I just saw the PBS series on Winston Churchill-I highly recommend it! Churchill was an amazing man…not the least for his refusal to accept defeat-not only his personally, but for his country. Anyway, i was struck by how much the man drank-when he visited the USA (and stayed at the White House), he would start the day with a big glass of port. Lunch would involve several whiskey and sodas…then afternoon coktails at 3 PM. At dinner, he would usually consume the better part of a bottle of wine. In the evening, he would have several glasses of champagen, and end with a nightcap of brandy.
By today’s standards, the man was an alcoholic! yet, he managed to lead his nation through its darkets hours! Would any modern PM stand a chance of reelection, if he drank as much as wINNE?
Mrs Thatcher was fond of a whisky or three of an evening. Didn’t do her any harm.
And Charles Kennedy is hardly famous for his sobriety.
PM, yes. President of the US, I doubt it.
Quantity does not equal alcoholism but I have heard WC described as a functional alcoholic by historians. He was also a depressive. He called his bouts “His Black Dog”. This also led to his high intake.
Would JFK, Ike, FDR be elected today? They certainly had their dalliances with the fairer sex.
The leader of my country is know for still drinking in his local bar in Dublin. In fact TwistofFate and jjiimm have both seen him there. ToF even shared a few words with him while taking a piss beside him in the toilet. Nobody cares if he drinks it’s whether he can rule is the problem we have.
:dubious:
I have indeed ordered a pint standing next to An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern a couple of times. The first time I was quite stoned, which was amusing. I wanted to turn to him and say “I’m standing next to you while actively breaking the law”. But I didn’t.
The second time, I surreptitiously took a picture of him with my cameraphone. Later on, one of his bodyguards threatened to shoot me because I had inadvertantly taken his newspaper to read in the john (I thought it belonged to the pub).
But I digress.
FWIW, the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia, Bob Hawke, held a Guinness Book of Records entry for the fastest consumption of beer: 2.5 pints (a yard of beer) in 11 seconds.
But president, no.