Rudi Handjal used to drink quite a bit. After a few severe shocks several years ago, he abandoned alcohol altogether. When he finds himself surrounded by people, he drinks either water or non-alcoholic beer. Fool’s beer, as he calls it. As of late, I drink either green tea or fool’s beer when we sit together, and we sit together quite often. Having cut my alcohol consumption to a bare minimum, which amounts to a glass or two of red wine a day that many a doctor recommends nowadays, I am quite happy with my new drinking habits. As far as I am concerned, the non-alcoholic beers available in my favorite watering holes in Motovun are fine enough. All of them taste just like real beer, anyway. In addition, Rudi is quite pleased when I laud him for the new drinking habit acquired from him, an erstwhile alcoholic. “Fool’s beer,” both of us order with inflated pride whenever an opportunity arises. And there is much merriment around us each and every time. Years ago, he used to be rather unpleasant after a few drinks too many.