One in five spend [euro]50 to [euro]70 a week on alcohol and 80 per cent said they took part in "prinking" or pre-drinking at home before heading to the pub or club in an effort to keep costs down.
There's the persistent sobriety partner, Joan, who insists that Karr turn herself over to God: "The only way I know to arrive at balance in my choices is through prayer." Then, a young female intern at the hospital, who tells her, "You might find sober people who don't pray but all the happy ones have some kind of regular meditative or spiritual practice"--and when that isn't convincing, "Prinking is like the butcher knife.
But researchers were surprised to discover that 68 patients had reportedly consumed their final beverage at home before setting out for the city centre - a practice commonly known as "pre-drinking" or "prinking".