Comments on: Curing A Hangover http://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/curing-a-hangover/ Jay R. Brooks on Beer Tue, 22 May 2012 15:04:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://beerzine.com/?v=3.3.2 By: J http://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/curing-a-hangover/comment-page-1/#comment-1227 J Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:51:50 +0000 http://www.brookstonbeerbulletin.com/curing-a-hangover/#comment-1227 I will concede that you're probably correct in saying that the author didn't "intentionally" advocate abstinence. If we asked her, I'm sure that's what she'd say. But since we all agree that everything should be done in moderation, then that also must <em>include</em> moderation as well. Kidding aside, I believe the moderation/abstinence/responsibility bit has simply been internalized by the media and it isn't something that's even consciously considered. Instead, anytime a story is done that involves drinking alcohol they automatically include some cautionary statement to satisfy the anticipated complaints that will undoubtedly come flooding in from the moral minority (the sober minority?) if they don't. I believe that's why such statements continually appear in virtually every mainstream article about drinking. It's like that "drink responsibly" tag at the end of every alcohol advertisement. You can't mention drinking without reminding people for the gazillionth time to do so responsibly, as if they might somehow forget if you don't keep hammering it home. Likewise, not reminding people for the gazillionth time would have people screaming that they are somehow encouraging drinking. So it's just internalized that if you mention alcohol, you must mention responsibility or risk the wrath of the anti-alcohol league. I will concede that you’re probably correct in saying that the author didn’t “intentionally” advocate abstinence. If we asked her, I’m sure that’s what she’d say. But since we all agree that everything should be done in moderation, then that also must include moderation as well. Kidding aside, I believe the moderation/abstinence/responsibility bit has simply been internalized by the media and it isn’t something that’s even consciously considered. Instead, anytime a story is done that involves drinking alcohol they automatically include some cautionary statement to satisfy the anticipated complaints that will undoubtedly come flooding in from the moral minority (the sober minority?) if they don’t. I believe that’s why such statements continually appear in virtually every mainstream article about drinking. It’s like that “drink responsibly” tag at the end of every alcohol advertisement. You can’t mention drinking without reminding people for the gazillionth time to do so responsibly, as if they might somehow forget if you don’t keep hammering it home. Likewise, not reminding people for the gazillionth time would have people screaming that they are somehow encouraging drinking. So it’s just internalized that if you mention alcohol, you must mention responsibility or risk the wrath of the anti-alcohol league.

]]> By: Stephen Beaumont http://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/curing-a-hangover/comment-page-1/#comment-1226 Stephen Beaumont Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:19:39 +0000 http://www.brookstonbeerbulletin.com/curing-a-hangover/#comment-1226 All right, Jay, I'll grant that not drinking oneself into oblivion is indeed avoidance and not a cure. Your hairs are well split, mon ami. But my point is I don't believe the author was intending the line to be a call for abstinence, just moderation. If it were otherwise, I would agree with you entirely, but I just don't think that's the case. In my view, the correct approach to drink echoes what the great M.F.K. Fisher once wrote about the ideal dining companions, they being those who approach the table with "the right mix of abandon and restraint." Which is to say, drink for the sake of enjoyment, not for the express purpose of drunkenness. All right, Jay, I’ll grant that not drinking oneself into oblivion is indeed avoidance and not a cure. Your hairs are well split, mon ami. But my point is I don’t believe the author was intending the line to be a call for abstinence, just moderation. If it were otherwise, I would agree with you entirely, but I just don’t think that’s the case.

In my view, the correct approach to drink echoes what the great M.F.K. Fisher once wrote about the ideal dining companions, they being those who approach the table with “the right mix of abandon and restraint.” Which is to say, drink for the sake of enjoyment, not for the express purpose of drunkenness.

