Views #567 | Intermediate 5

Drinking

Al talks about drinking alcohol.

Script
Vocab
Quiz


Al	Todd

Todd: So, Al, you mentioned that you quit smoking.

Al: Yes, I did.

Todd: Now, I also heard that you quit drinking.

Al: I did. Almost, about one week after I quit smoking, I quit drinking.

Todd: Wow! No more? No beer? No wine with dinner?

Al: No.

Todd: Nothing?

Al: No.

Todd: Never?

Al: Nothing, never.

Todd: Have you even had a little bit since you quit?

Al:No, I can't have a little bit. It's all or nothing for me so.

Todd: Wow!

Al: Yeah, nothing at all.

Todd: That's pretty tough to do. Well, I mean, you seem pretty happy, I mean.

Al: I'm very happy.

Todd: OK. So what, why did you stop drinking? Why do you think it's better not to drink any alcohol?

Al:I don't, I mean, I'm not against drinking the way I am against smoking. I knew that for me it was the best thing to do because drinking is getting in the way of other things I wanted to do with my life.

Todd: Right.

Al: So, and I didn't really, I drank a lot and I didn't enjoy it anymore.

Todd: Yeah.

Al: That was the thing.

Todd: Actually, I have to feel a little bit the same way. I'm a social drinker. I only drink when I'm with friends and I really don't like drinking because I don't like how it makes me feel afterwards, like if I have a glass of wine or beer, I can't work afterwards and that bothers me but its nice to have a glass of wine with a good meal.

Al: It is. Yes. There are things I miss about it but there are so many other good things that I've got from not drinking so I look at the balance and the sacrifice and for me it's worth it, not to drink. I can give up a glass of wine with dinner if get the other things I've got from it, so.

Todd: Well, do you feel healthier? Does you body feel better?

Al: I feel much healthier. I feel much more focused. My thinking is much clearer, and I like, I still go to bars and hang out with people and they drink and I don't and I go home, I love leaving a bar when I'm still sober. I love that feeling. I don't know why it's a fantastic feeling.

Todd: Well, sounds like something maybe I should consider. Thanks Al.

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

all or nothing

I can't have a little bit. It's all or nothing for me.

To be 'all or nothing' something means you either restrain yourself completely or you lose control. Talking about drinking, you either have nothing or drink a whole bottle. Notice the following:

She is very all or nothing about exercise.
You need to learn to be more moderate about your habits. Life isn't all or nothing.

get in the way

Drinking is getting in the way of other things I wanted to do with my life.

Something that 'gets in the way' prevents you from doing something else. Notice the following:

His relationships always got in the way of his friendships.
Her career got in the way of having children.

bothers me

I can't work afterward and that bothers me.

If there is something that 'bothers you,' it frustrates you or makes you angry. You don't like it. Notice the following:

When you come home really late and wake me up, that bothers me.
I can't talk to you whenever I want and that bothers me.

sacrifice

I look at the balance and the sacrifice and for me it's worth it.

A 'sacrifice' is something that you give up to get something else. Notice the following:

If you want to have a successful professional life, sometimes you have to sacrifice your personal life.
He is always making sacrifices for his daughters.

sober

I love leaving a bar when I'm still sober.

If you have had very little or nothing to drink than you are 'sober.' The opposite is intoxicated or, more commonly, drunk. Notice the following: