Proof exists that Man has been drinking alcohol since at least as early as 10,000 BC. Our relationship with booze has manifested itself in various forms; enjoyment, sorrow, excitement, grief and the most prominent one being celebration. Although mankind has been consuming this nectar of heaven for centuries, it is quite interesting to see how various cultures treat and react to alcohol. While the Germans have their Oktoberfest and the Americans have their Mardi Gras, the only acceptable festivity for us Indians to enjoy a few drinks is a friend’s wedding. And enjoy, we do, till we go back to our roots of evolution. I don’t say we become bacteria or anything but we do regress to our primate selves. Ever seen a 50 year old uncle getting drunk and doing the Naagin dance at a wedding, I bet you have. Ever seen 20 something boys trying to show off their dancing skills or the lack of them after a few pegs, I double bet you have. By the way, personal opinions, if you don’t drink you are a boring bugger and all your stories suck. All of your stories end with, “and then I got home”. I’ve never met an interesting person who doesn’t drink. Agreed if done in excess it could kill you, but there is nothing wrong with enjoying a few swigs once in a while with your buddies. It is quite a lot of fun. It helps you overcome your inhibitions and helps you communicate more freely.
Another interesting fact about drinking, do you know why we say cheers and clank our glasses before taking a drink? Well, it is said that the concept started since alcohol appeals to four of the five senses, which are vision (you see the drink), smell (you smell the aroma), touch (you touch the glass) and taste (you taste the booze). However, one sense gets left out, that is hearing, so we clank our glasses and say cheers to appeal to the only left out sense.
We Indians have a kind of bitter sweet relationship with booze. Being hypocritical by culture, we stick to societal norms while enjoying the forbidden fruit every once in a while in our own privacy. Although I must admit that with the rise of the urban middle class the lines have started getting a little blurry, but we still haven’t really breached the boundaries of our so called “Cultural Values”. This is far more evident in tier-2 cities and small towns across the country, where a girl who smokes is invariably looked down upon as a slut while a smoker boy of same age is a stud. If caught, the boy gets reprimanded and the girl is grounded or worst married off. Anyways, not to digress from the topic, my point is simple; let people make their own decisions. We don’t have to force our perceived notions of “morality” down other’s throats in order to be a cultured society. We don’t have to resort to moral policing when it is evidently not required.
On that note wish all a long life, health and prosperity. Cheers!!
