I’m going dry until Munster win the Heineken Cup – that’s a promise

AT the start of both 2006 and 2008 I decided to give up drinking alcohol for six months and I intend to repeat the experiment from today, with one get-out clause which I will get to later. It will be hard not because of my own desire for alcohol, which is relatively limited and occasional, but because other people are likely to make it difficult for me.

Incredibly, if my previous experience is anything to by, both friends and strangers will try to force a glass into my hand even if I don’t want it.

If I decline to drink alcohol with them some will be upset and insulted and make an issue of this in front of other people. “Go on” will be followed by “why won’t you?”, delivered at times with an element of ferocity. The reaction to my decisions not to drink in previous years has astonished me – and led to a few rows too as my sober patience snapped.