18 is the age at which you legally become an adult in Britain. You are deemed responsible for your own actions and can vote, and sign legal documents etc.
We are also obliged to make decisions, most being straightforward and not particularly consequential but some are and require a good decision to be made.
In such circumstances the best decisions are made by finding out all the information you can, comparing or weighing up all the pros and cons and often making a decision knowing there is no easy answer or perfect solution to a problem but there are certainly good and bad choices.
As drunks of course we cannot do any of the above. We are 2nd class citizens devoid of self awareness and any rational decision making ability. We are the overgrown children, not allowed near the wheel of a car. We may need to be taken home by a responsible adult (or escorted somewhere else by a uniformed one!)
We do not participate in intelligent conversation and are best kept away from naked flames, sharp objects, anything fragile.
It is all pretty humiliating but that is just another of the many pernicious things alcohol does to us - turning us into vulnerable adult babies.
Being a grown-up means understanding that life is not just about seeking gratification - the easy escape route offered by booze is a lie - nor is being an adult one long barrel of laughs but there is plenty of pleasure, enjoyment and fun to be had as an adult, it's just that first you gotta be one. Reality is never as good as you hope or as bad as you fear. It took me 54 years to realise this.
This weekend put on your big boy or big girl pants, do what you're supposed to do and enjoy the rest of the weekend and let those remaining big kids have all the drama to themselves.
