Interview with Caren Osten Gerszberg, co-founder of the Drinking Diaries

From time to time, we will post short interviews with interesting people about their thoughts and feelings on women and drinking. There is such a wide array of perspectives about this topic, and we are excited to gain insight into as many as possible and to share them with you.

Caren Osten Gerszberg writes about education, travel and parenting for a variety of publications. Her regular column, “Mom U,” runs every other Tuesday on the New York Times blog, The Choice. Caren’s work has been published in the New York Times, Travel & Leisure, Town & Country, Cosmopolitan, National Geographic Traveler, Child, Parents, Cookie, Time Out NY, the International Herald Tribune and others.

Drinking Diaries: How old were you when you had your first drink and what was it?

Caren Osten Gerszberg: I’m not sure exactly when I had my first sip of whatever my parents were permissively happy to let me taste. But I do remember the first time I proudly approached the bar to ask for my very own whiskey sour. I was a 14-year-old guest and part-host at my father’s 50^th surprise birthday party. My parents, their friends and our relatives were so busy dancing and drinking–no one seemed to notice or care that me and my friend were regulars at the bar.

How did/does your family treat drinking?

As I’ve expressed in some of my previous posts, my European parents (French mother, Romanian father) were comfortable and easy-going about alcohol. It was a part of the culture, the meal, the celebration, the whatever. It was expected, and not abused…until much later.

If you have kids, how is the subject of drinking handled? Do you drink in front of them? With them?

We have two teenagers and are very clear about how we treat drinking. Like in my family of origin, we drink wine predominantly with meals and not much beyond. We allow our kids to taste our wine, and sometimes discuss the flavors we experience. We are not naïve about the exposure to drinking that our children have in their adolescent lives, so tell them the importance of making smart decisions and that we are always here to “rescue” them if they feel discomfort around others who are drinking.

What’s your drink of choice?

I truly enjoy the taste of wine and the enhancement it provides most foods–which I love even more. When I’m really thirsty, however, or after a day of skiing, I love the body and flavor of a cold amber beer.

Can you tell us about the best time you ever had drinking?

Drinking a bottle of Morgon out of a make-shift, top-sliced-off-water bottle cup in 1988, with my then boyfriend on the beach on Shelter Island…just before he proposed.

What about the worst time?

The worst times for me are connected with hangovers, and one in particular during college comes to mind. After playing a long night of “quarters” freshman year with two cute guys, I woke up with such a bad hangover that I remember struggling to walk up the four flights to a French class. The second my class was over, I stumbled back to my dorm room, back into bed, and called my dad to ask tell him how badly I was feeling.

What do you like most about drinking?

The edge rolling right off my neck and shoulders.

How has alcoholism affected your life?

My mother became an alcoholic in her 60s, and it was a wake up call on a myriad of levels. It provoked a reality check that has taken years to accept—and, for me, is the seed of this blog. It has made me question, think and rethink my attitude towards drinking and how important it is to consider a vulnerability I never dreamed I’d have.

If you could be any drink, what would it be? Why?

A kir royale. Because it’s sparkling and light, yet the cassis makes it feel rich and deep.