High Spirits

Yes, I'm going to talk about alcohol and no I'm not going to apologise for the clichéd title. Moving on then swiftly to the point of this post.

A question I'm invariably asked by non-drinkers is "Why do you drink?". I can see where they're coming from on this one. Let's see... there are no obvious health benefits, it costs quite a bit more than a soft drink, it causes intoxication and lose of motor response and most of the stuff just tastes weird. I mean, beer is bitter, vodka is just concentrated alcohol and tastes like it too, whiskey is like piss unless you're drinking scotch, etc. So what's the deal with it?

I dunno about others, but I'm a social drinker. That is, I drink only when I have company, especially if it's company I like. I find its inhibition shedding effects a great conversation starter (an important detail for an introvert like me) and a profoundly liberating experience at that.

More than that I just love the way that once a conversation has been started, it starts gaining life of its own, writhing, twisting and jumping through various paradoxes, loopholes, digresses, points and counter-points, seamlessly weaving tales of bravura, conflict, hilarity, sadness and wit.

I have lost track of the number of conversations I've had with friends and family members on topics as such diverse as religion, spirituality, science, fiction, music, death, life, books, politics, office, work, evolution, God, physics, biology, maths, food, women (!!!), movies, people, places, et al. And it's perfectly acceptable to talk about the same old things again. It NEVER gets old because no two discussions are exactly the same!

Sure, there are times when you'd rather kick back, close your eyes and let some good music possess your soul. But nothing beats having a bunch of close friends around a table, a bottle full of your favourite alcoholic poison, and a raging discussion on why the existence of the universe proves or disproves the existence of God, or a cheerful reminiscence of the "good ol' days" without feeling like an old git.

Don't believe me? Well, here, have a couple of beers and we'll try that again, eh!