Baby Boomers And Booze: The Test

Responsible SantaCon Drinking

With Thanksgiving a day away it’s time to change the boomer diet and fitness channel?

Here at boomerpdx the answer is, “Why?”

If you’re on a roll, keep rolling. Whether you’re losing weight and feeling good, making changes that matter, or just feel like annoying others with important data, don’t stop.

One way to make it more fun is talking about alcohol while you share a few drinks over the holiday.

Watch for those who take great offense to the subject, those who ignore it completely, and those who engage in the discussion.

Which one are you? (via www.markjayalcoholdetox.co.uk)

1. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol? 

 Never
 Monthly or less
 2 to 4 times a month
 2 or 3 times a week
 4 or more times a week

2. How many alcohol units do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?
 None
 1 or 2½
 3 or 4
 5 or 6
 7 to 9
 10 or more

3. How often do you have seven or more units on one occasion?
 Never
 Less than monthly
 Monthly
 Weekly
 Daily or almost daily

4. How often during the last year have you found that you were unable to stop drinking once you had started?
 Never
 Less than monthly
 Monthly
 Weekly
 Daily or almost daily

5. How often during the last year have you failed to do what was normally expected from you because of drinking?
 Never
 Less than monthly
 Monthly
 Weekly
 Daily or almost daily

6. How often during the last year have you needed a first drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?
 Never
 Less than monthly
 Monthly
 Weekly
 Daily or almost daily

7. How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking?
 Never
 Less than monthly
 Monthly
 Weekly
 Daily or almost daily

8. How often during the last year have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because you had been drinking?
 Never
 Less than monthly
 Monthly
 Weekly
 Daily or almost daily

9. Have you or someone else been injured as the result of your drinking?
 Never
 Yes, but not in the last year
 Yes, during the last year

10. Has a relative, friend, or a doctor or other health worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down?
 Never
 Yes, but not in the last year
 Yes, during the last year

Notice the lack of achievement questions about alcohol. There’s no, “Has drinking alcohol inspired you to open a Portland brew pub and create a world wide brand?”

Where’s the “Has beer pong created a bonding experience in your family?”

Or, “Do you argue about who takes the empties back to the store after consuming alcohol?”

The downside of alcohol eventually shows up on the faces of abusers. You see it in mug shots, maybe in the mirror.

If you drink responsibly, this questionnaire is good to run by middle schoolers, high schoolers, and the college-aged.

If you don’t drink responsibly, if the question sounds like, “Why drink if you’re going to be responsible,” then these questions will probably annoy you.

One way to identify a drinking problem:

You’re at a high school reunion. You share a few drinks with old classmates, go to a football game, then meet at the bowling alley a short walk from the stadium.

Before going inside you check yourself Three Bears-style. You’ve had too much to drink, too little, or just right.

Plan accordingly, and have a great Thanksgiving.