Drunk Children

On Sunday, almost as I was leaving my shift, they told me that earlier that same morning nearly a dozen boys between 11 and 13 years old had arrived. Allegedly, they were under the influence of prohibited drugs, but someone added that maybe it was a new alcoholic drink that is causing a sensation among Cubans.

It’s a vodka with an energy drink called Shaka. Almost everyone has tried it, and I get the feeling they confuse it with beer or some other mild drink. The alcohol content on the label should make you think that even if it tastes sweet, you have to drink it with caution to avoid later getting a mule’s kick to the head.

I’m one of the few who still hasn’t tried it. Who knows, maybe I will soon. But anyway, the culture here makes us prefer drinking over eating. What an unpleasant thing!

Alright. I understand that drinking can make you feel good, and that with so many problems around, you’d rather connect a bit of joy with your friends and family. But that’s a lie. We all know that getting drunk brings many more problems than you already have. You never know if it could even cost you your life in a senseless fight over some disagreement or simply for looking at someone the wrong way.

The few times I’ve been drunk happened between the ages of 17 and 18. Yes, it wasn’t legal to drink, I admit it, but I was already grown enough and very responsible. But after the hangovers I told myself that wasn’t for me. It wasn’t worth feeling so bad the day after having a good time.

The best thing was just to have a couple of drinks and know my limits to avoid going further. That’s why I don’t understand either young people or adults who drink until they’re drunk. There’s not that much pleasure in feeling dizzy all night and missing the real party. You’re simply an alienated being that everyone laughs at. And it’s fine if you don’t care about people’s opinions. But one way or another, you’re cutting yourself off from possible relationships with valuable people you could have gotten to know better.

Finally, what will become of the parents of those minors who arrived at the hospital? They weren’t 17 or 18, like when I had my drunken episodes. We’re talking about children who should still be playing and watching kids’ movies. Cuban society has
definitely broken down. I no longer know how to return to what we once were.

_{English my native language. Text translated with DeepL}