Hola Sober Host Linda McGrath Redmond
ALCOHOL, TRICK OR TREAT? Halloween is nearly upon us. As traditions go, for me and my family it has always been a firm favourite. It originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. Nowadays of course it has expanded well beyond a bonfire and dressing up in your mammy’s high heels and scarf. Here, in Ireland, as a child, we’d go from house to house and ask the neighbours ‘would you like to help the halloween party?’, and they’d throw some apples and monkey nuts in your bag, and off you’d go happy as larry. A chocolate bar meant you’d struck gold! These days the children all chant ‘Trick or treat?’ and would kill you with a look if you produced anything that even resembled a piece of fruit! They are very firm in their knowledge of what a treat does and does not consist
of. the question…..alcohol, trick, or treat? The answer? That’s something that we all get to decide for ourselves. Here at Hola Sober, we know very well and are very firm in our answers. Biggest trick ever! But we didn’t always know this, and the road to the truth was painstakingly long and hard. How long, how hard, that varies from woman to woman, but we all arrived at the same conclusion. What we once believed was a wonderful treat turned out to be the biggest lie, the greatest, deadliest trick ever played on us. Which brings me to We all remember our first proper drink of alcohol I bet. Mine was when I was around 15, and it was vodka mixed with orange. I fell in love with the warm fuzzy feeling and all was right with the world. I was no longer feeling shy or awkward or
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