Had my first drink in 2 years last week.
Alcohol is a shit drug. I don't know anyone who quit it, myself included, who misses it particularly... yet it persists as the world's favourite drug, perhaps second only to caffeine.
So why did I drink? For old time's sake. To remember my favourite beer from when I lived in Scandinavia on exchange. Because I was tired of restricting myself.
Now I'm on an airplane flight and am ordering wine, cocktails, shots – alongside tea and coffee. Another truly shite combination. Yet... what else to do on a 14 hour flight with no snacks?
I suppose the one good thing that alcohol does is lowers us all to the same wavelength. With alcohol we can all loosen up and return to our most primitive selves – celebratory, entertaining and entertained, horny, aggressive, bragging, unanxious, unthreatened, unconscious.
And there are many things that keep us away from that state of mind. But... alcohol is a shit way to get into that mind state.
The other good thing about alcohol, is that it shows elements of someone's personality that they would otherwise repress or hide. It's easier to trust someone once you watch them get wasted/vulnerable on alcohol. I don't know any way to replicate this effect without alcohol.
But there's plenty of ways to gain the respect or trust of others without alcohol too.
So after this plane ride I won't be having more alcohol.
Nossa que soninho.