‘Cheers’ is not in Bhutanese Drinking Culture

Disclaimer: I am neither a right person nor a social critic to write on Culture settings of ours. However, Culture is subjective and works on the relative level of individuals. I feel the need to write my little observation in the change of drinking habits over time. The little gesture of word “KUZUZANGPO LA” is enough to win the heart of foreigners, “CHEERS “is same with Bhutanese to them. Therefore, I wrote on behave of those who are likely to fall in the menace of recently picked up drinking Culture.

In the practice of promoting and reforming our culture, we Bhutanese have got a fair share to bark and spark the discussion whenever cultural aspects come into matters. Because we take too much pride in those practices and we have got preservative genes coming to cultural adoptions. That’s a Bhutanese way of doing!

Ironically, Bhutanese’s wants to regulate the rules on Tobacco consumption and accept drinking as big culture practices, besides knowing the pain of your liver and depreciating economy, still we want to get along  the habits.

Visiting Shops and Bar on free hours,  hearing the unheard voices that were floating inside alcoholic scented rooms ; words, laughter, quarrels taking roots from self-aggression to self-gratifyingly talk of the day among few heads and mouth . I visit to those bars besides risking myself to fall in prey of temptations. Or later I join them in the discussions.

Google image.

Many a times I have met an admirable drinker, and I don’t know how consciously they drink better than an act with liquor. I saw some really never know the origin of clinking cups, or know what really it is meant for. For few adore the acts than getting the real taste of the drink.

However, many like imitating the preliminary test of the drink “Cheers”. Before, knowing the stranger and become an abusive drinking friend in the area, the idea of cheers works a lot. So, stranger like joining the crowds accidentally. WOW! A cheer is must here! Later it is picked into habit to that of Pavlov‘s dog experiments, so conditioned to the sound and cups. This act has been so romantic and it’s robbing all the Bhutanese heart to drinking culture.

I was surprised to see my little brother who is just two year old wants to produce the “clinking” sound from the glass with his mother. He wanted to toss it and take a sip from the cup. It’s obvious that he picked from family drinking practices or from visiting to the Bars.

 In my experience of watching those drinking rituals, I haven’t seen my Grandfather “Clink” his cup with his Grandmother. Of course, I have seen as tradition embracing the practice of host always drinking a drop first to test the nature of the drink.

I don’t have to be judgmental in any case for the person who drinks, but the problem is with this theory of “Cheers” that is propagating among youth. Little sound from glass and word cheers doesn’t suits in front of innocent eyes.It is inviting our young heart to pick up the habits. The sound of the clinking cups, colorful liquid in a glass is so appealing to opt for liquid than a healthy food.

Now it’s a big question to those cultural sycophants that your timely bark is needed here to take notice of those small acts that are ridiculously practiced and promoted at homes, restaurants, social gatherings and Bars. Not only point your fingers to the way your son has brushed the hairs or painted eyes of your daughters. “Cheers” too doesn’t become an acceptable part of Bhutanese drinking habits.

This Small act of western origin is going to inherit the coming generations too.

If we really take the pride as a custodian of rich Cultures, is this act acceptable and doable in our cultural settings?

Finally if you feel that  “Cheers” is must in promoting your drinking habits and want to give this gift to younger generations of ours from you, the choice is yours!. Better, Chant long Marchang Prayer if you really want to bolster the blessings of your drinking rituals, it may be called as a true Drukpa’s way of drinking. So our youth may also get bored in reciting a long chants and give up the drinking Habit. And foreigner may also join you to sponsor you a drink.

Declarations: Never intent to demean anyone. “MY voice is my concern.”

From lock and key diary.