I swear off alcohol for a week or two throughout the year. It’s to show myself that I can do it, to reassure those who (wrongly) think that I drink too much (4-5 units a week, most weeks – a week, not a day!) that I don’t have a problem and to help me appreciate drink even more. I always give up alcohol for Lent but usually have a give-out clause of whisky or Cognac for pain. But not this fortnight. For two weeks, I’m going dry.
Slight problem, it was meant to be three weeks but I’m meeting a friend for cocktails in a couple of weeks… But the lesson is there. A reminder that I don’t need to drink and it’s timely. It’s been a very stressful week and my first thought was that I needed a drink to get me through it. I’ve reassured myself that I don’t.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t think about it – from a desperately needed painkilling whisky last night to a craving for Curious Brew, that wonderful, wine-beer from Chapel Down, made with Champagne yeast. Big thanks to Waitrose for stocking it. I really want to try their Curious Porter but it’s not stocked locally, as far as I know. I want to try the different whiskies Santa bought me or Amazon’s Lightning Deal tempted me to buy – Nikka White, Black and Red Labels taunt me en route to the kettle.
The reality is that I don’t need alcohol but I do want it. Not unhealthily but from sheer pleasure. I love wine, whisky and song. The latter tends to feature after a single Black Velvet – that heady classic cocktail of Guinness and Champagne. try it sometime in an equal-part mix. But be warned, it might send you dancing up the street as it did me – my previous inability to hold alcohol is the reason I’m dry for a fortnight because I suddenly discovered that I could hold far more than I used to. That a couple of glasses of wine over lunch was followed by my whisky Advent calendar (see previous post) and then a short cocktail – a Pink Gin or Gimlet. With no problems at all. Not even the hint of a slur, stagger or sore head. Great in one way but dangerous in others, especially as I rely on whisky to get me through pain. A single dram will give me relief for an hour. I also want to make sure I retain the love of a good drink and it’s there for pain or pleasure, not need.
It will be interesting to see whether I can keep it up but it’s good to remind myself that I have will power and that I decided when to have a drink, not the other way round.
Quaffed 