Jimmy Buffet’s demise recalls lyrics around America’s drug of choice.

• Wastin’ away again in Margaritaville  .  .  .
  But there’s booze in the blender and soon it will render
  That frozen concoction that helps me hang on.”
  Jimmy Buffet
  
• “Jose Quervo
  You are a friend of mine.
  I like to drink you with a little salt and lime.”
    Cindy Jordan
  
• “Tiny bubbles
  In the wine
  Make me happy,
  Make me feel fine.”
    Leon Pober
  
• “Oh whiskey, you villain, you’ve been my downfall.
  You’ve kicked me, you’ve cuffed me, but I love ya for all.”
    The Pirates Charles
  
• “Pour me somethin’ tall an’ strong.
  Make it a Hurricane before I go insane.
  It’s only half-past twelve but I don’t care.
  It’s five o’clock somewhere.”
    Jim “Moose” Brown and Don Rolins

We suffer.  Alcohol numbs the pain—for now.  Given its consequences: hangovers; alcoholism; organ damage; spousal, child, and other abuse; automobile and other accidents; and lost productivity, our alcohol dependence seems masochistic.  Compared to the costs related to alcohol, the money America spends on its “War on Drugs” is Petty Cash.

It’s not just America.  British belly-up for stout, gin, and scotch.  Wine is a French and Italian staple.  Beer keeps Germans fat and happy.  To push Russians over the edge, confiscate their vodka.  Saki in porcelain cups have the Japanese smiling.  Tequila keeps Mexicans afloat.   

Alcohol dependence seems a European, hence, American issue.  In Africa, Asia, India, China, the Near and Middle East, it appears not problematic.  The Quran and Islamic dietary law forbid alcohol and other intoxicants.     

Why is a significant chunk of humanity alcohol dependent?  Again, to be human is to suffer.  Eons back, someone discovered that ingesting spoiled fruit juice or elixir from fermented grain alleviates suffering—for the moment.

It “helps me hang on,” is “a friend of mine,” ”Make(s) me happy; Make(s) me feel fine.”  In the end, “I love ya for all!”

It’s Happy Hour somewhere.   

Cheers!