I’m forty now and enjoy a cold beer on weekends and on vacations.  But that may soon be coming to an end.

I don’t drink much wine- but I do enjoy a white Zinfandel or sparkling wine in the summer.  I find that those pair nicely with fresh fruits.

Hard liquor seems to last forever in my home.  I was given a bottle of tequila back in March, and still haven’t cracked it.  Same with the Espresso Vodka given to us at the start of July.  I do enjoy a hint of Bailey’s or Kahlua in my coffee in the winter months.  But that’s a little treat to my self usually after a night shift.

Beer is still my “go to” alcohol.  But I am slowly cutting it out of my life it seems.  Many reasons factor into this:

1. I don’t like hangovers.
2. I don’t go out as much as I did twenty years ago.
3. Beer isn’t cheap anymore.
4. Alcohol gives me respiratory issues.

1. No one likes hangovers.  The time for hangovers is long gone.  Children and responsibilities are paramount these days.  Hangovers don’t mesh well with any of those.

2. Going out and drinking socially isn’t my thing.  I don’t watch sports, I don’t dance, I don’t sing karaoke, and I don’t like being drunk in public.  Having quality time with friends is awesome though.  So I make exceptions when I need to be around people.

3. Beer is getting expensive.  Craft beer is popular at the moment, with many tasting rooms popping up all around.  Of course Molson, Budweiser, & Coors are cheap-but they are mass produced and shipped worldwide.  These large corporations are slowing buying out the microbrews that have become popular over the past few years.  I find this unfortunate only because I prefer to help “the little guy” but I also understand that at some point their ultimate goal is to make money.  

4. As much as I enjoy the tastes of micro brews, I can only have small doses.  My allergies and asthma don’t appreciate fermentation in my system.  After two beers, I am feeling the effects in my breathing and my immune system.  After four beers- I am struggling to breathe and sound like I am suffering with a head cold.  I’m even worse when it comes to the heavy liquors like whiskey or rye.

In the end I need to decide if the suffering I go through is worth drinking or not.  I do enjoy the flavors being mixed in many craft beers these days.  But I do not enjoy the way my body feels afterwards.  Carrying an inhaler and a box of tissues isn’t my idea of fun.  
Oh well.  I’m feeling like a hypocrite as I finish tonight’s post while I sip on a glass of beer.  I’ll make my decision some other day.