Coca-Cola, that is. It started about 4 years ago, when I was 14. My parents didn't provide adequate lunch food, so I looked for something cheap to make my stomach stop complaining - Coke worked wonderfully.

Before long, I was drinking a can or more every day, and didn't like to go a day without. Back then, when bored at school on a Monday, I would tabulate my Cola consumption for the last week, it usually totalled 4-6 litres per week.

Now, it's closer to 2+ litres a day.

In the morning, I use it to get my body moving. Throughout the day, it's a quick, easy source of energy. It also calms me after a time of stress - and that's a real sign of addiction.

And yet, I feel no need to stop. I'm not gaining weight, my body is fairly healthy, my doctor had me get blood work done and all of the various levels are exactly where they should be, so I have no risk of diabetes or other diseases.

And the stuff is cheap. I never pay more than $4 Canadian for a 12 pack, often they're $3 or $3.50 on sale. A 1.5 litre Slurpee cup refill, which I can refill with any of 16 varieties of pop, plus lemon, cherry or vanilla flavoring, runs me $1.11 - with tax!

At the same time, I know it's not supposed to be good for me . . . . .