My happy-go-lucky boozing was to continue until the age of 38 or so. The amount that I consumed increased year by year and from time to time it landed me in a bit of hot water like a minor car accident or a missed appointment but nothing really serious. For most of the time I was able to show prudent judgement as to where and when I drank. ... I really enjoyed frequent partying . Good fellowship was at least as important as booze.
Till [my early thirties] it was true to say that I lived to drink and really enjoyed doing so. A drastic change occurred almost over night. Good fellowship was nice to have but was no longer of critical importance. If there was no-one to drink with I would gladly drink on my own or with any odd bod in any pub. The consumption of alcohol had become a compulsion.