Christmas has come and gone, thank God. Now we can look forward to that one night of pure alcohol abuse, New Years Eve. There are a million articles out this month addressing the typical concerns: overindulgence, drinking and driving, and showing your ass at office and family functions. I’m not going to tell you about any of these, simply because you don’t need anyone to tell you not to overindulge, don’t drink and drive, or show your ass which can lead to divorce or unemployment, do you? No, you don’t. You’re getting enough of that now, so you won’t be hearing it from me. What you will hear is the following:
Drink better, not more. Any moron can pound down cheap beer to get a buzz (and a horrifying, room-spinning hangover the next morning) but it takes a little bit of brains to realize that better beer, in reasonable quantities, is far better for you. Break out that bottle you’ve saved for a special occasion. Try some winter warmers, or vertical beers from breweries. Tis the season to be jolly, and these will get you there without turning you into an unemployed loser.
Don’t drive. Notice I didn’t say don’t drink and drive. That’s somewhat obvious, so just don’t drive. Ask your significant other, or carpool with somebody who isn’t going to get pounded. Or better yet, stay over wherever the party is (invited, of course). Your drinking has nothing to do with it. There are just too many idiots on the roads on holidays. They’re like lemmings, except they’re driving multi-ton vehicles that will squash and kill you. Your odds of getting in a wreck go through the roof, regardless of how much or how little you drink. Your odds of causing a wreck do go up when drinking, duh. So don’t drive.
Introduce a good beer to a good friend. In the spirit of giving, the gift of knowledge (plus alcohol) is always appreciated. Bring a couple of bottles of your favorite craft beverages and share them with a friend. Make time to visit a local taphouse and introduce them to the wide world of beer.
Have a safe and delicious holiday.
