There is a certain moralization of alcohol that confuses drinking with losing control. However, not everyone who drinks is trying to escape themselves, and not every form of disconnection is a rejection of life. Sometimes a glass of wine, a long conversation or a whisky at the end of the day are simply ways of enjoying existence without having to justify every pleasure. We live in a culture obsessed with health, longevity, performance and self-control. It seems that even pleasure must serve a purpose. But not everything we do needs to improve our lives.

Perhaps when we understand that time is limited, we begin to see our small indulgences differently. This is not about defending alcohol or ignoring its risks, but about questioning why we regard any voluntary attempt to ease the weight of consciousness with suspicion. Freedom also means deciding how we want to experience our existence. The boundary appears when we stop choosing and start needing. Because there is a difference between using an anaesthetic to enjoy a moment and needing it to endure all the others.