The "element of surprise" is a strategy played on a battlefield in war. It may also change social behavior.
Someone holds up a glass of alcohol and makes a toast. The first drink is for your health; the second drink is for happiness; the third drink is for madness. One generally hears that saying after many, many, many years of binge drinking.
It all starts out as a social gathering for enjoyment. Innocent as it may sound, the occasion may be repeated again: Friendship among people gathered together.
As time moves on, so does the frequency of "get-togethers." Not really thinking about it, we find ourselves returning to these events for a reward - a way to fill a time slot in our life.
Take a gathering of people who seem very happy, talking to each other while having a drink. Not realizing it, you start spending more money on the event. Not realizing it, if you have a bad day, you turn to the event to make your day better. You might use the event to help you find a soul mate in life. Not realizing it, time slips by and you hear, "Last call, folks!"
Little by little, things begin to build against your proper social behavior - traits undesirable in life for a good citizen or family member. You put aside on your priority list. Two things finally become very important to you: first is drinking: second is money. You have decided nothing else matters anymore.
Your entire universe is now poured from a bottle. The substance you take in eventually goes down the drain. In time, so does your needed livelihood. At this stage, you have reached rock-bottom and eventually you may ask yourself, ''How did I get here?'' It was the "element of surprise!" It snuck up on you - alcoholism.