Now that Lent is officially over, I am guessing that life is going to be more or less back to normal for the many who gave up something for the occasion. One I am pretty sure a lot are going to return to is the consumption of alcoholic beverages. You know, I wonder often what people see in alcohol. It looks gross, and from the one experience I had drinking a pint or so at a church communion gathering, it tastes horrible. Intoxication is nothing to be openly welcomed and the prices seem to be a bit expensive (of course, I am talking about regular beer as opposed to fancy white-people wine) compared to good ol’ milk. And now, in some places in Canada (Ontario in particular), beer is now going to be sold in grocery stores. Really, I believe the disgustingness of such a trouble-causing beverage should remain in its low-life slums, often referred to as LCBO or The Beer Store.

Parents aren’t going to allow it. They just aren’t. Sure, they can be hypocritical and drink beer often, but they still know what is best for their children. I highly doubt beer is going to actually be sold in grocery stores, and if so does occur, I doubt there will be a lot of support from the parental side. Accessibility to a product illegal for those less than 21 years of age is something this government really needs to think through. Then again, thy probably have already and have some well thought-out precautions for any teens looking to get a little tipsy on Friday nights.

What is it adults see in alcohol anyways? I mean, as stated before, getting drunk is no laughing matter, leading to head aches, tickets, and weird tattoos or girls or boys in your bed you do not even remember. Of all, injury and death are also huge risks of alcohol consumption. The leading cause of death in Canada annually is impaired driving after all. MADD, (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) (and no, this group is not ALL filled with angry mothers though that would be a scary sight indeed; probably a group my mother would join…) came in to talk to my class about the dangers of driving under the influence and trust me, the videos were not pretty.

Look at African gatherings our communities usually have. The women bring in deliciously cooked traditional foods which we all rush to finish while the men, surprisingly enough, seem to always bring in their preferred alcoholic beverages such as Coors Light, Molson Canadian, Budweiser, Bud Light, Blue, Carling Lager, Busch Lager, Keith’s, Heineken, and Corona. It makes me wonder if it is only the men who drink alcohol in our communities as the lovely ladies are always seen in the corners drinking their tea with Maandazi.

I might just be wrong. My own mother “supposedly” does not drink. Alas, there is some fault in that statement. She has these two similar drinks, Baileys Irish Cream and I think Amarula, which she can simply not resist. “These are the only alcoholic drinks I drink and only occasionally.” she says. Ha, nice try mom. You too have been – however small it may be – caught in the scandalous life of alcohol consumption. Then again, a bottle of these drinks can stay in the fridge for over a year and still not be finished. I guess she isn’t as “alcoholic” as I thought.

Do not get me wrong. I know there are the MANY responsible drinkers out there who know how to control themselves. I know people just cannot resist the tingly sensation of beer, wine, tequila, mead, vodka, or whatever y’all drink nowadays. I just really, really do not understand what is so mesmerizing about alcohol; not one bit. Then again, it is probably the same thing that has me addicted to basketball or continuous contribution to this blog: I guess you just cannot give up what you love. As stated elsewhere, when I am 40 and living the good life in some big mansion somewhere, I know that I will always be satisfied with my milk. I don’t care who laughs at me or calls me a “no-fun old snob.” Hey, at least I’m getting home safe tonight.

Angelous Ginanena.