The effects of alcohol puzzle me. I mean, I know it’s a drug- a chemical with addictive properties. It’s a psychoactive drug, a chemical substance that alters mood, behaviour, perception, or mental functioning. Alcohol has always been the most widely used psychoactive substance. In most countries it is the only psychoactive drug legally available without prescription. Pleasant relaxation is commonly the desired effect, but intoxication impairs judgement and motor performance. When used chronically, alcohol can be toxic to liver and brain cells. Nice.

In Britain, the legal blood alcohol concentration is 80mg/100ml - whatever the hell that means. Research allows me to conclude that alcohol consumption can have many varied effects, the same amount and type causing different people to alter their behaviour in different ways. (Remove ‘research’, insert ‘alcoholism’.) (No, scrap that, re-insert ‘research’!) There’s the sleepy drunk, the quiet drunk, the violent abusive drunk (one of whom I happen to know very well and tend to steer clear of). Alcohol makes some people more approachable and turns others into evil monsters. In my experience however, the most common result of semi-excessive alcohol intake is the loss of all inhibitions, making people far more outgoing, exciting and sociable than their usual sober-selves would allow. And this, in essence, is not a bad thing. Emotions do tend to run high during a night of drinking too. I experience a vast amount more laughing, crying and abuse-yelling during the average night out than in a tee-total week.

Enough of my experiences of others under the influence. My intention with todays entry was to disclose the effects the drink of the devil has on yours truly. A personal matter in my opinion. Undecided as to whether this is information for other peoples ears- or eyes in this case. Ultimately, revealing the way in which your body and mind can be altered by a chemical is exposing yourself perhaps a little more than necessary. Well, first of all- the physical effects. Occasionally, alcohol generates a general feeling of illness within me, stomach aches and headaches have been known to occur. My vision can blur, ability to feel pain is usually significantly diminished and temperature becomes irrelevant. Oh, and of course, visits to the ladies room become a frequent excursion.
Most of the changes are mental ones though. In theory, the transformation shouldn’t be all that bad. I become louder- but not in an excessive, annoying way. My customary introverted behaviour is replaced with a far more likable extrovert. Daring is a perfect word to use to describe my new persona. However, wherever the inebriated me goes, I seem to leave behind a trail of destruction (on a relatively small scale). Along with my inhibitions go my judgement and general ability to tell the acceptable from the not so acceptable. And this is more often than not sexually related. I can not remember the last time I got drunk and did not kiss someone- anyone, whether it be a dare, an ex-boyfriend (not a good idea) or somebody elses boyfriend (an even worse idea). I seem incapable of making good decisions. I seem incapable of walking away from situations that will only cause problems when my blood alcohol level falls. This I will work on. I promise.
Anyway, when measured against the huge amount of fun I have when under the influence, these small blunders pail into insignificance. No-one except myself has ever been seriously affected by my errors in judgement and nobody’s perfect. I can always blame it on the alcohol! Overall I appreciate the effect alcohol has on me, and I think those around me would agree that it allows me to come out of my shell and become the life and soul of any party! Saturday night is returning to me in fragments. A tequila contest, riding a bicycle in a bars off limits store room? Stealing two ceramic pumpkins and a tin of paint from aforementioned store room. Sharing the champagne of two strangers and ‘borrowing’ a dj’s beer. I-spy on the way home? That was a good night! Random- the best word to describe it. Conclusive proof that alcohol is a god-send.

Joey~X~