]]> By: Greg Koch http://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/curing-a-hangover/comment-page-1/#comment-1225 Greg Koch Tue, 04 Dec 2007 01:10:16 +0000 http://www.brookstonbeerbulletin.com/curing-a-hangover/#comment-1225 Not mentioned that I noticed, but known to all of us, is to watch what you drink. Not just volume (already discussed and fundamentally obvious), but also the quality of the drink itself. Cheap champagne has a deserved reputation for an instant headache. Other cheap / poor quality stuff may not be as immediate in its negative effects, but you can still draw an easy line to them. If you're going to drink, drink good quality (realizing that I'm preaching to the long-converted here!). Not mentioned that I noticed, but known to all of us, is to watch what you drink. Not just volume (already discussed and fundamentally obvious), but also the quality of the drink itself. Cheap champagne has a deserved reputation for an instant headache. Other cheap / poor quality stuff may not be as immediate in its negative effects, but you can still draw an easy line to them. If you’re going to drink, drink good quality (realizing that I’m preaching to the long-converted here!).

]]> By: J http://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/curing-a-hangover/comment-page-1/#comment-1224 J Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:34:31 +0000 http://www.brookstonbeerbulletin.com/curing-a-hangover/#comment-1224 Really? Au contraire mon frère, it's not his suggestion that people use common sense and avoid oblivion, it's the idea that abstinence or even common sense is a cure. That's what cheeses me off. I don't believe Monsieur Forbes is using oblivion as an actual target, it's just a literary device. He's just saying don't drink "<em>too much</em>" and you won't get a hangover. And that could be as few as two drinks for the teetotaler deciding on a rare celebratory tipple over the holidays. To me, it's an aside masquerading as advice that is in reality advocacy. The theme of the article was "cures," and saying don't drink too much isn't a cure. No matter how good that advice is, it's still not a remedy for having had too much. I know it's splitting hairs, that's why I said so, but it's over the line in my humble opinion. Really? Au contraire mon frère, it’s not his suggestion that people use common sense and avoid oblivion, it’s the idea that abstinence or even common sense is a cure. That’s what cheeses me off. I don’t believe Monsieur Forbes is using oblivion as an actual target, it’s just a literary device. He’s just saying don’t drink “too much” and you won’t get a hangover. And that could be as few as two drinks for the teetotaler deciding on a rare celebratory tipple over the holidays. To me, it’s an aside masquerading as advice that is in reality advocacy. The theme of the article was “cures,” and saying don’t drink too much isn’t a cure. No matter how good that advice is, it’s still not a remedy for having had too much. I know it’s splitting hairs, that’s why I said so, but it’s over the line in my humble opinion.

]]> By: Stephen Beaumont http://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/curing-a-hangover/comment-page-1/#comment-1223 Stephen Beaumont Mon, 03 Dec 2007 23:48:50 +0000 http://www.brookstonbeerbulletin.com/curing-a-hangover/#comment-1223 I've got to say I think you're being a bit harsh on old man Forbes, Jay. The article, as you quote it, is not saying "don't drink," it's saying "don't drink yourself into oblivion." That's not a "just say no" mentality; it's just common sense. I’ve got to say I think you’re being a bit harsh on old man Forbes, Jay. The article, as you quote it, is not saying “don’t drink,” it’s saying “don’t drink yourself into oblivion.” That’s not a “just say no” mentality; it’s just common sense.

]]> By: Alan http://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/curing-a-hangover/comment-page-1/#comment-1222 Alan Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:44:12 +0000 http://www.brookstonbeerbulletin.com/curing-a-hangover/#comment-1222 Twenty years ago, a bunch of my pals were in med school in the good old port city of Halifax, NS. One Saturday afternoon, heading down to the frat where they lived to start an afternoon in the pubs, picking up where we had left it off the night before, I found them in one room sitting in easy chairs arranged in a circle starting to drink beer and all hooked up to IVs. Apparently a couple of bags of saline solution is best hangover cure and preventative. My own cure? Ice cream sandwiches, Perrier water and a good long nap. Twenty years ago, a bunch of my pals were in med school in the good old port city of Halifax, NS. One Saturday afternoon, heading down to the frat where they lived to start an afternoon in the pubs, picking up where we had left it off the night before, I found them in one room sitting in easy chairs arranged in a circle starting to drink beer and all hooked up to IVs. Apparently a couple of bags of saline solution is best hangover cure and preventative.

My own cure? Ice cream sandwiches, Perrier water and a good long nap.

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