From time to time
Getting started with drinking in my country is very easy. From a very young age, at parties and celebrations it is common to be invited to drink a toast. Not doing so is even seen as an act of contempt towards those who invite you to drink.
A few days ago, talking with my husband, he told me that in the Venezuelan coasts, there are towns where at wakes they have certain rules to toast, for example: if you are going to accept a drink then they are obliged to accept all the drinks that they offer you; besides, you must accompany them until the next day drinking until the burial of the deceased takes place. So if you want to drink at a wake, it is best to bring your own liquor, but if you do, don't forget that it is good to share and offer drinks to others.
In my family, my brothers are heavy drinkers but I grew up with the idea that alcohol is for enjoyment, not for him to take advantage of you and enjoy you. I also believe that people who drink to excess only believe that they can achieve happiness by drinking alcohol or they do it to try to forget about something.
I think it's okay to have a few drinks eventually. It's also a good way to celebrate your own successes as well as the successes of others, but as long as you don't drink as the only way to cheer yourself up, it's all right.
I have certainly fallen into excess on a few occasions; alcohol relaxes you a lot but I also don't like to deal with a huge hangover the next day.
Only once I have fallen into total excess drinking whiskey and I think I would not do it again because "my cassette was erased" as they say and when I went to bed everything was spinning and I threw up, something very embarrassing, thank goodness my husband was there and he helped me not to make the disaster of the year.
I think that if there is a reason to celebrate and there is an occasion to celebrate with alcohol you should not miss that opportunity and do it in style; it would be another experience that will add to your great anecdotes. Cheers.
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Translated from Spanish to English by DeppL (free version).