Drinking for Effect -

I was at an AA meeting in the south. Soldiers from the nearby Army base often attended.

Soldiers bring an interesting perspective, as we saw that night.

The meeting started, and we listened to a section of Joe and Charlie’s discussion of the Twelve Steps and our Program. On the tape, they talked about their drinking. They said, “we drank for effect.”

‘Drinking for effect’ evolved as the topic of the meeting.

Many of the shares referred to the effect that alcohol had on us. The changes that liquor triggered, the things we did when drinking and the usual drinking war stories.

Then a soldier AA brother shared. He gave his name, took a sip of his coffee, and began, “I’m in the Army, and I specialize in artillery. And the phrase ‘drinking for effect’ resonates deeply.

“When the situation calls for artillery support, we start with ranging shots on the target. We fire a couple of rounds to see how close we are to the target. We make small adjustments, and when we are on target, the order is “fire for effect.”

“When we hear that, we know that all hell is about to break loose. Some shells explode on impact; they are destructive beyond belief. Other shells burst over the target and send shrapnel over the area. We have shells that penetrate the earth before they explode; they are dramatic when they go off.

“When we fire for effect, we obliterate the target; there is nothing left.

“In my world, doing anything ‘for effect’ is serious business.

“When I first came to the Program, and I heard someone talk about ‘drinking for effect,’ I almost laughed out loud. Drinking for effect was a perfect description of my drinking.

“It was like my artillery. I would take a couple of ranging drinks. When they hit the mark, I issued the internal command, ‘drink for effect.

“And the results were destructive: Explosions on impact destroyed cars and lives; air bursts sprayed shrapnel everywhere, cutting down marriages, relationships, and promotions. Sometimes I would bury stuff deep, and it would dramatically explode some time later.

“By the time I was through, nothing was left of my life. It was obliterated.

“Yup, I fired my artillery ‘for effect,’ and I drank ‘for effect.’

The soldier’s share had hit the mark, and the phrase “drinking for effect” has never been the same since.