[caption id="attachment_4046" align="alignleft" width="180" caption="You can never have too much mint in a Mojito."][/caption] I’ve been off the sauce for about six weeks now - well, sort of. I had another ‘incident’ last weekend at a friend’s BBQ… When I arrived I told my friend Richard that I wasn’t drinking, he seemed surprised but didn’t question my choice. I was introduced to lots of his friends from Uni and that slight feeling of awkwardness that a few drinks masks when striking up conversation with people that I’ve just met was soon forgotten. They were interesting people and I know this because I can remember what we talked about. I was drinking ginger ale for most of the night, I had ice and a slice of lime in it too so it appeared like a spirit mixer and no one seemed to notice that I wasn’t drinking alcohol. I remember thinking how great it felt to be sober so late into the night. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, woke up the next day feeling great and was even able to help Richard when he phoned to ask me where his keys were. “They’re in the kitchen on the shelf behind where I was standing making those Mojitos.” Ah yes… the Mojitos. Richard had asked me to make some Mojitos (I used to work in a cocktail bar) and of course I obliged. The thing is I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to cocktails so I have to taste them to make sure they’re right. I put a straw into the drink and put my finger over the top and lift a few drops onto my tongue to taste. Well ok, there were no straws so I had to use a spoon. “Needs more mint, maybe a little more sugar.” Then I had to taste it again. Mmm… minty. Unfortunately the Mojito’s were popular so I ended up making lots and all those 'teaspoon tasters' added up to a 'little ladle'. I didn’t feel any effect but it is still ‘a drink’… Isn’t it? So I’ve been asking myself; am I avoiding alcohol completely or is it the concept of ‘having a drink’ that I’m abstaining from? What about taking a small sip of a friend’s fruit punch that they have just made or tasting the red wine that’s being shared around the table with dinner? What about alcohol in food? - It’s a myth that it all evaporates during cooking and then there are the desserts like Rum Baba and Tiramisu which are soaked in the stuff. You see - I want to experience my life sober, to go out and have fun without wasting days suffering from hangovers. For me this means being able to have a few drinks and then stop; but is abstaining from alcohol completely for a whole year the best approach to achieving this? Should I be committed to 'staying sober' instead?  Which raises the question; what does it mean to be sober? Questions, questions, questions - That’s where I am with this at the moment. For now though I’m still sticking with the original plan and staying off the booze completely… or at least trying to.