicted in the past, know the horrors all too well, but I didn't think that was the point of the post. The past is the past and as you mention, its the mental realm which interests me more. On both the addiction and quitting sides of the coin.
I'm kind of one of those people thats addicted to bingeing on bingeing so cold turkey has always been my thing and there have been weeks that have very nearly killed me. Thankfully this week's been quite breezy in comparison (so far at least, :P).
no one could ever say you're not hard core.
Interesting post I have often pondered the making of an alcoholic. Drinking in the morning I don't consider a down fall after working 8 years in the hospitality drinking in the morning has never been a big thing and Thomas Jefferson is said to have drank a tankard of ale upon waking up and he achieved a lot.
The monetary side of it has never been a big thing as I brew, but then I have often considered that the first thing an addict will protect is their supply.
I have to agree with Dan that with booze I consider the DT's to signify alcoholism its a real eye opener and unlike most drug withdrawals carries a significant mortality rate.
I suppose I've always seen it as a question of how much of your life do you have to bend around your passion for booze? If you simply cannot function with out a hit of something, you're an addict. If you have to suddenly change your priorities, renegue on responsibilities and duties or even risk your health and safety for a hit of something, yeah, you're deffo an addict.
My tuppence at any rate :)
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