i've loved drinking and enjoyed getting drunk since i was 15.
its the culture i was brought up in.
same as most of my mates.
But i'm middle aged now and very aware that
my constitution is less able to deal with the morning after results
of a 'good night out',
and i dont want to suffer the inevitable health problems
of midlife high blood pressure and diabetes, etc.

so now its limited to 2 or 3 binge nights per month
and absolutely no alchohol on weekdays.
Which is a bit of a problem as folkie type pub music nights
are always on my dry days,
but i'm more likely to be in the fitness centre anyway.

Truthfully, i would like to give up drinking entirely..
[its too expensive, and i'd rather spend the money on music equipment]
but doubt if i ever will.
Occasionally i'll stop for a week, then another, then another
and so on.. just for the sense of achievement..
if i can stop for a month, then sheer bloody minded determination kicks in..
and then i'll refuse to drink for as long as possible;
even if it means staying at home and pissing of the wife who enjoys regular socialising.
I managed to pack it in for 3 months last year,
until the wifes birthday.

Biggest problem is i really enjoy the taste and sensation
of strong lager and farm house ciders..
and being drunk is still fun in the right place with the right people.
Trouble is, the kind of town where i live,
its almost inevitable that sooner or later me being drunk in the wrong
place at the wrong time ,
i'll have to deal with the consequences of being at the receiving end
of unprovoked random violence.