Social Drinking or Not, Who is Having the Most Fun?

Every time I go to the supermarket, I am surprised at the amount of money people seem to spend on alcohol. This must be a million dollar industry, fermenting something natural and then flogging it off at huge prices to us. The bottles probably cost more than the wine; the cans a lot more than the beer. Still, even folks who can barely scrape by on Government benefits spend at least half of it on alcohol, as far as I can see it.

In the past I've tried hard to become a drinker. I have tried everything to get that all desired "rush". But also it looked so sophisticated, having a wine glass with something or the other in your hands at parties. I visioned myself as a real "connoisseur" in the future, knowledgeable in the complicated field of wine-labels. Preferably I would even know the vineyards, and have brilliant conversations about that. How I stayed at so and so vineyard, did a bit of wine- tasting, nibbling on cheese and crackers. Walking around these dew covered grapes, knowing all about it.

But years ago my vision came to an abrupt halt. In Crete I became properly intoxicated and fell asleep, only to be woken up in the hotel room the next morning without properly remembering how I got there. When I tried to get up, I couldn't; there was something tied around my head. "Yep, you got your first hang-over" my rather chirpy husband said. I was very quiet that day. Was this what everybody was raving about? Was this the price I had to pay for being "sophisticated"? My decision was clear, even at that tender age. I stuck to orange juice.

But, it seems, other people are determined to make me into a "social drinker" at all cost.The conversations go like this: "What do you want to drink, I have a lovely bottle of .....wine here" "No, I don't drink, but a glass of orange juice would be nice" "Ah no, we can't have that, you must try this, it has a good bouquet, so soft" "No, thanks, if you don't have orange juice I"ll have a glass of water" and on it goes. Half of the evening is usually spent in the kitchen, in front of the fridge trying to convince people I would like to have a glass of water.

As the party progresses I'm the one having the most fun. I see normally calm and controlled people turning into outgoing jokers, shy folks become downright charmers and outgoing people falling asleep.

After the party I drive home, are stopped by the cops several times and am allowed to drive on. The next morning I'm up and about at my normal hour without a headache, without red eyes and without hanging over the toilet bowl half of the night. I stick to water.