Topical Guide 464
Mark Dorset
Drinking: Alcohol, Water
Reservations Recommended, Chapter 3:
DRINK ORDERS are placed, and Gwen makes a point of not ordering alcohol. “Nothing with alcohol for me,” she says. “Bring me anything, as long as it doesn’t have alcohol.” […]
When the waiter has gone, Gwen says, in answer to a question no one has asked, “I haven’t had a drink for a month or more. I think I was becoming an alcoholic.” […]
“She took a quiz in a magazine,” says Harold.
“Am I an Alcoholic Quiz,” from New Directions for Women:
There are physical, mental-emotional, and behavioral symptoms of alcohol addiction. […] The full range of symptoms of alcoholism to watch out for include the following.
• Being unable to control how much alcohol one drinks
• Prioritizing drinking over your other responsibilities
• Only spending social time when alcohol is involved [I’d reword this as “Spending social time with others only if alcohol is involved.” MD]
• Spending large amounts of money on alcohol
• Drinking before important events or obligations
• Avoiding people who criticize their drinking [I’d reword this as “Avoiding people who criticize your drinking.” MD]
• Regularly showing up to work hungover [I’d use “Frequently” instead of “Regularly.” MD]
• Regularly drinking during the day [See above. MD]
• Neglecting personal hygiene
• Drinking alone or secretly
• Eating poorly or not eating at all
• Missing work or school due to drinking
• Giving up important professional or social activities because of alcohol use
• Continuing to drink despite family, health, financial, or legal problems
• Being arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol
• Losing interest in activities you once loved
• Drinking first thing in the morning
Laurence Sterne, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman:
If I was you, quoth Yorick, I would drink more water, Eugenius. And, if I was you, Yorick, replied Eugenius, so would I.
Dylan Thomas, possibly:
“An alcoholic is someone you don’t like who drinks as much as you do.”
[This appears on many quotation websites, attributed to Dylan Thomas, but at present writing (7:36 am, Friday, March 31, 2023) I haven’t been able to find a source for it. I’ll continue to try for a little longer. MD It’s 7:45 now. I’ve been hunting since 7:00, and I can’t find a source. I think it’s apocryphal. MD]
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