Sunday, March 10, 2013

Alcohol; the IT factor



The recent Big Match hype saw the effects of the vile broth to the maximum. I'm not encouraging anyone to drink nor am I advising anyone not to. In a situation when sports and testosterone levels collide, the first thing I was warned was to stay away from the drunkards!

Which I did. For the most part. Except for the few drunk black and blue fellows I met in the bus who were yelling “ api paradunata kamak ne umbala peradune Pol Josa ta” when passing bamba and one of whom had the nerve to poke me and ask if I was supporting such and such a school simply because I was wearing a yellow T shirt to which I gave “da faq is wrong witchyu boy” look making him promptly retreat apologetically. Suffice to say, I managed to dodge the dangerous drunkards as a whole with no lasting damage. *victory jig*

Most think they all dat when the have a few glasses in them, don’t they? In previous match scenarios I have been pounced upon by uncles who (probably have two kids my age at home) after they had had a few. [ I was of course saved by my friend who at that particular moment risked his own jaw being black and blue and diverted the drunkards attention towards him and ran for it!]

I for one am pleased to affirm that I am blessed to be  acquainted with men who drink and yet still have their wits about them and men who in principal don’t drink at all not for various reasons. Let me take a moment to congratulate and admire them * I stand up for you, sirs * bravo! *applaud*  ^_^b

Its not just now and today. But then and forever. Women and Wine have been the two things the ancient kings of time past have constantly fought for, destroyed nations to get at, conquered land to exploit and used as weapons against the natives in battle. My focus today is the latter.  

History of alcohol consumption in Sri Lanka

In 1505, when our good friends the ‘prutugeesi karayo’  dropped by they came, they saw, they said “hey you Sinhalese low lives who live peacefully abiding by the 5 precepts of Lord Buddha, meet our best friend- Wine” And best friends we were since then. While the Dutch were going around pouring wine in our systems, the British gave license to open taverns sealing the pact. There was even Acts that promoted drinking, “Toddy Act of 1912”.  (Much like the 50% off sale at leading textiles stores that convert the non-shopaholic, TO a shopaholics.) 

 
Coming back to modern times. ( and numbers and statics which I don’t like to confuse you or myself with)
                                               
Sri Lanka has an extremely high per-capita consumption for alcohol – 7.4 litres for recorded or licit alcohol. Research by Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) shows that 60% of males consume alcohol with an increasing number of women.  

For those of you who just skipped the statics (like I usually do) let me sum it up. We are a nation of boozers! Any sporting event, get together, wedding, party will vouch for that.

On the brighter side, those who learn Economics will agree when I say that alcohol and tobacco in our island nation is one of the highest contributors to our GDP  so economically speaking, consuming alcohol and tobacco is “pocket ekata waasi” so to speak ( mentioning of the alcohol and tobacco inflicted injuries and health issues leading up to high medical bills of a state financed health services and mental stress of beaten up house wives and the mothers of the youth who are equally torn and battered kept aside…)



The question of why ?

It doesn’t even taste good
True enough. Hard liquor tastes like boomi thel. Not that I’ve ever tasted boomi thel but it sure the heck smells like it. I can relate to going crazy over ice cream or chocolate, but boomi thel? come on..
                                                                                                                                          
Love and booze don’t come cheap

Heck yes. Nowadays for anyone to get their grubby hands on a bottle of whichever it is, booze costs an arm, leg and a kidney. Is it worth it? ( I see some of you nodding away with sly smiles thinking “yes it is”)

Expectation vs reality

Even if the numbers don’t talk, I'm sure the people who drink will. When asked as to why people drink,  the answer being as a stress reliever was very rare. Urban youth, however stressful they are have come to realize that that is a pathetic answer and will only portray them weak and ill minded. Sure they might actually drink because they have problems hence defining “alcoholics” but they won’t admit it. This article does not focus on the alcoholics but of the other type. Those who drink it for the ‘aathal’ it creates.  

Honestly, ( I dare you to disagree) the main reason for the locals and foreign dwellers alike to choose alcohol are to be able to be happy and have fun with friends and relax. Is alcohol a magical potion that makes you have more fun? The science behind it begs to differ. Fact is alcohol, tobacco or nay other drug, are all depressants.  Fraid so, mate. That stuff we think make us cool does the opposite.

