Sigh… this unfortunately lines up with my own anecdotal experience. I’m part of a small group of young adults from my Evangelical church. The millennial (27-37ish) members enjoy our craft beers and have strong opinions on what red wine or type of whiskey we prefer. The younger members celebrate their 21st birthdays with “mock-tails”. I recently told one of them that I feel the same way about mock-tails as I do about plant based meat substitutes. It might taste fine, it’s just… kinda sad.
Permit me to suggest, as a professional bartender, that the stories of younger generations eschewing alcohol are… exaggerated. And by “exaggerated” I mean “horseshit”. The big liquor companies like Brown-Forman and Diageo have been using this line as an excuse for their own failures, but it’s more and more apparent that they’re the ones responsible for their own shortcomings. Drink categories like spritzes and RTD cocktails are on the rise. Booze ain’t going anywhere, but tastes change.
Wonderful post. Drinking is great for thought, conversation, and breaking bread. It is great for conversing and finding humanity in who we could otherwise easily demonize. I am thankful that GLP1 have helped me shed 20+kg, but have had no effect on my taste for wine and cocktails. I also love delicious food, and when I want, I can still enjoy a tasting menu, etc. The drug, has essentially, reduced my neuropathy (not a document use), and eliminated eating too much or eating because I am anxious or bored. I know this is not the case for others.
I do keep a close eye on liver enzymes through blood exams yearly.
This is pure Nietzsche. Modern life is entirely Apollonian—a sterile cult of optimization, safety, and social media surveillance. We are engineering "The Last Man." In banning the Dionysian chaos of drinking culture, we risk losing the rare thing that actually breaks down our hyper-individuation and connects us.
Sigh… this unfortunately lines up with my own anecdotal experience. I’m part of a small group of young adults from my Evangelical church. The millennial (27-37ish) members enjoy our craft beers and have strong opinions on what red wine or type of whiskey we prefer. The younger members celebrate their 21st birthdays with “mock-tails”. I recently told one of them that I feel the same way about mock-tails as I do about plant based meat substitutes. It might taste fine, it’s just… kinda sad.
Permit me to suggest, as a professional bartender, that the stories of younger generations eschewing alcohol are… exaggerated. And by “exaggerated” I mean “horseshit”. The big liquor companies like Brown-Forman and Diageo have been using this line as an excuse for their own failures, but it’s more and more apparent that they’re the ones responsible for their own shortcomings. Drink categories like spritzes and RTD cocktails are on the rise. Booze ain’t going anywhere, but tastes change.
When I was on Mounjaro, the only thing about my appetite that didn't dim was how much I looked forward to a glass (or 3) of decent claret or Rioja...
That is reassuring.
Wonderful post. Drinking is great for thought, conversation, and breaking bread. It is great for conversing and finding humanity in who we could otherwise easily demonize. I am thankful that GLP1 have helped me shed 20+kg, but have had no effect on my taste for wine and cocktails. I also love delicious food, and when I want, I can still enjoy a tasting menu, etc. The drug, has essentially, reduced my neuropathy (not a document use), and eliminated eating too much or eating because I am anxious or bored. I know this is not the case for others.
I do keep a close eye on liver enzymes through blood exams yearly.
This is pure Nietzsche. Modern life is entirely Apollonian—a sterile cult of optimization, safety, and social media surveillance. We are engineering "The Last Man." In banning the Dionysian chaos of drinking culture, we risk losing the rare thing that actually breaks down our hyper-individuation and connects us.
Never considered Genghis Khan and his kumis*-powered empire?
(* Fermented mare's milk).
As dysfunctional as alcohol can be it has surprising helped us function for thousands of years. Great book and wonderful article.
Thanks Brett, I appreciate it.
I miss the days of an after work drink with colleagues- the world may have been a trifle less safe but infinitely more fun.
Very entertaining in a depressing sort of way, Henry. Have you decided what your specialist subject will be,
when there’s no more wine to write about?
My only other interest is cars and they are dying out too. Maybe kimchi?