Why the HELL do we drink?

UH! Why do we drink?

(Disclaimer: Yes, this is a very touchy subject. These are only my personal views. It's okay if you disagree.)

The point of this post comes from a very real moment. It's Sunday and I'm dealing with the hangover from hell. Why the hell did I do that last night?! Said anyone who has ever been drunk.

We ask ourselves this every single time we have a hangover, and the honest answer is! (I need a drum roll emoji) Because when you're out with your friends at a bar and everyone is having a good time it sucks to be the only one sober. I've been the designated driver more times than I can count.

 There's also the fact that time takes on a different status when you're drunk. When I'm sober I'm bored out of mind. Yeah, there's the dancing and laughing and talking to friends, but honestly, when you're with a group of people and you're sitting there and no one is talking to you, you're bored.

There's also the matter of lowered inhibitions. I am willing to make an ass out of myself when drunk. The people around you give non-verbal permission. You have an excuse, plus you'll have a great story for later. (Yeah, yeah, you can have great stories when you're sober too, don't get me wrong.)

Now, I don't drink often. Once in a while I find myself doing so. A reasonable amount you might say. I hate hangovers. Plus hangovers coupled with my allergies and EVERYONE I KNOW lives in a different city than me (and I have to sleep over) and ALL OF THEM have pets. Just shoot me.

Now I'm not saying that drinking is a good thing. In moderation it can be fun. If you don't drink then good on you. If you don't want to drink ever or at all, then DON'T! Don't fall for peer pressure. If someone is trying to force you into doing it then just walk away.

Now the first time I got drunk was when I was the legal drinking age (which is 19 in Canada) and I did it at home with my parents. They stayed sober and looked after me. (I have a great but some consider unusual relationship my parents. Every single person who meets them always tells me how awesome they are and I do agree,) It was my idea. I bought it and I did it. I was in a very safe environment for my first time.

Since then I've always done it responsibly. When I'm at my friend's place I always sleep over, I never drive once I've started to drink and taxis are the shit (well, except for how much it costs). If you're going to drink PLAN AHEAD!

In conclusion, we're stupid human beings who want to have a good time every once in awhile and need some proverbial lubrication to get it started. Hence! Alcohol.

Just to get a little too real right now, if you're going to drink, do it responsibly. Everyone knows the reasons why!




Now, how to deal with hangovers...

1. Preventative method: Drink water, eat some bread (if you're not allergic to it), and try to sober up a bit before you sleep
2. Sleep for as long as possible!: I don't care if you're sleeping in until 4 pm, just do it. I find it helps to avoid throwing up the next day
3. When you wake up: Bathroom (always be somewhere there is a bathroom!), Drink water and eat food slowly at first. Again with the water and bread. 
4. Slowly!: Graduate yourself after an hour or two to tea or coffee and get some greasy food into you (sounds like a recipe for disaster but it actually works. Unless you're severely nauseous then NO, just NO!) Eggs are your friend when hungover. 
5. Take a multiple vitamin with your food
6. Just accept the fact that you and your tv or computer are going to be best friends for the rest of the day
7. PJS! Comfy PJS! Guess what I'm wearing right now. 
8. Diiiiiiid I mention water?! Drink a lot of water throughout the rest of the day. 

Now there are scientific reasons for all of these and my mind is drawing a blank... Because I'm hungover! My mind is blanking. The brain farts are strong with this one. 

I'm imagining right now people are saying "But V! What about taking Tylonol or Advil? You forgot about that." No, I didn't. I usually avoid trying to take them because alcohol is hard on your liver and so are ALL over the counter pain killers. The two of them together is just a bad idea. Huh... I guess I did remember something scientific. 

Seriously, you can google all of this and find articles on it. I'd link some pages but... UHHHHHH! There are SOOO MANY! Plus, brain farts. 

Now if there are any typos in this, well, the answer to that is obvious. So thanks for reading my rant! If you want to email me it's inthemindofvegray@gmail.com or please leave a comment. Let's get a conversation going! Have fun! Drink responsibly! Or don't. Whatever you want to do is up to you. Thanks everyone! 

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