Learn // Life

Take a page out of my advice book. Contemplate on it for it might help you one day. For like the red rose, beauty will come blossoming at a certain time in life.

10 // 11 // 04 - Alcoholism

'Know your limits and try and stay smart okay?'

The bottled neck fiend called booze has been a lingering demon that has overshadowed my life so far. Now before you roll your eyes, I am not an alcoholic nor will I say 'don't drink booze kids' because that's not how life should be. A simple order for a stop for booze is simply surreal and this was historically evident with the 'Prohibition' years in 1920s America. What I am going to say is based on a small bit of my experience and what I know.

'Life is full of choices, just like the world is full of roads to take. Life is just another story and it's your role to play it out'

So what is my relation with alcohol?

I started to drink moderately about a year ago, just before the end of the year with my university buddies. You might say I was a newbie at it, but being an observer, watching my other friends drink themselves silly whilst I was content with my orange juice; you tend to pick up a lot on the way. Well…I did anyway; I learn so many things just by watching.

I've drunk the occasionally beforehand as well on occasions with the traditional bubbly champagne, but not to the point of extreme drinking.

As I watched one of my friend's drinking grew worse, so was my concern for him. I couldn't quite understand what makes a person so addicted to the horrible drink that I saw all these years. All I could feel for him was my kind of pain as I watched him drink away, and unconsciously hurting others under the influence of alcohol. Then he finally ended up in hospital and the doctors say that he's got to stop drinking in a firm manner or else he would die.

'A simple order for a stop for booze is simply surreal'

It's not as simple as you think. I think I'm gifted enough to not drink when I don't need it, thus alcohol does not run my life, but I'm fully aware that not everyone have the willpower to do so, so they need the support they can get from people like me. With alcoholism addictions, it might take months, years or the rest of your life to stop drinking a heavy amount but this is the path you choose and you must walk it.

I think that's why I don't drink as much as I used to. I mean, I have not drunk in months now, which is good even under the student life pressure that is thrown at me. I also know that my work is more of a priority than the social life. However, I also know that one cannot work 24 // 7 so I have a lot of time to do some graphic designing and creating my site that you see before you.

Alcohol is supposed to an anti-depressant. It does make you happy and giddy, given the right amount but it is short-lived, thus you may find yourself all moody and in anguish afterwards, which is why you want more of it because you want to remain in that giddy fun mood. Booze is also a deadly weapon in retrospect, either through its intoxication or through pressure. Now when I started to drink, I soon realised that I was no mild chick. I did pick up a fair bit from my previous friends to know which is which. So I started with a pint of Carling before I jumped to the Stella Artois which was introduced to me by a friend of mine at university. The guys thought I was hardcore and I didn't mind their admiration for my drinking ability, though in truth it was something I was not proud of.

One of my buddies at university was another drinking addict, and my fears were being replayed once more. He drank quite a fair bit too on a regular basis, whilst I would drink at least once a week. I've told him many times to cut down on the drinking, but he never did. It's hard to tell when it was his choice…that was the problem.

Then, it came to a point when I started to drink a little more than usual. You be amazed what happens in a club. Strangers just start to talk to you…too friendly like and ask you to dance. Luckily, I wasn't fully intoxicated because I still keep envisaging my memories which deter me from drinking too much. When I went to the bar, a guy…really ugly looking goes up to me and says,

'Hey girl, Can I buy you a drink?'

Had I've been completely hammered to the brain, I might have said yes but because of my twisted memories and the constant advice that my parents and teachers gave me. I've gave a firm no to the man whilst I've ordered my drinks for my friends and myself. The man kept talking to me anyway. I kept wincing, hoping I can just get my drinks and return to my buddies. When I did get my drinks, I do stare at it constantly, not because it was a lovely drink…here are a few reasons why.

  • A stranger who offers you a drink might be offering out of kindness but never assume it is always the case. Usually a person who offers, always have a hidden agenda to it. However, if you are going to accept his//her offer then KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE DRINK. If you refuse the drink, just say it in a polite manner and be on your way
  • Yes, KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE DRINK. No matter what happens because there is always a chance that someone might 'spike' yours or your friends drink.

    So what is exactly this 'spiking' business?

    In legal terms it is 'The unlawful administration of a mind altering substance into another person's drink'
    Now what this means is that anyone who places a mind altering drug or asking for a double shot instead of a single without gaining the consent of the person who you are buying the drink for, is in fact illegal.

    It is this kind of thing that leads to rapes, thus you must always be careful when you're out trying to have a good time. I'm not saying, 'don't go out to avoid these kinds of horrible incidents' because you would deprive yourself of your choices in life. I'm saying, just keeps your wits about you.

    If you know your limits to how much you can drink, then you can drink and have a good time. Alternatively, you don't need to drink and have a good time as well. The choice is yours to make. Don't let peer pressure get the better of you and stay smart when you're out there because there are always drunken scums out there who want to make life worse for you.

    ~ Pancakes
    10 // 11 // 04