Good news for tipplers

DRINKING: The topic of the benefits of alcohol on human health has once again surfaced, this time in yet another international medical research study. The study reveals that moderate drinking raises the good cholesterol in the blood stream and reduces the risk of heart attacks. It has no doubt touched on the heart of the matter.

Nay, it would warm, the cockles of the army of drinkers who had hitherto been at the butt end of many an uncomplimentary remark, not least from the domestic front. The pros and cons of alcohol drinking has been the subject of much debate down the years suffice it to say that many hardy imbiber is yet alive and kicking after decades of being wedded to the bottle though not exactly a picture of health.

The latest finding no doubt would provide an added impetus and send the adrenal flowing among that fraternity who had all along sworn by the bottle. They would throw the results of the study in the face of their nagging better halves with a satisfied smirk of 'I told you so.

"Nay they would go another step further and have the relevant paper cutting picture framed and hung on the wall of their dining room wall or whatever hidden cellar where the bottle is stored in the domestic abode. That would put paid to any unwarranted wifely remarks that may emanate when the bottle is pulled out at now frequent intervals.

The research has stopped short of recommending alcohol as a health drink for fear of overindulgence and its deleterious after effects. This of course will be little consolation for a particularly long suffering spouse who may want to wean her man from the bottle.

On the other hand even the female of the species too could be inducted into the 'men's club'. Not that there ever were spouses who were not averse to a tot now and then. On the contrary there would be new bonds forged on the domestic front with wives eagerly waiting hubby's return home from office to 'put in a couple'.

The result could be much more than a hang over for the missus given the stimulating effect of the amber spirit which would no doubt add a cutting edge to their marital bliss. The finding could also have its consequences far afield. A kill joy wife would now wont find it easy to drag away her man from the company of a roistering gang, lest she be accused of harming his health.

They would always have the latest finding on the beneficial results of alcohol to throw in her face. The new finding could also deal a mortal blow to the pharmaceutical trade with people preferring to have a tot rather than going for an anti-cholesterol drug which in any case is of prohibitive cost these days.

Temperance Day is bound to be observed in the breach and regular calls by religious and civic society leaders to shut down taverns and wine stores would now have no meaning.

The bottle would now assume new respectability and would not be frowned upon even in staid and conservative homes which had treated it as the fount of all evil. In the melee there is bound to be blurring of lines between moderate and hard drinking resulting in mounting cases of cirrhosis with the State having to contend with a rising health bill.

There is also bound to be protests by the well meaning Temperance Movement whose aggressive poster campaigns in the city on the evils of alcohol would now have little impact.

No doubt there would be sermons and preachings by religious leaders who are bound to see the diabolic side of the whole issue. But when did our people pay heed to such pious pronouncements in a country where the sacred Poya day observed by revelry and where the turn out in illegal liquor sales outstrips that of all other days in the calendar year.

Rambler