Cut Out the White Bread

I thought I'd address something that's been coming up for me over the last few weeks. Several people have asked me whether I drink and then, "Why don't you drink?" And sometimes when I say, "No, I don't drink," I feel ashamed like they're judging me.

"You don't drink? What is wrong with you? You're such a good girl. Are you a girl scout?"

Well, let's be clear. I enjoy a tipple or two every now and then. Whilst in China I drank a lot of beer because it's cheaper than bottled water, the food was really spicy there and cold beer can soothe the ravaging effects of Szechuan pepper quite satisfactorily.

Sometimes I get a upset and frustrated at the drinking culture in Australia especially in young people. I sound like an old, disapproving mother but I'm just being honest. I don't like it when my friends go out and get hammered because it's not safe (in terms of stranger danger etc.) and it's not good for you. If you drink a lot of alcohol again and again your body will suffer.

I get frustrated that people are proud of getting falling over drunk, vomiting in gutters and the rest of it. When people say to me, "You can't go clubbing and have a good time without getting drunk," I wonder to myself what's the point of clubbing then when I can have a good time and not kill my liver.

I don't think there's anything wrong with drinking alcohol. I just don't think binge drinking is good for you. I don't want to cast a disapproving eye on anyone because I appreciate that all this is is my opinion and doesn't count for much and is not necessarily correct. But I just wish sometimes I didn't feel so damn embarrassed when someone asks me why I don't drink.

J