All of the contributors to this blog experience a red face when they drink alcohol. It is an annoying reality that has made having a ‘normal’ social life rather difficult and, as a result, we have locked ourselves into a small dark room and decided to dedicate our lives to disseminating accurate and up to date information about alcohol flush reaction.
Well, the second part is true, the first part about locking ourselves in a dark room is a slight exaggeration. Nevertheless, whilst it might sound a little dramatic, people who have an alcohol flush reaction will be able to relate to the toll this condition takes on our social lives.
It doesn’t take a Gandhi to empathise with the fact that socialising and looking attractive often go hand in hand. For example, if you were invited on a date by someone you like would you turn up wearing a singlet and ripped tracksuit pants?
Perhaps in some fringe circles this might be the accepted norm but in the rest of the world you would probably make your best effort to look your absolute best. Moreover, this desire to look attractive doesn’t just extend to one’s fashion sense.
Think about how you’d feel with a huge pimple on your nose or some severe sunburn that makes you look like you’re in a perpetual state of shock and awe. It’s not a good look and if we had the choice we’d avoid looking like that too.
It’s the same when it comes to alcohol flush reaction. Sure we can simply not drink alcohol and avoid it altogether, but anyone who experiences the glow would know that avoiding alcohol is much easier said than done.
The peer pressure and the general societal embrace of the substance makes not drinking it seem weird or even a cause for concern in the eyes of many. It has even been said that when someone says “no thank you, i don’t drink” people will usually assume that a.) they are a recovering alcoholic or b.) they get too violent or become a huge douche when they drink alcohol. How about those for some sweet first impressions?
So as you can see, social settings involving alcohol are very difficult for us alcohol flushers, hence the need for a welcoming space for all people to come, discuss and learn about alcohol flush reaction – a condition that doesn’t need to cause as much embarrassment and stress as it does.