This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/16/dining/drinks/drinking-alone.html

The article has changed 28 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 13 Version 14
Wine Is for Sharing. What Does That Mean in Self-Quarantine? Wine Is for Sharing. What Does That Mean in Self-Quarantine?
(32 minutes later)
In short order, the world has changed, and so has the thinking about public gatherings. Parties have been postponed. Restaurants have closed, and we have had to reconsider such commonplace activities as gathering with our friends.In short order, the world has changed, and so has the thinking about public gatherings. Parties have been postponed. Restaurants have closed, and we have had to reconsider such commonplace activities as gathering with our friends.
Under orders to socially distance ourselves, isolate and even self-quarantine, communal activities cannot be taken for granted. And what’s more communal than drinking wine?Under orders to socially distance ourselves, isolate and even self-quarantine, communal activities cannot be taken for granted. And what’s more communal than drinking wine?
In our new cautionary, stay-at-home environment, drinking wine may seem as much of a balm as making soup or bingeing on Netflix. Sharing a bottle with roommates or a spouse raises no issues or eyebrows.In our new cautionary, stay-at-home environment, drinking wine may seem as much of a balm as making soup or bingeing on Netflix. Sharing a bottle with roommates or a spouse raises no issues or eyebrows.
But what if social distancing means you are actually by yourself? Is it all right to open that bottle?But what if social distancing means you are actually by yourself? Is it all right to open that bottle?
Obviously, the question of whether to drink when alone doesn’t, in the words of that wise nightclub owner, amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. But it is a question that people who love wine may ask themselves if they find themselves temporarily isolated.Obviously, the question of whether to drink when alone doesn’t, in the words of that wise nightclub owner, amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. But it is a question that people who love wine may ask themselves if they find themselves temporarily isolated.
Too often, the answer is a finger wag. From the moment we start to learn about wine, we are taught that drinking responsibly is a social activity. Wine is for sharing, for drinking with friends or family over a meal.Too often, the answer is a finger wag. From the moment we start to learn about wine, we are taught that drinking responsibly is a social activity. Wine is for sharing, for drinking with friends or family over a meal.
Enjoying a good wine, we are often told, requires companionship. The joy, the sense of discovery, occurs when it is collective. I don’t know how Garbo felt about wine, but when opening a bottle, you do not want to be alone.Enjoying a good wine, we are often told, requires companionship. The joy, the sense of discovery, occurs when it is collective. I don’t know how Garbo felt about wine, but when opening a bottle, you do not want to be alone.
Drinking alone is often considered a sign of a serious problem, evidence of depression or even an indication of possible alcoholism. Psychological treatises delve into the potential underlying problems revealed by solo drinking, while country songs lock on to the inevitable tears.Drinking alone is often considered a sign of a serious problem, evidence of depression or even an indication of possible alcoholism. Psychological treatises delve into the potential underlying problems revealed by solo drinking, while country songs lock on to the inevitable tears.
But coronavirus has put us in a different situation now. The concern is not drowning sorrows at the hotel bar or the isolation felt even in the middle of a crowded party. The question is about drinking when literally alone, at home, when doing one’s best to comply with the new protocols of a public health crisis.But coronavirus has put us in a different situation now. The concern is not drowning sorrows at the hotel bar or the isolation felt even in the middle of a crowded party. The question is about drinking when literally alone, at home, when doing one’s best to comply with the new protocols of a public health crisis.
It would be easy to think oneself strange for wanting to enjoy a glass or two of wine with a dinner alone. Popular culture has had a field day with the issue of solo drinking, finding it a fertile field for random bits of advice.It would be easy to think oneself strange for wanting to enjoy a glass or two of wine with a dinner alone. Popular culture has had a field day with the issue of solo drinking, finding it a fertile field for random bits of advice.
“Do not, repeat, do not attempt to pluck your eyebrows while drinking alone,” warns one recent article titled “8 Ways to Drink Alone Without It Being Depressing.” Another takes us through “12 Stages of Deciding to Open a Bottle of Wine Alone and Drinking the Entire Thing,” including “resistance,” “denial,” “opening” and inevitably, “shame.”“Do not, repeat, do not attempt to pluck your eyebrows while drinking alone,” warns one recent article titled “8 Ways to Drink Alone Without It Being Depressing.” Another takes us through “12 Stages of Deciding to Open a Bottle of Wine Alone and Drinking the Entire Thing,” including “resistance,” “denial,” “opening” and inevitably, “shame.”
The notion that drinking alone makes it more likely that you’ll consume an entire bottle in one sitting only reinforces the potential ramifications of the decision to pull the cork in the first place.The notion that drinking alone makes it more likely that you’ll consume an entire bottle in one sitting only reinforces the potential ramifications of the decision to pull the cork in the first place.
These articles, and the underlying social attitudes they indicate, all underscore the Puritanical notion that drinking alcohol, regardless of the reason, is wrong. They suggest that the whole point of drinking is self-medication in one form or another, whether for heartache or ambient anxiety. And if you do it by yourself, you face a Pandora’s box full of consequences.These articles, and the underlying social attitudes they indicate, all underscore the Puritanical notion that drinking alcohol, regardless of the reason, is wrong. They suggest that the whole point of drinking is self-medication in one form or another, whether for heartache or ambient anxiety. And if you do it by yourself, you face a Pandora’s box full of consequences.
But what about all the other reasons that wine-lovers open bottles — for starters, because wine goes really well with food and because it tastes good?But what about all the other reasons that wine-lovers open bottles — for starters, because wine goes really well with food and because it tastes good?
