DRINKING ALCOHOL – GOLDEN RULE No. 4
KNOW YOUR DRINKING CAPACITY or ALCOHOL
TOLERANCE
The “Flash”
Point and The “Fire” Point
By
VIKRAM KARVE
It is best
not to drink alcohol, but if you do drink then you must ask yourself: “Why do I
drink?”
You drink
because you want to “feel good”.
If you drink
too much you will get drunk.
When you get
drunk you hardly feel or remember anything since your senses are dulled.
But if you
get inebriated, in your intoxicated and drunken state, you will make a fool of
yourself, you may embarrass your near and dear ones, and you will certainly
feel miserable when you come to your senses from your drunken stupor and suffer
the pains of a terrible hangover.
If you drink
too little – well then there is no point in drinking alcohol at all and you
might as well have some fruit juice or a soft drink or a glass of milk. You may
find it laughable, but at some parties, I have seen some persons just holding a
drink in their hands for keeping up appearances (they want to project a
“proper” image before their hard drinking bosses and colleagues and don’t want people
to call them a “sissy”). There is no shame in being a teetotaller – in fact you
should be proud of it. By the way, after over 25 years of “work hard play hard drink hard” living, I too am a strictly sober
teetotaller for the last 10 years.
I write this
series as I wish to share my experiences with you and enable you to take more out
of alcohol than alcohol takes out of you.
So, if you
want to truly enjoy drinking, you must drink just the right amount of alcohol
that makes you feel good.
The aim of
drinking alcohol is to feel high, not to get drunk (and, of course, not to
remain dead sober as a teetotaller, in which case it is a waste of good liquor)
You must feel
high but you must not get drunk.
For achieving
this delightful “high” state, you must know your drinking capacity which depends
on your alcohol tolerance level.
DISCOVER YOUR DRINKING CAPACITY
Well, it was
through sheer serendipity that I discovered my drinking capacity. This method worked
for me. To find out whether it works for you, do try it out , at your own risk,
and tell us how it worked for you.
You will need
the following which you must keep handy on a table next to your chair:
1. A Bottle
of Rum or Whisky or adequate quantity of your regular drink
(If you drink
shots, line enough of them up).
2. A Book
3. Water
Before I
describe the technique let me impart to you some “theory”.
If you were a
science student you must have performed a chemistry lab experiment to find out
the FLASH POINT and FIRE POINT of a fuel. You start heating the volatile
liquid. The flash point occurs when the fuel exhibits a flash. The fuel is
heated further and the fire point occurs when the volatile material starts
burning and continues to burn.
Applying the
same analogy to drinking alcohol, you can say that your “flash point” occurs when
you are “high” (you have reached your drinking capacity).
If you keep on
drinking then you will reach your “fire point”, an inebriated state of drunkenness.
Your aim is to
remain happily high around your “flash point” and in no circumstances must you
cross your “fire point”.
But how do
you find out your “flash point”?
Here is how
to “measure” your “flash point” or drinking capacity.
1. Drink a
glass of water. This is to stabilize you in case you are dehydrated and get you
ready for the experiment.
2. Pour your
normal drink.
3. Take the
book and start reading.
4. Keep
drinking at your normal pace and also keep reading continuously. Take your
time, sip your drink and focus on the book.
5. The moment
you reach state where your concentration starts wavering (you can read the
words but you realize that you are not clearly registering what you are reading
in your mind) you have reached your “flash point”.
This is that delightful
state of alcohol induced emotional flux which makes you feel “high”.
6. If you
continue drinking beyond your “flash point” you will reach a hazy state where
the words in the book appear blurred and you have difficulty in reading as your
eyes may not focus properly.
You have now reached
your “fire point” (alcohol induced intoxication).
You must stop
drinking alcohol immediately once you reach your “fire point” and drink a glass
of water and relax and soon you will gravitate back towards your “flash point”.
If you
continue drinking beyond your “fire point” you will get inebriated and become
drunk.
7. Measure
the amount of liquor you have drunk to reach your “flash point”.
8. Repeat
this experiment a number of times (on different days), fine tune the results,
and soon you will know your drinking capacity (alcohol tolerance level).
There is a
saying: “First you drink alcohol, and then the alcohol drinks you”.
Similarly,
till you reach your “flash point” you are the one drinking alcohol – you have
reached the limit of your control but you still have control.
Near your
“flash point” you will experience the “high” feeling which alcohol gives you
and you must stop drinking at once – you will remain “high” for sometime,
enjoying the euphoric sensation, and then you will have a pleasant relaxing
feeling as the “high” gradually tapers off and this is the best time to drift
off into a nice sleep.
Once you
reach your “fire point” you will lose control and the alcohol will take charge
and it is the alcohol which will “drink” you and you will get drunk.
Let me sound
a note of caution.
If you drink
frequently your alcohol tolerance will increase.
Increased
Alcohol Tolerance means that after continued drinking, consumption of a
constant amount of alcohol produces a lesser effect which means that larger
amounts of alcohol are necessary to produce the same effect. Thus, you will
need to drink more alcohol to reach your “flash point” to get a “high”. In
effect your “drinking capacity” increases. As you continue drinking, this has a
snowballing effect.
Though having
a great drinking capacity may be a “macho” thing to boast about, and may win
the admiration of your friends and colleagues, high alcohol tolerance indicates
a propensity towards alcoholism in later years, so watch out.
High alcohol
tolerance is not necessarily something to be proud of.
Regular
consumption of alcohol will raise your drinking capacity which in turn will
tempt you drink more to reach your “flash point”.
And if you
continue this habit you may develop alcohol dependence and you may eventually
slip into the abyss of alcoholism.
So, if you
realise that your “flash point” has increased, abstain from drinking for a few
days till your “flash point” falls to a reasonable level.
The less you
drink, the better it is for your body, so in fact it is advantageous to have a
low drinking capacity.
But then you
must remember never to cross your “flash point”.
Avoid binge
drinking and competitive drinking which can damage your health.
Like I said
in the beginning, it is best not to drink alcohol, but if you do drink, remember,
as Winston Churchill once said, that you must take more out of alcohol than
alcohol takes out of you.
And how do
you do that – well that I will tell you in my next post in this series on the
golden rules of drinking alcohol.
Happy “Flash
Point”. Do let me know if this works for you.
And don’t
forget the four golden rules of drinking alcohol (links to the posts given
below or click on the rule to go to the link):
4. DISCOVER
YOUR DRINKING CAPACITY
DRINKING ALCOHOL -
GOLDEN RULE NO. 1
NEVER DRINK WHEN YOU
NEED A DRINK
DRINKING ALCOHOL - GOLDEN RULE No. 2
FEEL NICE BUT DON'T GET DRUNK
DRINKING ALCOHOL - GOLDEN RULE No. 3
ENJOY YOUR DRINK BUT DON’T BECOME AN
ALCOHOLIC
DRINKING ALCOHOL – GOLDEN RULE No. 4
KNOW YOUR DRINKING CAPACITY or ALCOHOL TOLERANCE
The “Flash” Point and The “Fire” Point
(To be continued …)
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2012
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Did you like this blog post?
I am sure you will like the stories in my recently published book COCKTAIL comprising twenty seven short stories about relationships. To order the book please click the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-81910 91844?affid=nme
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-ka rve.html
COCKTAIL ebook
If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the link below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925
About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and he is currently working on his novel. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2012
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Did you like this blog post?
I am sure you will like the stories in my recently published book COCKTAIL comprising twenty seven short stories about relationships. To order the book please click the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-81910
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-ka
COCKTAIL ebook
If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the link below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925
About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and he is currently working on his novel. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.