Alcohol: The Great (Un)Equalizer

Moving to a rural location such as Wise County has been really eye-opening in a variety of ways.  Today's focus is on alcohol, and the varying degrees of acceptance we've found in our new location.

Growing up, I remember alcohol playing a role in my life.  I was always a good kid; I drank maybe twice in high school (and it was St. Ide's wine coolers, which were so disgusting that I stopped after two because the amount of sugar upset my stomach).  I remember having wine at the table for dinners, special and regular, and my dad drinking Scotch at night.  We used to go to this Cuban restaurant in Tampa called Teresita's, and my parents always ordered a pitcher of sangria.  Until I was around 16, the waiters always brought me a glass for sangria, too, and my parents allowed me to enjoy a glass with my dinner.  In the Hispanic / Latino / European culture, it's not uncommon for children to drink wine or sangria with dinner, and my parents never made tasting "off limits" because they believed that expecting and requiring a complete abstinence from drinking would encourage my curiosity, thus making me more inclined to drinking as a teen.  Their plan was successful.  Once I got to college I definitely experimented with drinking a little more, but I quickly learned my limits and partying never interfered with my athletics or academics.  In fact, during my senior swim season, I chose to go "dry", meaning I didn't drink the whole time in hopes that my times would improve.  They didn't.  

So all of this is to say that I grew up with a pretty liberal view of drinking, but with the expectation to not go overboard or get out of control, because you would not be met with sympathy.  Meg was raised in a similar way; she has some other factors that affect her world view, but she enjoys a good bourbon and ginger ale, glass of Cabernet, or craft brew like many other people in the world (including me!).

Moving here, we were exposed to a completely different world view regarding alcohol.  It took me a little while to completely figure it out... but I think I finally have.  To many people in this region, there are two types of people:  fall-down drunks and Christians.  There's no gray area.  It is completely black and white.  Except, it's not really, because those labels are reserved strictly for the public.  

When Meg and I go to the local Mexican restaurant, we order big beers to go with our dinner (32 oz for $4.50?  Yes please.)  But when we look around the restaurant, we notice that we are in the minority.  When we drive down to Sugar Hill Brewing Company, a new brewery in St. Paul, and we order beers, we again are in the minority... at a brewery.    

A good local friend of ours joined us at the Mexican place one night, and she also ordered a big beer.  Then a family walked in and sat down near us, and she pushed the beer away from her plate and did not drink it again until they paid and left.  Meg and I were perplexed.  

"What's going on?"  we asked.

She replied, "I know that family, grew up going to church with them.  I know they're thinking 'She was raised in a Christian home.  Why is she drinking?  Her parents must be so disappointed.' So I don't want to give them something to talk about."  

What?  

Then, today, I saw this post on Facebook, shared by three different friends:

Full Article

If you don't want to read the whole article, don't.  Here's the synopsis:  Guy raised in a Christian family becomes a Chaplain in the military, and is lead astray by a Catholic Priest who encourages him to drink wine with dinner; guy then becomes an alcoholic and almost loses his family until he sees a TV preacher "speaking directly to" him, quits drinking, and gets his Christian life back.  

What?  

Is it just me, or is this just a little too blamey?  Maybe I'm sensitive because he thinks the priest is the reason for his unfortunate addiction to alcohol and I am Catholic, or maybe my big girl pants are just screaming "Take responsibility for your actions, buddy; you have an addictive personality, like millions of other people in the world."  

There is a difference between being a fall-down drunk and enjoying a beer or two with dinner.  But because of the serious stigma associated with drinking in this area, people have become closet drinkers.  I know a teacher who will not drink in public because he doesn't want families to judge him, and he doesn't want kids to "get the wrong idea" about him; he drinks a 12-pack of Miller Light every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday on his porch.  So because no one knows, it's not a big deal?  What?  

We continue to be perplexed by this.  The local brewery sells shirts that say, "I Love Jesus, But I Drink a Little".  I took it as a joke-- Meg thinks it's completely serious.  The jury is still out.  

There are a number of things we are silently judged about in this area, I'm sure-- our relationship probably at the top of the list-- but I'm sure a strong number two is how we feel about drinking.  I don't see drinking as a conflict with being a Christian, and I don't think it's anyone's business to gauge my level Christianity by my choice of beverage.  

Me:  "My glass of wine has half the calories of your Mountain Dew.  And is WAY better for the environment.  I'm practically saving the world."