Hair of the Dog

It’s that time of the year again: The Holidays. Many people will imbibe this season if not because of the economy then in spite of it. What they will drink this season is much the subject of blog chatter this year as the financial roller coaster is having a marked impact on the wine and spirits industry.

No matter the economic climate, the day after the celebrations - be they with family, friends or in the office - brings regret and discomfort for many. So it is only natural that people seek out remedies and antidotes for these consequences of their hedonism.

I have decided to take on the myths that surround preventing and treating hangovers because I am doubly qualified to do so: I am a physician and I am Polish (’nuff said).

The causes of hangover symptoms are a consequence of a number of physiologic derangements including: dehydration, electrolyte loss, hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis, loss of REM sleep and possibly insufficient oxygen. It should also not be overlooked that some elements of a hangover fulfill the clinical criteria for withdrawal symptoms. (more…)

Cheap Drunk

Chris Rock jokes that the best way to reduce gun-related deaths is to make bullets so expensive, potential offenders would think twice about using them. That seems to be the logic underlying the results of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation study which found that increasing alcohol taxes reduced alcohol-related deaths.

This study tracked the relationship between changes in alcohol prices (as affected by increased excise taxes) and the incidence of “alcohol poisoning and alcoholic liver disease, and deaths linked to alcohol, such as cirrhosis and chronic pancreatitis” in Alaska. It did not track alchol-related traffic fatalities. (more…)

Paradox. From: http://dedroidify.blogspot.com

The last few weeks in the wine blogosphere have seen a large number posts taking the contest between Barack Obama and John McCain to realms previously unseen in political discourse. While some offer pretty humorous takes on comparing wines to the candidates, it is undeniable that others are stating their support for a candidate.

More often than not, that candidate is Barack Obama. That is fine by me (hey, the blogosphere is a free and unrestricted medium). But there is a painful philosophical paradox which many bloggers must face.

I would like to hear how many in the wine producing, wine writing, wine selling and wine promoting sectors explain the following paradox. (more…)

I have some questions.

I had been absent from the wine blogosphere through much of August and the first part of September. We moved and that always takes much of one’s time. Packing, unpacking, setting up the new place, finishing remodeling and dealing with plumbing emergencies leaves little time and energy for creative thinking or writing.

Each day went by in a flurry of work. Sweat and dust and new cuts and bruises marked the passing of time. The completion of yet another task marked progress. Somewhere in there, I had to do my day job (the one that actually results in a paycheck). I found that having a home office is fraught with some difficulties and can be scary when the network goes down.

At the end of each day, tired as I was, I would grind my teeth thinking about all the things I did not get to do and how much I was falling behind with my blog, web site and OWC commitments. I didn’t drink very much wine, either. Not even for the pleasure of it. I was just too damned tired. (more…)

Young adults and alcohol.

There has been much discussion lately about lowering the legal drinking age. Tom Wark has argued strongly for lowering the legal drinking age in the past and has again spoken in support of the idea.

Lowering the legal drinking age will not do anything to reduce road fatalities and it will not make 18, 19 or 25 year-olds more responsible with alcohol. The parenting attitudes and practices of an entire country would need to change to affect a difference in the behaviors of 18-25 year-olds.

Not that it would be easy. And it would not happen overnight. Then, there is the fact that we are still dealing with individuals whose brain development is not always ready for truly adult decisions. (more…)