From the list of reasons why I quit drinking:
I was outside a pub, I had a pint of cider and a double vodka and ice in front of me. I was reading the paper and a guy walked back from the bar carring what looked to be the same as I was drinking.

He looked maybe 5 years older than me at most. He sat down, knocked back the vodka and started on the pint, lit a cigarette and sat and stared out into the middle distance with no sort of expression on his face other than maybe a slight look of the type of relief that goes with getting that first comforting hit of booze of the day.

I pretty much did the same and I expect I looked the same.

I went back to my paper, not really paying much attention to the rest of the world until I was disturbed by the sound of a young lad shouting 'Dad, Dad' and coming towards us clutching a bag of McDonalds in his hand. The man looked up, drained the rest of his pint stubbed out his cigarette and looking thoroughly pissed off at being interupted, went to meet his son.

It was 11.30 on a Saturday morning and I saw a terrifying sight of my future.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Fri 25 Feb 2011, 9:48, Reply)