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Excuse
me, are you an Alcoholic?
You're
knocking down your fourth tequila in a Philippe Starck-inspired
pub, clean designs, metallic finishes and all that fluff - but you
really don't give a hoot. Nothing keeps this woman from her drinks.
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By Wong Siew Ying
 Like
romance, one never learns her lesson with alcohol. In love, your
heart gets blown to smithereens; you shed Amazonian tears, but then
someone's bound to sweep you off your feet again. And if you're
lucky, you get to dump him this time round. So it goes with alcohol.
You down them carelessly and the next minute, you'll be on your
knees doing a gross rendition of the Merlion - spouting semi-digested
dinner (is that mee goreng?) all over yourself, but then you'll
drink again when all discomforts are forgotten.
Women
are hitting the bottle more often, drying up bars rather than their
laundry. Jean 24, a Zouk regular who works in the media industry
says, "It's about breaking out of the traditional role of women
of old. These days, we are better educated; see the world more,
and are more confident about who we are and what we want. Lifestyles
and social perceptions have changed. Anyway, if men can drink, why
not women… I'll usually order whisky, vodka or tequila, but I wouldn't
consider myself to be an alcoholic. I don't drink everyday and I
don't need to."
 Adds
Jasmine, an accountant in her 30s, "I don't approve of drinking
per se, I do not drink on a regular basis, only on special occasions
or business functions. I think they are too expensive, not very
good for health, either." Predictably, most women I spoke to are
well aware of some complications of the 'hard stuff', but the lot
of them still drinks on a recreational basis - "to unwind and relax
after a long day's work".
Alcohol
has filtered its way through society, becoming more of an 'acceptable
drug'; I say drug, because booze can be addictive and destructive.
The occasional pick-me-up and social drinking aside, alcohol has
become surrogate lover, comforter, employer, parent and even messiah
to some women. Whether you're wallowing in misfortune, nursing a
bout of sinking depression, wasting away loneliness or relieving
yourself from a high-strung workweek, alcohol reeks from all corners
tempting you to take a swig.
Well,
drink and be merry, that's all fine, but booze does more than getting
you high and dry. Recent studies showed that drinking is detrimental
for skin, even causing melanoma (skin cancer). Besides the grim
threat of liver cirrhosis and alcohol poisoning, drinking is a sure-fire
way to put on those unwanted pounds. Think of it as guzzling fat.
If you must chill out with a cold shot, check out our hand-me-down
myths and formulae first. It should save you from those torrid
hangovers and intoxication. And while we're at it, let's drink to
free booze and ladies nights. Another one of these tequilas, please…
Are
you an alcoholic Quiz?
| 1. |
Do
you need a drink at a definite time every day?
|
| 2. |
Have
you been kept away from work or lost your job as a result of
alcohol? |
| 3. |
Do
you tend to drink when you're feeling depressed or alone? |
| 4. |
Has
anyone pointed out that you may have a drinking problem? |
| 5. |
Has
drinking disrupt your social or family life? |
| 6. |
Is
drinking affecting your productivity at work? |
| 7. |
Have
you ever told yourself to stop drinking? |
| 8. |
Is
it hard for you to control your alcohol intake once you start
drinking? |
| 9. |
Have
you been spending a lot of money on drinking? |
| 10. |
Is
drinking affecting your health? |
If
you answer three or more "Yes", there is likelihood that you are
an alcoholic.
Hand-me-down
myths and formula
If you know a way to have all the alcohol you want and not get stone
drunk, we want to read about it?
>>
Share your scientific finds, old wives formulas and holistic therapy.
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