... Why People Drink Until They Can Barely Remember Their Own Name. Or What They Did Last Night/Week

As most of you should be aware of by now, drinking and partying has become quite a big problem in  modern society, mainly in the teenage and middle-aged world. I'm not sure where you're from, but in New Zealand there has been quite a few cases of people dying due to excessive alcohol consumption, retarded actions while intoxicated, driving under influence or a combination of any/all the factors mentioned.  The bottom line is: people are dying due to alcohol. And sadly, it's happening all around the world (maybe not the ones where they can't afford alcohol, let alone food - oh, poverty, why you so cruel?)

If you listen to the song "Get Smashed Gate Crash" (totally obsessed with it right now) by Hadouken!, you get a general idea of what its like. Here's an excerpt of the song lyrics - it doesn't sound too pretty, does it?


People being sick on the landing carpet,
Smoking up in the outside shed,
Passing out in the upstairs toilet,
Getting laid on the parents' bed.

Smashing up all the porcelain china,
We drank the alcohol cabinet clean,
But still that felt minor,
'til we put the Hi-Fi through the TV screen.


So why on earth do people do it? Alcohol does weird things to people. It can make some loosen up, some angry and some sad. It slows your reactions and it impairs your memory temporarily. A little alcohol is fine. I'm not questioning those who have a couple of beers and chill out, or have a few glasses of wine with dinner. I'm questioning those who do like 20 shots and can't walk straight afterwards
(-insert applause here for those who can walk straight afterwards- But that's not my point)

And for all those who don't drink excessively, but you encourage others to do so - you're just as bad, so don't think you're excluded in this discussion.

Why put yourself through that? Does it make you feel good that you wake up the next day with someone completely random next to you, and the sign from the local dairy at the foot of your bed? If you wanted to meet new people, go join social clubs or something - at least you won't be wondering what you two had gotten up to last night. If you want the damn sign so much, go buy one yourself - it'll probably cheaper than the amount of money you had spent on alcohol. If you're thirsty, just drink some bloody water - it's so much more accessible and you, surprise surprise, don't need a license.

Furthermore, if you can barely see clearly, what on earth makes you think you're capable of driving? Has it not occurred to you that you're probably gonna fail and cause the nearest power pole to topple over? Oh wait, never mind, you probably can't even think properly since you've decided to drown yourself with booze.

I don't understand why people would punish their liver and brain just to have fun - it's not all about the alcohol you consume. Drinking and being bad-ass may be "cool" to you but I don't think being cool should be your main concern when you're in a coma. Especially not when you're dead.