It's been difficult to find time to write lately, what with all the tv I've been watching and drinking I've been doing. Call me an alcoholic if you'd like, but honestly, I feel like the word alcoholic is tossed around a lot. My friends call themselves alcoholics in jest (Alcoholics Unanimous!), but they aren't ignoring their responsibilities due to drinking. Getting a DUI doesn't mean that you have a drinking problem, it simply means you made a bad choice.
I'm 26. Even typing that makes me cringe. I have to keep reminding myself that 26 is NOT that old, but when you're dating a 22 year old, 26 seems... icky. But seriously, people in their 20's drink! Bars are where we congregate. Bars are where we celebrate things. Bars are where we unwind. Bars are where we meet people. Bars are where we... get drunk. But just because you can find me at a bar every single Thursday night (Trivia champs, what whaaaat!!!), that doesn't make me an alcoholic.
Before you accuse someone of alcoholism, get your facts straight. An accusation like that is not only hurtful, it can be quite detrimental to the way others' perceive someone. An alcoholic is someone who cannot function without it. They ignore responsibilities and hurt others with their drinking. They drink throughout the day to get by and deal with the withdrawal symptoms. I only start my day with a breakfast beer when I'm in the desert. That doesn't count. And bloody marys are reserved for Sunday Fundays, they aren't my typical breakfast beverage.
Just because someone is in their 20's and drinks a few times a week, doesn't mean they're an alcoholic. If I don't have anything to do the next day and my friends are at the bar, I may cut loose a bit. There's nothing wrong with that. I've been to AA meetings, and trust me, an alcoholic is not someone who drinks a couple times a week with their friends.
Shit, now I need a drink. It's after 12. Mimosas anyone?
