4/17/2006

Liquor in you

Filed under: — Aprille @ 4:23 pm

I just read an interesting article about the idea of scientifically isolating the pleasure-inducing aspects of alcohol while eliminating the less pleasant effects, such as loss of coordination and hangovers. Reading that made me think about my own alcohol consumption and the motivations behind it.

I’d say 95% of my drinking is food-centric. That makes it sound like a lot more than it is; I have maybe 3 drinks a week, and that’s including the two I’ve been having at wine class. On average, I probably have four drinks a month. Anyway, when I do drink, it’s almost always wine with dinner or the occasional margarita with Mexican food. Ever-so-rarely, I’ll have a stressful day at work and grab a beer out of the fridge or whip myself up a cocktail, and now and then I’ll go out for drinks with friends. Really, though, I drink when it complements my food and not many other times. I do usually get a buzz, but that’s more a statement on my lightweight status than my lushitude.

I wonder, is that how most people’s alcohol consumption works? I so rarely drink to the point where falling down or hangovers are an issue that the idea doesn’t hold a lot of appeal for me. On the other hand, I do suffer from social awkwardness, so if I could pop a pill and feel more sociable, that might be cool. It seems like it could reduce a host of drinking-related dangers, like drunk driving, date rape, cirrhosis of the liver, and the delusion of being a talented dancer.  I don’t see it being very useful for me, though, since I mostly drink alcoholic beverages because they suit the food I’m eating, not for the side effects.

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