Cheap--Booze

A bit off the subject,all the soaps on tv,Emmerdale,Coronation St and East enders have people proping up the bar in a pub,maybe some people spend their spare time in the pub;any one from overseas watching must think it's a way of life in Britain. 

I think I was very lucky as an "green behind the ears" young lady type person after I turned 21 years old....one of those things I am fortunate in having was the "Elks Lodge" whom informed me that because we were with the officers of the lodge in thier events most the time...that they had the job to look "Happy happy, happy" and socialable " all the time", but they also would not keep thier offices if they were not responsible at club events...as they had to set an kind of example to everyone else. So it was...some of the techniques they showed us...one of them was to look like you were always drinking....by putting the glass to the mouth...but then find something to say to someone else.... and never take the drink...usually it was an greeting of some kind to someone...the second thing done was each couple before dinner started...tossed in about enough money for three drinks per couple...and you'd be surprised it made an kind of "self-limitation"to watch how much we drank..to be " fair" to all the others. If we knew someone was drunk..guys got them out of the club fast, and paid for an cab to take them home..so they couldn't make a n scene.For many of us...we worked at the lodge helping out the event.... and just didnt have the time to sit an drink. I thought afterwards that maybe if kids were taught to drink in this fashion...there would not be so many problems. Young kids are impressionable and they want to "fit in" with the crowd. Of course by the time you age an bit it's not such an biggie to drink. The fella who we sat with at his table as guests.... later became the State Elks President..representing all of Oregon.  I guess I was lucky to be shown some of the things they taught me..such as the freindship "hug and quick kiss"...and the wife whispering in my ear...dont take offence..he means nothing by this Shirley...but that your one of his closer freinds in the lodge.. Then she backed off laughing.....as if she'd wispered an joke in my ear instead. I knew he had to present an different look from what really was in being an popular and social person to everyone, as I said...happy happy happy... all the time. Sharp witted also. Responsible for everything that went on inside the lodge also. It tells young folks that heavy drinking is not the way to go if  your going anywhere. as an leader later on. About the best I can sum things up on this issue.