TWO GLASSES GOOD. FOUR GLASSES BAD.*

 * With apologies to George Orwell there.

As we've grown older The Old Girl and I notice that we can't drink and process alcohol like we were once able to. Two glasses of wine now is about the right amount to avoid feeling crap the next day and to be able to sleep well.

Why is this?

OK, that makes sense as many of our abilities decline with age.

Drink Wise told me:

• High blood alcohol concentration: As we age, muscle mass is replaced by fat tissue. This means that an older person who drinks the same amount as someone younger will generally have a higher blood alcohol concentration (BAC). 
• The amount of water in our body also goes down with age, contributing to higher BAC.
• Slower processing of alcohol: The older you are the longer alcohol stays in your liver before it moves into the general bloodstream or is metabolised – increasing the risk of damage to your liver. Blood flow to your liver is decreased, along with your liver enzymes.
• Increased risk of accidents: Physical and mental functions (including coordination, vision, hearing and reflexes) become impaired as you age, putting you at higher risks of accidents such as falls, slips or car crashes.
• Potential medication interaction(s): If you take over-the-counter or prescription medication, you should always seek the advice of your doctor before drinking due to the possibility of side effects. Medications that are known to react with alcohol include:Anti-anxiety drugs

Antibiotics
Antidepressants
Antihistamines
Blood thinners
Diabetes drugs

Yikes!

Well, we know that we aren't going to stop drinking altogether but we are making changes to what we drink. We don't fall into that 'buy cleanskins' trap and the wines we buy have always been of a good standard but if we are to drink less we are certainly going to drink better.

Unfortunately ........... sometimes we forget the advice.

Yesterday late afternoon we shared a bottle of Champagne as we sometimes do on a Saturday. We get two glasses each from a bottle in the flutes we drink sparkling wine from. It was Lanson Black label and it was excellent.

I was watching the rugby - England vs Canada and The Old Girl was watching the film The Right Stuff. The Champagne went down a treat so we opened another bottle - this time a bottle of Alan Scott Cecilia Rose - a Marlborough Methode Champenoise. It was OK but not a patch on the Lanson and needed a tiny splash of pinot noir in it to give it extra colour and flavour. We drank it. And as a result didn't sleep well and this morning we feel like crap.

When will we learn?