Indian Weddings: The Rise of Social Drinking Culture

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The Ambani wedding extravaganza has been going on forever, and it featured the who’s who of the entire world. From Bill Gates to Kim Kardashian, from The Great Khali to KL Rahul, politicians, musicians, tech giants, just giants, mermaids, leprechauns, everyone was there. Literally EVERYONE!

As a norm, all the eyes were there as well. Paparazzi from the entire world tuned in to find their one shot at fame. But the Ambanis steered well past even the basic controversies like someone over-drinking and making a mess.

Alcohol does not play a popular part in Indian weddings. The Ambanis also made it clear that alcohol would not be served during the ceremonies. However, reports have confirmed that the afterparties were not among the ceremonies. The fact that the entire event went so smoothly without any alcohol-related incidents just reiterates the importance of a social drinking supremacy movement.

Despite not being a part of any celebration in India, absurd drinking gets too much attention for no apparent reason. We have all had that one friend or uncle who would pass out drinking, be it a birthday party or Lakshmi pooja. Free drinks often result in someone or the other overstepping the limits. So much so that corporate parties often require accommodation as even companies know that someone is going to come with “revenge-against-corporate-slavery” in mind and have too many to drink. Sike.

Yet, none of that sort happened at the most gala event of the year and that made us look at social drinking in a different light. How drinking within limits can change the very mood of an event, is understated. So let us state it and sing an eulogy to Baccus, but semi-sober.

First In, Last Out!

This is important if you want to be a successful social drinker. Don’t run to the bar the moment they declare the bar open. In fact, land at the function way later than the opening time of the bar. Say the invite states 8 pm, go at 9. That way you’ll ensure that you land up late, and hopefully drink less.

Never Too Much, Too Fast

This is of utmost importance. Always pace yourself with your drinks. If you have your first drink at 9:15 pm, ensure that you have your second drink not earlier than 10 pm. That will make sure you are enjoying what’s happening and also drinking - so see? No one is missing out. If you don’t pace yourself, you’ll be in trouble.

Drink More, but Water!

Make sure you stay hydrated. Drink enough water in between your drinks. Suppose you had your first drink at 9:15 pm and second drink at 10 pm, make sure you drink at least three-four glasses of water in between those drinks. Your liver will thank you for it.

Lighter Is Better

Try to stay away from the heavy stuff. For instance, drinking multiple 60 ml whiskeys won’t do you any good. Choose light cocktails instead. What that does is ensure your blood alcohol level doesn’t go out of hand. You’ll also be able to drink more. Try a margarita or a Bloody Mary - it’s all up to you. You don’t miss out on the tea, they don’t get tea out of you, none the wiser.

Skip the Hype

If it’s your best friend’s wedding, don’t feel pressured to drink beyond your limits. There’s no fun in getting dropped dead drunk. Instead, have a couple of light drinks and enjoy the ambience. Remember - peer pressure is a dangerous thing. That one friend smashing beer on beer and asking all the groom’s friends to partake? Yes, you’ve got to give that a miss and trust us, it's not that big of a deal.

Leave Before You’re Thrown Out

Please have an exit strategy handy. What’s the plan if the above doesn't work and you’ve downed more than your fair share? Immediately go to the bar and ask for a slice of lime. Squeeze the same in your mouth to sober up. Or, order a fresh lime salt or sweet. That should cut the effect of alcohol. Once you’re done with that, book a cab, and get the hell out of there immediately. Send your best friend an explainer text - they’ll be sure to understand - in fact they’ll be thankful that you had the foresight to get out of the function before you got too drunk.

You’ve successfully done it. You’ve managed to drink within your limits, and have not embarrassed yourself or your friend with your shenanigans. After everything windows down, there is some post-event recovery that you must go through. This is what it entails.

Get H2O-ed!

Drink a lot of water. And ORS. That should keep you hydrated, and your system flushed. Drinking a lot of fluids also flushes toxins out of your system.

Back to the Good Food Hood

Eat, eat, and eat. Eating a meal with carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats can help stabilize your blood sugar levels and give you essential nutrients. Eating before/while drinking can also help line your stomach with food so alcohol absorption takes time allowing you to enjoy a mellow buzz instead of an intense, uncontrollable high.

Don’t Resist A-Rest

Alcohol disturbs the quality of sleep so you might feel fatigued after a big night. Take it easy, and you’ll feel refreshed sooner. Get a couple of extra hours of sleep if you need, it will be fine.

Eat, Sleep, Don’t repeat

No hair of the dog please. Stay away from all alcoholic beverages. It might seem like a tempting option - just don’t do it.

Ibu-proven!

If you have a hangover, take some OTC medication to deal with the pain. Nothing too strong whatsoever. Just something OTC like a Combi Flam or something similar.

GYM, Bro!

Do just some minimal physical activities to get your circulation running. Don’t overdo it or your body won’t be able to take it.

Social drinking is a tricky affair. It’s like facing Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling in a test match. You have to know which shots to take, and which ones you must avoid. Remember, it’s imperative you have to be able to control yourself in public, and not act like a drunk fool. Remember. If you get excessively wasted, it reflects poorly on you. Your host gets angry, other people get inconvenienced and at the end of the day, these people talk. Remember to pace yourself, hydrate yourself accordingly, drink lighter drinks, munch on something while you drink, and be careful of friends who try to get you too drunk for their own amusement. Keep these points in mind, and you’ll master social drinking in no time.