The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Carry On Past The Christmas Party (part 1)

[TheMousefaceBeforeChristMouse]

Hello.

Welcome to The Brave Babes Bus. I'm Mouseface and I used to abuse alcohol and to be honest, there is always a risk that I'll do it again.

This is a bus journey for those who drink too much, or drink now and then, not at all, or actually aren't quite sure what their drinking means to them.

Come and meet the other Brave Babes, everyone is welcome.

Here is the history so far -

Thread 15

Thread 14

Thread 13

Thread 12

Thread 11

Thread 10

Thread 9

Thread 8

Thread 7

Thread 6

Thread 5

Thread 4

Thread 3

Thread 2

JWN's original thread

Quiet on here !

Question, does anyone actually enjoy the taste of alcohol?

Some I do, some not. Have drunk wine that tasted like rats piss before just because it was cheap had alcohol in.

Hi Anda

Was just wondering, am at part of book about alcohol being an acquired taste, he compared it to developing a taste for coffee and I know it took me a long time to "like" coffee!

desire I am the same as zany some drinks I really enjoy the taste of however if I have finished up my preferred drinks there's not many I wouldn't resort to!

anda what was your nickname before? And a big welcome back!

I do. But then I liked coffee, olives and so on from a young age. We were also given 'fingerfuls' of wine from an early age, which may be related.

When were you all first allowed to try alcohol?

LRD there was never any mystery about alcohol in my house and I was always allowed to have a sip to taste wine or beer. But my parents didn't really drink much alcohol around my brother and me when we were young. It's weird, isn't it, that my brother had the exact same upbringing and intro to alcohol but he most definitely not an alky?!

The AA advice about relationships, though extremely unofficial, relates to ALL relationships. There is separate and highly conflicting advice on whether to have a relationship with a fellow AA at all, but those who think it's a good idea advocate waiting for that too - it's a secondary consideration.

LRD - your chapter to finish excuse sounds lame, frankly. It could be one of mine!

I'm munky....sorry my christmas name is so crap.....best I could come up with

Good to see the thread still live and kicking, I have been following but not posted for a few weeks.....just trying to sort this out in my head..... which doesn't seem to be working!

I was encouraged to sip alcohol from a very early age. The plan was that, as a result, it would hold no fascination for me when I was older.

As you can see, it worked a treat.

I thought it was munky but couldn't be sure. Glad you are back though!!

I sometimes wonder if genetics do have something to do with being an alky. My sister drinks alot and I have 3 cousins who are in AA.

BTW - just received a lovely email from my neighbour asking what my plans are for the weekend as he was thinking of getting together as his DD's are with him. Glad I didn't contact him first now

There is alcoholism in my family but not my parents or brother. Who knows what causes it?!

Red - yes, odd isn't it? My two brothers both have perfectly healthy relationships with alcohol; mum and dad OTOH increasingly think refusing to drink is antisocial - I suspect it's a guilty awareness they drink too much themselves.

MIFLAW - charming and helpful as ever, I see.

Ooh, excited for you zany.

Olives. That is interesting in the context of neither coffe nor alcohol taste very nice on 1st tasting. Have you heard the idea that that small children refuse to eat greens is an evolutionary measure, keeing them instinctively away from poison plants. I am thinking about this, and if I come up with a theory, I'll let you know.

Thanks Red, glad you're back too, we did miss you for a while there.

Forthe - evolutionary measure? I love that!

Miflaw, often giving children alcohol at an early age is cited as (as you will know, a la Frenchstuff) a means by which to educate them how to behave generally with alcohol, so interesting to read/hear of your own personal experience.

I too was exposed to alcohol at a young age, we were allowed cherry 'b' or babycham or martini and lemonade when we went out or at christmas. My mother's family are Polish and I remember getting wasted on the free-flowing vodka at a family funeral when I was about 14.

Both of my parents and my brother (squaddie) drink to excess.....my sister doesn't!

I'm really sceptical about the merits of giving children alcohol at an early age. For me, it just meant I liked it earlier.

I really didn't like the taste when I was younger... I was always fascinated by it though.

Loud

If, in retrospect, you think that having a chapter to finish was a good reason for drinking, and that doing so helped you in a tangible way with the chapter, and most of all that you have not suffered unduly as a result, then I am more than happy to agree to disagree.

However, as I say, I used to make excuses like this all the time - and, in my case, they were, without exception, lame. All they did was allow me to drink, and all that did was make me unhappy.

I am sorry if you do not find my experience helpful. I am sure someone else more helpful will be along soon.

Forthe

Yes, it's a very popular approach in France too.

A country which is riddled with alcoholism.

TBH I don't think it makes a difference either way. I don't think it makes alkies, but I don't think it prevents them either.

MIFLAW, knock it off would you? We've had this conversation and it's no fun for anyone on this thread to do it again.

I said I made an excuse to myself for drinking. I did find the writing much easier; my supervisors are thrilled I did it; I do honestly think the drinking helped. But, it is dangerous and scary and expensive.
'Excuse' is a term that tells you plainly that I knew there was no good reason.