In reality, there is actually no medical proof that alcohol alone can create all the emotions and behaviors that people feel when they are drunk.

It is actually the expectations of feeling exhilarated, limitless, sad, relaxed or more social that will decide if the feeling of intoxication occurs.

That means that feeling high is first and foremost a social construction and dependent on the circumstances. Simply, ask one of those ‘aathal’ seekers to drink alone. * gives the ‘told ya’ look* 


“You think therefore you are”

It is as good as ever a motivational quote in most occasions but when it comes to alcohol, “Changed expectations give changed experiences”. That means that the people (in conducted blind test) who think they are drinking alcohol-free drinks are having a boring time even though there is alcohol in the drinks they are served. Those who believe they are drinking alcohol experience a drunk feeling despite the fact that they have been drinking alcohol-free drinks.

People do not become drunk on alcohol – they become drunk on the expectation.

Which is kinda awkward and lame to tell you the least.  

True enough effects of alcohol does create a sense of numbness apart from the general tripping and dropping things that most expect but the vomiting and slurred speech aren’t quite that appealing. 

The center of attention
How many times have you walked away from a gathering or a party simply because they did not serve booze? For many people alcohol plays an important role in social life irrespective the fact that they consume or not. Alcohol has become the life of a celebration and this is the norm passed to the younger generation.
Hosts make it a priority to have alcohol in the agenda whether it be a wedding, funeral, party or general gathering. Sometimes not only because they want to but because they are being pressurized to stick to the common misconception that “alcohol is fun”. Thanks to this delusion, people tend to falsely believe alcohol should be the center of attention of a celebration not the real cause that calls for a celebration.

Blame it on the booze

Even with the uncles scenario mentioned above and the mild blue and black incident, I'm wondering if they would have had the courage to that without the broth in them? I doubt it entirely.

I even came across an incident when a drunk girl had in her state of lost senses, ventured out to first base with a mate of mine who she hardly knew. just fyi. So its not only men who go a little around the cuckoo.

Research shows that a big part of the experience of alcohol intoxication is not due to the drug itself but  because of our expectations together with the presence of our friends and the general atmosphere.
Alcohol is given a strong symbolic value. Many fondle with the idea of alcohol making them a little braver, crazier, relaxed or more honest. Alcohol is used as an excuse for actions that are not acceptable under other circumstances; dancing, provocative behavior, weird talk and many other forms of behavior usually not done in good sense. All of a sudden there is an excuse to fail or succeed. You can get away with almost anything as long as there are people around to say “Well, s/he was so drunk”.
(not so for the women folk however. As per Sri Lanka law a woman who has consumed alcohol or in possession of alcohol can be raped or molested without the culprit (who may or may not be a drunk) going to jail for his crimes. Because apparently a woman who is with drunk deserves what she gets. * shows the finger at the authority*
And since we are in the topic of women and wine, let me just fyi say that the new laws in this country now prohibit a female unaccompanied by a male from buying alcohol at a liquor store. Whereas it should be the other way around. Is it the women who buys liquor, who beat their husbands and children to a pulp yelling god knows filth after they are strut into the house at 2 am in the morning? doubt that.
Something wong in this set up. Something very wrong.
Aaand in conclusion…….

Once again, just to make things clear. I'm not encouraging anyone to drink nor am I advising anyone not to. As a woman I'm simply asking men who drink to know your limits. Do go ahead and enjoy a drink or two with your friends and family. But do not use it as a weapon against the fairer gender in the false notion that you will be forgiven later, or it will make you cool or macho or whatever it is. Try not to make a nuisance of yourself to others around you who have nothing to do with you or the fact that you’re drunk. If you’re drunk fine, just lie low in a corner until you are sober without barging around hammering your wife and kids AND other women and children in the vicinity. That way, you don’t spoil their fun and you wont have to regret it later. Do keep your hands and words to yourself too.
And for the women who drink, all I have to say is, please be cautious. Do not go to speak to them, point things out to them or even look in their general directions.  Like me, avoid all possible confrontation with the vile mutts. But sigh… sometimes, even that isn’t sufficient.

Data and stats from ADIC 

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