We know it encourages conviviality, which is not so useful under socially isolated circumstances, perhaps, but wine inspires contemplation as well, which is almost always welcome, especially if the conversation is with yourself.We know it encourages conviviality, which is not so useful under socially isolated circumstances, perhaps, but wine inspires contemplation as well, which is almost always welcome, especially if the conversation is with yourself.
Without a doubt, one must always keep in mind the power and potential dangers of alcoholic beverages. If you do have a problem with alcohol or issues with depression, drinking alone is not the responsible choice.Without a doubt, one must always keep in mind the power and potential dangers of alcoholic beverages. If you do have a problem with alcohol or issues with depression, drinking alone is not the responsible choice.
But otherwise, why shouldn’t we enjoy the beauty of wine, especially if it is augmenting a meal? If we are going to take the loving step of cooking for ourselves, I believe we should absolutely make the experience even better by enjoying a glass or two of wine as well.But otherwise, why shouldn’t we enjoy the beauty of wine, especially if it is augmenting a meal? If we are going to take the loving step of cooking for ourselves, I believe we should absolutely make the experience even better by enjoying a glass or two of wine as well.
Updated July 7, 2020 Updated July 16, 2020
The coronavirus can stay aloft for hours in tiny droplets in stagnant air, infecting people as they inhale, mounting scientific evidence suggests. This risk is highest in crowded indoor spaces with poor ventilation, and may help explain super-spreading events reported in meatpacking plants, churches and restaurants. It’s unclear how often the virus is spread via these tiny droplets, or aerosols, compared with larger droplets that are expelled when a sick person coughs or sneezes, or transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces, said Linsey Marr, an aerosol expert at Virginia Tech. Aerosols are released even when a person without symptoms exhales, talks or sings, according to Dr. Marr and more than 200 other experts, who have outlined the evidence in an open letter to the World Health Organization.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
I don’t personally seek out isolation. But I have had some wonderful meals, with several glasses of wine, by myself, whether traveling on business or at home when other members of my family made other plans. It may not be ideal, but solitude and a little wine can send the mind in unexpectedly delightful directions. I prize the memories of these little interior journeys.I don’t personally seek out isolation. But I have had some wonderful meals, with several glasses of wine, by myself, whether traveling on business or at home when other members of my family made other plans. It may not be ideal, but solitude and a little wine can send the mind in unexpectedly delightful directions. I prize the memories of these little interior journeys.
Once the decision has been made to pour a glass, it raises a practical issue. The standard 750-milliliter bottle reinforces the idea that drinking is not a solo activity. It is designed for two people or more to finish in the course of a meal.Once the decision has been made to pour a glass, it raises a practical issue. The standard 750-milliliter bottle reinforces the idea that drinking is not a solo activity. It is designed for two people or more to finish in the course of a meal.
That means moderate drinkers will have leftover wine. That’s hardly a problem, though a lot of people think it could be. In fact, entire wine-gadget companies are built on the notion that wine is fragile and begins to decay immediately upon opening.That means moderate drinkers will have leftover wine. That’s hardly a problem, though a lot of people think it could be. In fact, entire wine-gadget companies are built on the notion that wine is fragile and begins to decay immediately upon opening.
That is true of bad wine, processed products that are constructed from added tannins, acids and other ingredients aimed at creating something from very little. These have little staying power.That is true of bad wine, processed products that are constructed from added tannins, acids and other ingredients aimed at creating something from very little. These have little staying power.
Good wine, however, regardless of price, is generally far stronger than we imagine. If you have opened a bottle and consumed half of it, recork it and store it in a cool place, whether by the window, depending on the weather and if it’s out of the sunlight, or in the fridge. It can last for several days at least, with no need for special sealing devices or the sort of tools that promise to suck the air out of a half-empty bottle.Good wine, however, regardless of price, is generally far stronger than we imagine. If you have opened a bottle and consumed half of it, recork it and store it in a cool place, whether by the window, depending on the weather and if it’s out of the sunlight, or in the fridge. It can last for several days at least, with no need for special sealing devices or the sort of tools that promise to suck the air out of a half-empty bottle.
If you have a half-bottle of something, then you are all set. Or good wine in a box — yes, there are such things. The bag-in-a-box technology is an excellent guard against oxidation, the primary fear after a partly consumed bottle.If you have a half-bottle of something, then you are all set. Or good wine in a box — yes, there are such things. The bag-in-a-box technology is an excellent guard against oxidation, the primary fear after a partly consumed bottle.
But if it’s just you and a regular bottle, just plan on drinking it over two or three days, no worries.But if it’s just you and a regular bottle, just plan on drinking it over two or three days, no worries.
The bottom line is: We are all doing what’s necessary in an unexpected predicament to protect the health of family, friends and ourselves. We are sacrificing, whether missing out on travel, sports, theater and other public gatherings. For some of us, that may mean spending time in physical isolation.The bottom line is: We are all doing what’s necessary in an unexpected predicament to protect the health of family, friends and ourselves. We are sacrificing, whether missing out on travel, sports, theater and other public gatherings. For some of us, that may mean spending time in physical isolation.
That does not mean that all pleasures must be lost to us. So let’s make the best of it and toast, even from afar, the day when we can all gather again, hug, kiss, shake hands and touch our faces with impunity.That does not mean that all pleasures must be lost to us. So let’s make the best of it and toast, even from afar, the day when we can all gather again, hug, kiss, shake hands and touch our faces with impunity.
Follow NYT Food on Twitter and NYT Cooking on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest. Get regular updates from NYT Cooking, with recipe suggestions, cooking tips and shopping advice.Follow NYT Food on Twitter and NYT Cooking on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest. Get regular updates from NYT Cooking, with recipe suggestions, cooking tips and shopping advice.