Since he was an adult now, the 18-year-old was deemed fit by the men in his family — his father and uncle — to accompany them to a drinking ‘get-together’. It was the young man’s sister’s wedding and the venue was brimming with nuptial fanfare.

The site chosen for the covert drinking ‘get-together’ was a parking lot, as is the trend in Indian weddings, and the protagonist of the story was tasked with alerting the men in case women of the household approached their hideout.

At the parking lot, the young adult was offered beer. “What if my father gets to know? I have never drank before,” the boy told his brother. 

“Your father and uncle also drink, it’s no big deal. And they both are intoxicated, nobody would ever get to know,” the elder brother reasoned.

The urge to appear bold in front of his elder brother instigated the 18-year-old to gulp down half a bottle of beer. Its bitter taste posed some hindrance but he drank it anyway.

The elder brother, himself high on alcohol, reminded the young man of having attained ‘adulthood’. And that was the beginning of the dark journey of how alcohol destroyed a young life. 

Also Read: ‘Meri Pyaari Zindagi’: Gaon Connection and WHO’s joint campaign on alcohol abuse

This audio story of the young man is part of Gaon Connection and World Health Organization Regional Office for South East Asia’s (WHO SEARO) joint social campaign – Meri Pyaari Zindagi – which seeks to raise awareness on alcohol abuse. Audio stories, video stories and memes make up this series. 

The young adult, who had half a bottle of beer, has been living a lifetime of guilt. During the vidaayi (the ritual when the bride leaves for the groom’s house) ceremony of his sister, his intoxication peaked and was followed by a burning sensation in his stomach. He puked. 

At the wedding, the relatives gossiped about his drunkenness in muffled voices. The young man sat on the ground in his inebriated state but could hear all that was being talked about him.

Also Read: “De-addiction is a process not an event”: It took Hemant Giri years to find his way out of an alcoholic existence

His mother was most hurt and did not come near her drunk son. Meanwhile, the young man’s sister (bride) too, sat in the car, teary eyed, ready to leave for her husband’s home.

It was past midnight when the alcohol began to wear off and the audio story’s protagonist woke up. His father, who sat right in front of him, burst into a volley of reprimand.

It was his mother’s silence that kept crushing the boy’s conscience with an intensity far greater than his father’s stinging words.

She spoke, only to blame her husband for the debacle. “Before scolding him, ask yourself if you are not responsible for the ‘parking lot’ environment that you have provided,” she said sarcastically. 

The mother returned to her room leaving the two guilt-ridden men to their conscience. 

Next morning, the young man woke up to find his father’s filled liquor bottles in the dustbin.

Also Read: Sometimes the only right answer is NO

Is alcohol consumption a ‘manly’ thing?

The obsession of appearing as a grown up male in front of his elder brother was indeed a contributing factor that led the young man astray. 

Toxic masculinity is often a common thread that weaves through the stories of how young men take up drinking.

According to a set of debunked myths released by the WHO, the idea that drinking alcohol makes one courageous and is a symbol of masculinity is flawed.

“Alcohol and tobacco increase risk for impotence, decrease attractiveness, decrease physical stamina and work competence and drain away a person’s wealth. A person wanting to be truly masculine should better remain away from this addictive poison,” the WHO stated. 

Also Read: Alcoholism can be conquered and here’s ‘how’ Bhushan did it

The global public health body also mentions that alcohol makes a person behave impulsively, not bothering about consequences. 

“Hence it leads to fights, murders, rapes, stealing and various other crimes. True courage lies in protecting rights of the weak and in fighting for justice; not in hitting one’s wife under intoxication,” it added.