Do you handle your drink or does your drink handle you?

This is a touchy subject any which way you dice it especially since here at home for most men ninety percent of our free time is spent in the pub or bar. In fact who has the right to tell another man (or woman) how much they should or should not drink. Certainly not yours truly who in his misspent youth often found himself trying to lie down on that bed which wouldn’t stop spinning. But thankfully older and hopefully wiser I can share my views on the subject.

This topic comes from witnessing a friend of mine normally a congenial, good natured colleague turn into a nasty, sloppy version of himself whenever he drinks. A typical evening will start with him being gracious enough buying rounds, but as the evening progresses he begins dominating any conversation by shouting, which will then degenerate into picking fights both verbal and physical. I bet we all know someone like this at our local. You know that scenario when things become so uncomfortable people start disappearing one by one without even saying good bye. Look, I’ll be the first to admit I think that a little booze in the system makes for an honest, wittier, more stimulating conversation. But as grown men (and women) who have graduated college, if your sole purpose for drinking is to get completely hammered every time, then there may be a problem.

So as we say lets ‘style up’ and drink like the responsible adults we hopefully are and not like we’re in the first year of college. Get in touch with yourself is not just the lyrics to a song but a way of life - know your limits, when to say enough is enough, when to call it a night and go home. Everyone’s body chemistry is different so when you feel that buzz coming on take a break, water or just call it a draw (not a loss) and retire gracefully.

So to the men in the house, “leta Tusker mbili” should not be your mantra at every cocktail, business lunch, networking event or even after a round of golf – if you must drink, you know there are other more sophisticated choices out there. And ladies if you want to be treated like one behave like one. There is something distinctly unattractive about you when you stand there swaying, or sitting with legs akimbo, slurring your words and swearing like a truck driver. Cheers everyone!