Bonne Annee
An Nou Ferecit
Bhliain Nua Sasta
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Ni hao
Take it easy on the drink!
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Jagermeister, Give it a shot
- This is an advert for a bottle of 35% strength alcohol
- There is no mention of alcohol anywhere
- There is no health warning, no advice regarding safe limits of consumption
- The headline “Give it a shot” could be taken to encourage binge drinking
- It is positioned at bus stops so can be seen by those under the legal age limit
- It is designed to appeal to young people who engage in “Shot Drinking”
- The advert includes the caption” Drink Jagermeister responsibly, visit drinkaware.ie”
- There is a Facebook logo to direct the audience to the Jagermeister site
St. Stephen’s Day, Leopardstown
The horses going out for the 3rd race in the chill December sunshine
St Stephens Day racing in Leopardstown has a special feel, even more so when Aidan O’Brien says hello
There is the top class racing, serious racegoers looking to make a few euros and check out the form for Cheltenham in March. The roar from the stands is back, haven’t heard that in five years
It’s also a glue-pot for the young, gorgeous – glamour is everywhere. You see them struggling up the drive in their platforms
Ridiculously dressed (undressed) for a day in December, great anticipation, excitement though
Its early in the day, yet you see a lot of the guys already with drink in hand making their way in.
T here’s a heap of cans and bottles at the entrance, taken off them as they go in.
What shape will they be in later? Well able to talk to the girls? I doubt it
They don’t need drink, they’re smashing looking fellas
Silly really
Benefits of being alcohol free
There are multiple benefits to being alcohol free, new ones emerge every day
Below is my top ten:
1. HEALTH, both physical and mental, my brain is free from alcohol attack and insides are cleaned up dramatically
2. WEALTH, savings of 20,000 euros in cash at least, over two and a half years
3. WEIGHT, ugly fold of flesh around the middle is gone
4. FOOD, more fruit and vegetables, less red meat, chicken with garlic and ginger – yummy
5. KNOWLEDGE, genned up on the effects of alcohol, terribly toxic, no going back now
6. RESPECT, for oneself, from those around you, no more disrespect to others while drunk
7. TIME, precious, more of it, to do all sorts of things
8. LESS GLOOMY, alcohol can be very depressing
9. NO MORE EXCUSES, eg, worked hard today, so have to reward self with a few pints
10. NOT DEPENDENT, was constantly on the look out for the next drinking opportunity
Hence Drinkawaste.com, alcohol is a waste of health, a waste of money, a waste of time, a waste of life
Full swing..
December 21, the shortest day. Sun comes up around 8.30
On the farm the horses go out, there’s no grass, there’s no fighting, no squabbling
Downtown Dublin is different. Last big shopping day, pubs are packed
Get out of the rain, go for a drink. Meet friends, go for a drink
It’s Christmas go for a drink. Go to mass, go for a drink
On Christmas Day, come to us for a drink. Only if you come to us on St. Stephens Day
For a drink.
The barriers are down, no caution, no restraint
Is everybody happy? No way, there’s much fighting, squabbling going on in the human world
Alcohol has a tight grip – that’s the difference
It’s Christmas alright, better go for a drink so
Is there a safe limit?
Alcohol is a toxin that kills cells such as microorganisms, which is why we use it to preserve food and sterilise skin, needles etc. Alcohol kills humans too. A dose only four times as high as the amount that would make blood levels exceed drink-driving limits in the UK can kill. The toxicity of alcohol is worsened because in order for it to be cleared from the body it has to be metabolised to acetaldehyde, an even more toxic substance. Any food or drink contaminated with the amount of acetaldehyde that a unit of alcohol produces would be immediately banned as having an unacceptable health risk
There is no such thing as a safe level of alcohol consumption. The idea that drinking small amounts of alcohol will do you no harm is a myth
Professor David Nutt/www.guardian.co.uk
The combination of alcohol/acetaldehyde and calories/sugar is a potent double threat to human health that most drinkers are unaware of.
Why calories in alcohol are extra fattening
Alcoholic drinks are made by fermenting and distilling natural starch and sugar
Being high in sugar means alcohol contains lots of calories – seven calories a gram in fact, almost as many as pure fat!
Calories from alcohol are “empty calories”, they have no nutritional value. Most alcoholic drinks contains traces of vitamins and minerals, but not usually in amounts that make any significant difference to our diet.
Drinking alcohol also reduces the amount of fat your body burns for energy. While we can store nutrients, protein, carbohydrates, and fat in our bodies, we can’t store alcohol. So our systems want to get rid of it, and doing so takes priority. All of the other processes that should be taking place ( including absorbing nutrients and burning fat) are interrupted.
With a pint of lager containing the same amount of calories as a slice of pizza, the calories soon add up
A pint of Heineken, 5% alcohol has 227 calories
A large glass of red wine, 13% alcohol has 170 calories
A Jack Daniels, 40% alcohol has 111 calories
Source: Drinkaware.co.uk
I gotta get drunk..
Well I gotta get drunk and I sure do dread it
‘Cause I know just what I’m gonna do
I’ll start to spend my money callin’ everybody honey
And wind up singin’ the blues
I’ll spend my whole paycheck on some old wreck
And brother I can name you a few
Well I gotta get drunk and I sure do dread it
“Cause I know just what I’m gonna do
I gotta get drunk, I can’t stay sober
There’s a lot of good people in town
That’d like to see me holler, see me spend my dollar
And I wouldn’t think of letting them down
There’s a lot of doctors tell me
That I’d better start slowing it down
But there’s more old drunks than there are old doctors
So I guess we better have another round
– Willy Nelson
The dark..
If you’re a farmer it’s a different story
Its dark, wet, cold. The animals are always hungry. It’s a long time to the spring when stuff gets growing again
You never know what’s around the corner, just when you think you’re on top, something or someone is there to knock you down
The pub could be miles away, but its the only respite. At least you can meet and chat and share.
For a few hours anyway, you’re not on your own
Its late by the time you get there, so much to be done. You have a pint, its well deserved
Whiskey too for the night that’s in it.
Trouble is 40% alcohol is just that, trouble
Alcohol is not a happy drug. If you’re feeling down it drags you deeper
Alcohol is highly toxic, it kills cells, so your health suffers
If anything happens to you, who’s going to look after the animals, the dog?
Who’s going to look after you?
This can be the blackest, bleakest time of year!
Where are you?
This can be a bleak time of year. For the guys it’s a blur
The pub, office parties. Even if he’s on his own a guy can go into a pub
Chat, enjoy the craic, the cheer. You’re a great fella, so are you, we’re all great fellas
For a woman its different. If she’s on her own, she can’t go into a pub
If she’s married, has kids, can’t go out. Has to be there, feed them
Make sure they have a good Christmas
He is out drinking, where? with who? No straight answer
Sullen indifference
Wish my mom was here, why can’t I go back
Where is he? The one I really want to be with, was happiest with
Have a glass of wine, or two, why not? everyone else is
Where are you now? Why am I here?
This can be the blackest, bleakest time of year..
