Most of us elder siblings know exactly what it feels like to initiate their younger siblings to the world of drinking. It’s almost never fun the first few times but as time goes by, you realize you wouldn’t want to share an adda with anyone else.
The initiation: Your younger brother’s been begging you to spike his coke at a family gathering and someday when you know the time is right, you oblige him. Or you’ve been unfortunate enough to believe you could take your brother out for a couple of beers. His grateful face doesn’t make up for the regret that instantly follows but having another person you love to party with sure does.
The clean-up: Inevitably, this will be your duty. When your sibling decides to chug down some drinks on one of their first encounters with alcohol, cause a scene and throw up, you become the apologetic person, wiping puke off the floor. It’s not that bad (yes it is).
The drama: How can you put two siblings in an inebriated situation and not expect something dramatic to happen? Drunken fights between both of you (or all of you if you happen to be blessed with more than just one young ‘un) will happen but they will also end unnecessarily emotionally. But you also know you’re going to punch anyone who tries to start a drunken brawl with them – only you get to scream at them.
The parents: As the older one, it becomes imperative to save your kid sister’s ass if they ever get in trouble with your parents. And helping her act sober in front of them, or even normalizing her drinking at home isn’t any different. You’ve already made the path for her, she just needs to stay on it.
The knowledge: No younger siblings can do without advice from the all-knowing elder sibling when it comes to liquor. You get them their first drinks, tell them what they might like and even help out with hangover cures. Although it can be a pain in the ass, it’s all worth it because you have one more thing to bond over with them.
