The New Prohibition: Searching for a Convo

I’m going there.

I drank an alcoholic beverage – or two – before my twenty-first birthday. I hope the good people of New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, see no need to go after me, years later, for my bad behavior.

Wait! Bad behavior?
It was good behavior and good judgment within the social sets that I roamed – with friends and lots of conversation and laughter.  Never any bad behavior after. Legendary political conversations over a glass of wine; world-saving debate with a can of beer in my hand.  Sure, I was aware of friends and relatives that could not handle it.  I looked after them and checked myself.  In my set of personal culture alcohol had a reasonable place.  I’m still thankful for the privilege of having good perspective when it came to alcohol.
Unusual?

Lately I’ve had a lot of people talking at me about alcohol. Unfortunately, I’ve only lectured back. There’s been very little about conversation.

The elephant that now hangs in my space and sits right on me is asking whether we – the American society – are doing our best to deal with alcohol in our lives.  The mastodon wants to know if we’re serious about conversation and checking ourselves on this issue.  Have we got an answer or a way to deal with the hospital visits; sexual assaults; physical and other abuse; the fights; and, the bankruptcy of it all?  Are we able to address the laughter and fun? Have we grown up in a 27-year prohibition culture?  Have we just evolved not to drink? Is this an attack on young folk and other people we can’t deal? What of culture?

All I’m looking for are candid conversations. Are we grown up enough to have just one?

Peace.