The Gay Scene.

For many years, gay pubs were the only places where we could meet other men without fear of abuse or assault. Today, while we can meet guys through a much wider range of places and activities, pubs, clubs and bars are still central to the gay scene. Also, since the main reason for going to bars is quite often to meet other guys, you'd be forgiven for not thinking about the risk of alcohol dependence. It's not difficult just to have a few beers - three or four times a week - and you've reached the recommended limit before the weekend has even started. A drink or two can dull the sense of loneliness as you stand by yourself in a bar trying to look confident. A drink or two will often provide the necessary confidence to go up to another guy and ask him whether... he'd like a drink. A further drink or two will also dull the sense of rejection after he tells you that he's not interested or he's got a boyfriend. Meeting mates for a drink can help reduce any sense of rejection, inferiority or loneliness but - on a regular persistent basis - can lead to a steady increase in the amount you drink. After all, who's going to have 'just the one' or have 'orange juice'? Even if you've found yourself a man, alcohol - even in small quantities - can reduce the enjoyment of sex. Alcohol can make it difficult to get or maintain an erection - hence the phrase 'brewer's droop'. It can also interfere with your judgment so you may take risks sexually that you wouldn't find acceptable if you were sober. Guys have been assaulted, raped and murdered for less! When we are younger our bodies give us the impression that they can cope with any drink we throw down our neck. The reality, however, is that the body is storing up problems for later life. Of course, there is always the option not to drink alcohol or to drink low alcohol versions of beer or wines. However, the choice is usually limited and they don't always taste particularly good. In moderation, drinking can and should be a pleasant experience, helping us to feel that little bit more relaxed, comfortable, and sociable. But despite its acceptability on the gay scene and its normalisation on TV and film, alcohol is still a drug with the potential of being highly addictive. Being selective when using it is vital if we are to enjoy the benefits but not become subject to the harm it causes. Despite protestations that 'I know my limit', there's a fine line between drinking socially and becoming dependent. Anyone who drinks alcohol can become an alcoholic and the more we drink the more we increase the risk of dependency and health problems. This online advice guide is an extract from the book TOGETHER, by kind permission of Patriic Gayle and Gay Times Books. The book itself is over 300 pages long and contains:

several chapters more useful advice and information

more in-depth information in some chapters

more pictures and tables

further contacts at the end of each chapter

a comprehensive listing of gay and health organisations Described by Qx magazine as a 'Gay Bible', Together Book is a practical reference work no bookshelf should be without.

Available from Prowler Stores and all good bookshops, or click the link below for price and ordering details.

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