I have lost track of times I have advised my friend on the etiquette of drinking. I do not mean to say I have the best etiquette but I have had very little drinking casualties in comparison to her. Which I believe gives me the right to suggest her on how to and how not to drink.

My friend doesn’t like the taste of the alcohol be it wine, sherry, whisky, rum, gin or even vodka. Champagne is beyond our budget. So to avoid the ritual of having to taste the ‘damn thing’ as she likes to put it she swallows the entire glass in at once and she doesn’t stop drinking until she is in quite a state. When she gets into that state we have to forget about our still full glass and start looking after her.

She does listen to me when I tell her to take it slowly, a small sip at a time and savor the taste. But as soon as she gets a glass in her hand everything gets past her head until she is knocked out.

Her problem is that is pretends that she likes to drink To top it all more often than not she ends up drinking in an empty stomach. Though she does like the idea of getting booze but she over does it and gets knocked out.

Naturally the effect of her heavy drinking effects last on to the next day. Only for her to claim she cannot understand how she drank such an awful tasting stuff in the first place. Our latest get together was a similar incident with our evening ending short due to her drinking bouts.

The next day I spent an entire afternoon telling her that drinking is an art. That she could certainly do with the saying slow and steady wins the race. With her nodding her head in agreement. But I know she will heed to my advice only as long as her hang over lasts. Next time she finds herself with a glass of drink in her hand she is will go about her way and the day after I still give her the tips on art of drinking.

– Pratichya Dulal