To Beer or not to Beer

This afternoon we were told Indian women rarely drink alcohol and they will usually drink soft drinks when out. Drinking is generally frowned upon. Now, I haven’t had any alcohol at all since arriving here and I understand going out to drink blows the allowance although beer can be bought in bottle shops for 40 rupees. I don’t want to sound like an alcoholic but in the UK alcohol is such a big part of our culture from socialising in pubs to eating out with some wine. I’ve asked myself if I could go dry for the year and although most of the time I won’t want a beverage, I can imagine a cold beer in 40 degree heat on a weekend relaxing with some new friends or having a beer in front of an episode of Gavin & Stacey would go down a treat.


After our classes today, all the staff and volunteers went to dinner. I’m so enjoying the food: huge pancakes called dosas, potato dishes spiced with mustard seeds, mixed thalis, eye wateringly hot chutneys and oh so sweet lassi drinks. I’ve managed to be vegetarian so far which isn’t hard as there are plenty of great cheap restaurants that don’t even serve meat. I’d like to be able to last as long as possible without any illness or food poisoning. This seems like some kind of rite of passage in turning into a Delhite or more culturally correct, a Dilliwa (Delhi is known locally as Dilli and wa means person).

After dinner a few of us went for beers. My new Deaf colleague was there so although I did some social interpreting (tiring when you don’t yet fully know the language) it was good to relax. The beer was 200 rupees. Put into perspective, my daily allowance is 285. The bar was in the more hip district of Haus Khas compared to our accommodation on Lodhi Road so that accounted for the price alone. I loved the retro furniture and the fact I was somewhere where I could go if I felt like going somewhere that felt a bit closer to home with its interesting mix of Western and Indian culture. What I loved even more though was the women were...drinking beer. I slurped away happily from that moment on, in the knowledge I could access my savings for the occasional night out.