People I know drink about the same amount with meals. But overall alcohol exports and sales are way up.

And when things get worse, people often drink the pain away...

It's a long story Caribou. But, I followed some of the advice from this thread. Once I got my feet under me, it was alright. But, it threw me for a loop at first. Turned out to be a "growing pain" of sorts. Interesting.

Interesting tidbit re: Neptune in Pisces

My state just repealed a blue law that prohibited the sale of alcohol on Sundays & holidays.

Josi, thank you!!! Reading now.

huh...neptune already in pisces...cripes. I've been trying to quit smoking off and on all year. It's been terrible. Harder than ever and it made no sense to me. Maybe this is why. ugh. ugh ugh ugh

My province is bringing in tougher laws on drunk driving.

Problem is they don't really enforce them.

Last year just before Christmas I was sickened to hear that police were about to carry out their first Checkstops of the YEAR. They advertised the shit out of them, and even the hours they'd be up and running: 3pm to 8pm (Sunday to Thursday). Because obviously THAT'S when all the worst drunks are on the road *eyeroll*.

I think the wine thing is going to get really commonplace. Everyone just seems to be drinking gallons of the stuff, daily. Somehow marketers have figured out a way to make wine like perfume ( more neptune) -- it "evokes" something exotic and desirable and it doesn't seem quite like it's alcohol. It's masquerading as some other kind of magical liquid.

Eventually we're going to start seeing a slew of articles about "winedrinkers cirrhosis" and " hey, never mind about that glass of wine a day thing...you guys are taking this way too far..."