Hello Folks,
For some of you who had the
luxury of owing big- headed coloured television sets or watched black and white
television in a neighbour’s room through the window or probably at TV repair’s
roadside shop will dotingly remember the good old days advertisements such as; ABC
Golden Lager Beer, Bubra, Club Beer- beer
d3 anoa ni cruub, Star Beer- sparkling bubbles, Gulder- the ultimate, Guinness-
I get the power. It is easier to think that most of the adverts on
alcoholic beverages are solely targeted at men rather than women simply because
we live in a society where we daughters and sisters of Eve are considered to be
conservative with intake of alcohol. A decade or two ago, a lot of adverts on
alcoholic drinks have more men playing leading roles than women. Does that mean
daughters and sisters of Eve didn’t drink alcohol? The answer is no. In this
age and time, it is common to find daughters and sisters of Eve dancing,
exposing part of their bodies, and singing all in the name of promoting alcohol.
Over the years, Guinness adverts have
been unswerving and top-notch. Presently, there is a Guinness advert that
airs on our screens where celebrities like Benny Blanco, Michael Oti-Adjei and others
narrate how they joined “TABLE OF MEN”. Does that mean women can’t have their
own table or women are not invited to the “TABLE OF MEN”?
I honoured an invitation to a
marriage ceremony in one of the most populous and popular suburbs in Accra. So usual
of me, I reached the nuptial very late. Unluckily, I stood for long at the reception
until a kind lady gestured at me to come and sit, I sauntered reservedly to
join the table full of all proportions of ladies. In a little while, it was
time to serve thirst-quenchers, the usher brought varieties to our table. All
ladies were guzzling alcoholic beverages; I was the only one who chose stylishly
bottled bissap or sobolo. A lady dressed in a glitzy plunging sequined neckline
number that kinda looked like Vegas showgirl queried me “Madam, do you live
around? I retorted “No please. I live at Haatso”. She continued “Don’t you drink alcohol? Whimsically,
she added. “Not even a bottle of Guinness. As for Guinness, it is blood tonic”.
Smirnoff Ice is a feminine drink. It is like Whiteman’s palm wine. Exactly like
our freshly local brewed palm wine”. I
thought of how best to respond without upsetting her since all the ladies were
all ears and curiously waiting tolerantly for my reply. “Well, I drink a glass
of red wine or Amarula occasionally”. I am sipping sobolo or bissap because it is medicinal.” And that was my
response.
At the middle of the reception
grounds, some peppy sons of Adam and daughters of Eve were briskly “azontoing”
Dr. Slim’s “Ole sek3” when two gentlemen
entered to mount a table not too far from the just- now married couple. About sixteen womenfolk arrayed in white lace
tops with flamboyant long slit- skirts –that- make-their-legs slink -out,
different hues of “gele” headgears with vibrant carnival- like make –up broadcasted
their presence by joining in the dance. Later, they were ushered to sit at the
mounted table. Looking at their visages, nine were in their early or
mid-forties or early fifties, while the remaining seven were probably between the
ages of twenty -five to thirty –seven. The gentlemen who had earlier mounted
the table brought a hefty cool box to them. A woman among the group ecstatically
told her buddies, “I will “stone” you guys and later kill you with “arrow (meaning,
she will have Stone Lager Beer and Arrow Beer)”. As soon as one of the ladies used
ice-cold Club Beer to rinse her hand, my thoughts with hilarity visualized “aujourd’hui
c’est aujourd’hui”. Within a glint of time,
the table was wholly garlanded with Guinness, Star Beer, Club Beer, Stone Lager
Beer, Gulder, Castle Milk Stout, Smirnoff, Jack Daniels, Johnnie Walker, Akpeteshie,
Rosso- Rosso!, Barons Pusher, Kasapreko Opeimu, Monarch Ginseng Bitters,
Mandingo Bitters, Kasapreko Cocoa Liqueur, Agya Appiah Bitters, Castle Bridge,
Kasapreko Alomo Bitters, Kasapreko Lime Cordial, alongside tot packs like
Captains Dry Gin, Mafia Coffee Liqueur Whisky, Striker Gin, Abe Nsuo Ginger Gin
and host of others. A brazen lady mixologist was seriously blending Guinness
with palm wine and Mandingo bitters like a professional. Others nibbled on reddish
spicy pork chops while others indulged in all hodge-podges of alcoholic fusions
and cocktails. The sixteen- all- female-booze- till -your -husband -carry -you –home-
gang enjoyment was not complete without lewd
jokes and irrepressible laughter.
My attention had wafted from the newlyweds to the unfolding “COME AND
DRINK AT TABLE OF WOMEN” scene. A nice-looking lady who was part of our table returned
with glass of Campari and rocks (ice cubes) and sneeringly she said: “As for
these women, that’s what they do best at weddings, funerals, christenings and
festivals. They always attend occasions like this with their OWN drinks and
gulp like they have breweries in their houses. I pity their husbands and
children”. So I asked who they were and a table member volunteered to fill me
in. They are members of all-female club in the vicinity, mostly traders at
Makola and business women. They were called by the mother of the bride who also
happens to be a card -bearing member of the group. After hours of being wowed
with quaffing escapades, I finally went to say ciao to the couple. Just as I
was stepping out, a daughter of Eve was gloriously filling an empty gallon with
Guinness.
Folks, certainly, there will
never be female edition of Guinness advert and for that matter any alcoholic
beverage advert christened “COME AND DRINK AT THE TABLE OF WOMEN” but I have
feasted my eyes on sisters and of daughters of Eve re-shooting their own version.
Personally, I don’t have problem with
women taking alcohol but it use for long period can cause infertility in both
sexes, especially in men. Alcohol use by women, particularly in the month they
get pregnant exposes the unborn child to a high risk of brain abnormalities.
Daughters and sisters of Eve, please do drink
in moderation!
Have a fantastic week!
Deli.ciouzly Yours
Akosua
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