The Bite (Issue 102): Holidays and the "new sober"

"Here's what I learned during my first booze-free week" [View in browser](~/AASU4wA~/RgRnYZIMP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcGMwcmcybzZmcS8_bGhfYWlkPTM0NTA5JmxoX2NpZD13emVnb3FzeWhnVwNzcGNCCmV8Dg1_ZUGUVcNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAJQ~~) Like 115 million other Americans, I’m traveling for the holidays, and on my way to the airport this morning, I was struck by just how prevalent the messages encouraging people to drink this time of year actually are, from signs in the window of the corner tavern advertising half-off [peppermint](~/AASU4wA~/RgRnYZIMP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNjZvazJmNG01OS8_bGhfYWlkPTM0NTA5JmxoX2NpZD13emVnb3FzeWhnJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmV8Dg1_ZUGUVcNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAJQ~~)shots to the airport bartender in a Santa hat passing out crisp beers at 10 a.m. This isn’t a novel observation, of course, but I had just finished reading Salon Editor at Large D. Watkin’s gorgeous new reported essay, “[Navigating the new sober boom, where ‘a person's sobriety is as unique as their fingerprint.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRnYZIMP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZ3drcDhmMXdsNC8_bGhfYWlkPTM0NTA5JmxoX2NpZD13emVnb3FzeWhnJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmV8Dg1_ZUGUVcNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAJQ~~)’” After spending decades developing an easy-going reputation as “the fun guy with the drinks on deck,” Watkins’ doctor delivered some sobering news: In order to get his blood pressure in check, he’d need to eighty-six salty food and cut back drastically on alcohol; Watkins decided to go cold-turkey for at least a bit. “Here’s what I learned during my first booze-free week after three decades of regular drinking: Liquor makes mediocre restaurant food taste like [fine diningÂ](~/AASU4wA~/RgRnYZIMP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZm91MGZrMmg3dy8_bGhfYWlkPTM0NTA5JmxoX2NpZD13emVnb3FzeWhnJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmV8Dg1_ZUGUVcNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAJQ~~)— the only ingredient better at enhancing flavors than salt. Ordering it also makes that dinner much more expensive,” Watkins writes. “Everyone around me in the restaurant is also louder and sweatier, it seems, when I’m sober. And my sobriety makes other people uncomfortable, too. They poke at me, question my health, and ignore everything except what is — or isn’t — inside my glass.” This weekend, before we dive into the final throes of the holiday season and all the associated pressures, I’d definitely recommend taking a little extra time to read the [rest of the story here](~/AASU4wA~/RgRnYZIMP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZWV2aWdtamQybC8_bGhfYWlkPTM0NTA5JmxoX2NpZD13emVnb3FzeWhnJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmV8Dg1_ZUGUVcNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAJQ~~), especially if you’re in the midst of questioning or redefining what your relationship with alcohol will look like in the new year. ~/AASU4wA~/RgRnYZIMP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZ3VtZ3p1NHJlMC8_bGhfYWlkPTM0NTA5JmxoX2NpZD13emVnb3FzeWhnVwNzcGNCCmV8Dg1_ZUGUVcNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAJQ~~~/AASU4wA~/RgRnYZIMP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNnh5aWpkdmg1My8_bGhfYWlkPTM0NTA5JmxoX2NpZD13emVnb3FzeWhnVwNzcGNCCmV8Dg1_ZUGUVcNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAJQ~~~/AASU4wA~/RgRnYZIMP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvbHdlZzUzaTVmcC8_bGhfYWlkPTM0NTA5JmxoX2NpZD13emVnb3FzeWhnVwNzcGNCCmV8Dg1_ZUGUVcNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAJQ~~~/AASU4wA~/RgRnYZIMP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvanAzYmVncm5lYi8_bGhfYWlkPTM0NTA5JmxoX2NpZD13emVnb3FzeWhnVwNzcGNCCmV8Dg1_ZUGUVcNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAJQ~~ [Subscribe to Salon today](~/AASU4wA~/RgRnYZIMP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvd3AxMmQ0cDNmYy8_bGhfYWlkPTM0NTA5JmxoX2NpZD13emVnb3FzeWhnJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmV8Dg1_ZUGUVcNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAJQ~~) and unlock more benefits! 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