THE CHAMPAGNE GENERATION

 

I was thinking this morning..... I was in Abuja last week after almost 2 years, no thanks to Covid. I got in touch with my former classmate from Hussey College Warri that lives in Abuja just to catch up. Coincidentally, four other of our classmates, two from the US, were in town and we decided meet in the evening for what is now known within our group as 'Fishy tinz.'

The last time I met four of them was over 30 years ago, so it was a nostalgic reunion. After ordering for my Amstel Malta and fish, I went about catching up on old times. Just then a young man walked in and sat alone at the table behind us. Minutes later, he was served a cold bottle of Moet and Chandon Rose Imperial champagne. I couldn't help but wonder why someone will leave his house to casually drink champagne. Could it be that he was privately celebrating something? His demeanour definitely did not so indicate.

Within an hour, the young man in his quiet corner gulped down the content of the bottle of Moet, which by the way cost about N40,000 a bottle. As I kept peeping at him through the side of my eyes, my mind was deep in thoughts. Moet & Chandon is not just a big champagne brand in the world, it is one of the most premium brands in Nigeria market.

According to a recent report, Shoprite mall in Nigeria sold more champagne than the 600 outlets in South Africa. That is a proof of how much Nigerians value the luxury drink. Recently, the global ambassador of Moet and Chandon, Pierre-Louis Araud paid a visit to Nigeria. In an interview with The Guardian Nigeria, Araud revealed that Nigeria was the popular brand’s biggest market.

Having had a first hand experience of how champagne is no longer a celebratory drink in Nigeria but now the 'Coke and Fanta' of rich and famous, I concluded that truly this is 'The Champagne Generation (TCG)'. The generation where a politician will rather use $2 million to buy and drink a bottle of 2013 Taste of Diamonds champagne than to tar the roads in his community. Welcome to The Champagne Generation where people will borrow money to celebrate their birthday and serve 1996 Dom Perignon Rose Gold Methuselah valued at $49,000 a bottle. Nigerians drink champagne so much that 'champagne gold' has become a colour in our lexicon.

Wow! The Champagne Generation. What they don't realise is that drinking a $2m champagne will not make one a champion. At best it satisfies your desire for the moment. Go for value. Put the money to better use and you become part of The Champion Generation that gives rather than consumes. Ephesians 5:18 says "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;"

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey