Nothing says “alcoholic” quite like guzzling a bottle of mouth wash. It’s one of those common threads for all alcoholics; follow the timeline and progression of the disease and near the end you will invariably see the consumption of mouthwash. It’s one of those odd things that crosses social barriers for both similar and almost polar opposite reasons.
The poor, homeless alcoholic will spend less than three bucks on a liter and a half bottle of generic mouthwash with high alcohol content (sometimes over 40 proof) because of the old drunk axiom of quantity taking precedence over quality. His circumstances and environment have long ago disabused him of the thought that fighting his disease was an option. Just find a way to get alcohol, any kind will do but mouthwash is cheap, plentiful, and always available on Sunday.
The rich, high-society drunk who spends c-notes on designer vodka and vintage champagnes will none-the-less find themselves locking the bathroom door and tipping up a plastic jug of the amber odor fighter too, but for a different reason. Just like his homeless compatriot, he has succumbed to the urge to drink and at this point any alcohol, any form will do. Although he still has the money to indulge in a more palatable beverage he also has a support structure that makes it necessary to hide his shame. Another reason, one I found myself guilty of many times was that I would purposely drink my stock dry saying this was it, the end… only to fall back to the old standby under the bathroom sink when the craving became too strong.
From homeless bums on the streets of Anchorage to high society, Boston blue bloods like Joan Kennedy— they all have the clean, fresh breath of surrender.
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That’s all. Wow.
I remember when I was a kid hearing about that presidential candidate’s wife who drank the mouthwash…who was that again?
Thanks for the post and the honesty. It’s helpful to remember that we’re all the same, that addiction isn’t unique.
She has a book called-Now You Know.