The One About Booze

I’ve been hearing recently about a new trend: sober vacations. People are intentionally planning trips that are devoid of any alcoholic content. Whole industries are growing around this concept – travel agencies, resorts, cruises.

This apparently follows on the heels of other similar trends – namely, Sober October and Dry January. It seems that the former began in the U.K. as a fundraiser for cancer research. On the other hand, Dry January just sounds like a health thing. Try not drinking any alcohol for a month and see what the health benefits are. And people found the benefits were plentiful and started telling everyone about it.

And my reaction was, Uhhh . . . what? Is this really news?

ALL my months are dry and sober -- at least most of them. I very rarely drink alcohol. Mainly because nobody drank in my house growing up, and my college roommate abstained because of her alcoholic father (and I hung with her in support), so I just never developed a real taste for the stuff – any of it. Beyond that, most alcoholic beverages cost a pretty penny. I’m just too dang cheap, people.

I don’t have a problem with others drinking alcohol. You do you, friend, as long as you’re smart about it. And I enjoy a cocktail or a glass of wine on occasion. I’m no Carrie Nation bashing up bar mirrors.

But I have to say that these “trends” I mentioned earlier were a complete astonishment to me. Especially the sober vacation one. In the news story that introduced the concept to me, a couple people were interviewed who talked about all the great things they enjoyed on their sober vacation that they apparently were missing before – getting up early to see sunrises, taking great hikes, having meaningful conversations with loved ones . . .

And again, my reaction was, Ummm . . . excuse me? 

This was a change? Your previous vacations didn’t include such things? So, you’re telling me that there are people who choose to drink so much on their vacations that they don’t enjoy the scenery of the place they are visiting or the company of the people they are with? People who plan vacations centered around events that are primarily for the purpose of consuming alcohol?

Wow. Who knew.

It was quite a surprise to me when the Surgeon General came out with his recommendation at the beginning of the year to avoid alcohol altogether. When I heard reporters ask him about it, he made a good case. Apparently even small amounts of alcohol increase cancer risk -- and the past claims of red wine in moderation having health benefits are questionable because of the methodology of the studies.

Now, I know people who will be rushing to remind us that the Bible is full of references to wine -- I mean, Jesus' first miracle was creating wine for a wedding party. When I asked my mother about that when I was young, she said that the wine they drank then was much weaker than what people drink now. Maybe . . . 

I’ll be honest: I suspect the professional opinions on alcohol will fluctuate like the ones on eggs. I can’t ever remember if eggs are supposed to be good for me this year or not.

But enjoying sunrises? Meaningful conversations with loved ones? Cancer-free living? Safe roads and highways? There are no questions about the benefits there. And if ANY habit is getting in the way of the incontrovertibly good things in your life, it has become a liability – something to let go of.

And . . . excuse me while I get rid of the chocolate chips in my cabinet.