There are three essential qualities of a medicine:
- It tastes bad.
- It is expensive.
- It cures a problem.
I’m not a doctor, so these are just coming off the top of my head.
With these facts, I have come to a conclusion (as circular as it is) that alcohol is medicinal for me.
I’ve never liked the taste of alcohol, so I don’t drink it. And on a price comparison, why would I spend a lot of money for something I don’t like when there are much cheaper alternatives that I will enjoy. But the fact remains that I am uptight in social gatherings, especially when I don’t know everybody. When I was in Jamaica where the alcohol was free, I forced myself to drink it, and it was a very good social lubricant.
I should drink more in Edmonton if I’m socializing. But I’m fundamentally cheap and don’t want to pay inflated bar prices. Plus, I don’t want to drink and drive.
Last Saturday I went to a club party in my neighbourhood. This gave me an opportunity to experiment. The event, wasn’t just in my neighbourhood, but across the street from where I live. (Okay, kitty-corner, but the former sounds cooler.) Since I have insane amounts of alcohol in my home for my friends who do drink, it looked like an excellent time to experiment. I could “tank up” before hand. I didn’t have to pay “inflated bar prices” because I could always leave the party, cross the street, and then come back. (The huge lineup at the bathroom didn’t bother me either.)
The difference was considerable. A friend noted how much more extrovertive I was. I had a good time and talked to people I didn’t know. I felt comfortable. I was, dare I say, popular! (Or at least in my own imagination.) I even felt confident enough to ask a pretty girl for her phone number.
Social drunk?
I know there are people who will say I shouldn’t drink (I’m looking at you S) but the results are fairly encouraging.