I won't bore you with what I fork out every 6-8 weeks when I visit the hairdresser - but let's just say it's eyewatering. I try to justify it to myself by saying "It's enforced relaxation Yvonne, when do you ever just sit and read magazines for two hours? You deserve it." Included in the cost is as many flat whites as I can handle, all manner of exotic juices and best of all, if I happen to be there after midday, a glass of wine while my scalp marinates. I like this a lot, the wine I mean, not my fizzing skull.
So as I'm all about the extras, I was particularly interested to hear (and this comes from the "only in America" files) that dentists across Manhattan have been serving complimentary glasses of wine to their patients to help take the edge off the scary dental work.
As reported in dnainfo.com, one dentist in the Nolita neighbourhood features a small table in the waiting room with a collection of glassware alongside a bucket of bottles of red and white wine for patients to pour for themselves and sip at their leisure. It's one of several dental practices around the city to offer the service, according to a longtime patient and online reviews. "It's an extra something that helps you dread the dentist a little less. I don't know why more places don't do it, quite frankly," said a 29-year-old patient who asked that her name not be used. "The wine helps take the edge off."
One small problem though, is that apparently none of the dentists' offices have been licensed by the correct authorities and they're not allowed to serve the wine even if it's free.
Apparently the idea came about because dentists wanted to create "spa-like" environments, where their patients feel like they're having a treat rather than an uncomfortable treatment. "We offer the beverages as part of our efforts to create a welcoming, boutique, spa-like environment in the office and make patients more comfortable," said Dr David Janash of Park South Dentistry, which also offers its patients complimentary coconut water, juices and tea. "We also provide cosy blankets for people while they get treatments and warm, scented towels to refresh their face and hands. Our patients love it," Janash added. Dnainfo.com also revealed that complimentary drinks aren't just the domain of dentists, in fact veterinarians were also offering home-brewed beer to waiting pet owners. Nice.