Lately I’ve been feeling very old and out of touch. Party I think it’s because I am soon to be a father and perhaps the ‘boring’ gene is kicking in? But I also think it’s because lately people seem to be focusing on the things that are less important. The prime example of this is alcohol and merriment.

The past few weeks seem to have been a real watershed for most of my Facebook friends; so many of them have status updates related to booze. In the past few weeks I reckon I’ve seen example after example of the following:

• “is hungover”
• “can’t wait to hit the piss in 5 hours and 19 minutes”
• “needs some good hangover food”
• “loves when he hits the town for a night of beer and boob”
• “wishes headaches didn’t hurt”
• you get the idea by now.

Now a status update, whilst not a legally-binding or really serious contract, is pretty flexible. It allows you to let your friends and acquaintences know how you are or what’s happening in your life at present. So, given there is all the choice in the world, do so many people choose to relate their state-of-being to whether they will soon be, or already are, inebriated? Is it that good?

Now I like a drink as much as the next person. I am pretty happy when having a beer or wine and shooting the breeze with good friends. But here’s the rub - it’s the friends and the chat that make it worthwhile for me. I’m pretty happy doing the same thing over a coffee or cordial. The best nights are when you have a few quiet drinks, a good meal and talk about the world with your friends. It’s the people, not the piss.

Am I already old and boring beyond redemption? Am I now in the land of ‘grump old man’ because I view alcohol as an ingredient and not as a main course on its own?