How often do you consume alcoholic drinks?

[Horizon'sEdge]

Greetings all, it's been a while since I checked in, but I have a question for the group. I've been out of university for a couple of years, and I'm noticing that some of my friends who get drunk on a regular basis (i.e. any party), often to the point of vomiting, are often those that complain the most about their life.

I was wondering whether there may a relation between the two. I could probably count the times I have been drunk on both hands, but on some of those occasions when I have been intoxicated, I have been at my weakest in terms of emotional control, intelligence, attitude, optimism etc. As a result, I am less inclined to drink it as the months go by.

So would people mind passing on their view? Pick the closest - it's hard to come up with decent choices!

[RT Wolf]

Drinking becomes escape from a life people feel is inflicted on them, not realizing that each of us makes our own life. We complain most about things that could be different but that which we feel we don't have the power to change. The Courage to Change Consciously is a good article about that.

[mattsonn]

I've long held the conclusion on this topic that it really depends on the person. I was raised in an evironment that reasonably accepting of alcohol, and so it doesn't bother me. And yes, I've been in a fraternity, and the semester that I drank the most was coincidentally the semester I got the highest grades. But obviously, alcohol is a poison.

[daisylover26]

I drink a few times a year. Mostly on vacation, sometimes if we have a party (unless I have non-drinkers there), and sometimes on a special occassion (Valentine's Day or a birthday). When my husband and I take cruises we always stock up on liquor (duty free), but then it sits there until our party guests use it up I do enjoy drinking, but to be honest, it's only fun when I can get drunk (awful as that sounds). And, then I feel terrible the next day. Real life comes first so I rarely drink.

Drinking is an escape for a lot of people. Getting drunk IS fun and for many it helps them loosen up and gives them that "liquid confidence" they wish they normally had. So I could see where people who drink to get drunk often are unhappy because they can't maintain that state of feeling good/confident/sexy/whatever all the time.

[WanderingOak]

I don't think there are enough choices in the poll. For instance, I have a pint or two of beer and / or red wine every night. However, I don't 'binge', and don't have memory lapses of any sort. I think alcohol affects everybody differently depending on their metabolism. IMHO, the point of drinking isn't to get drunk (no matter what Hank Jr. says). Instead, alcohol serves to act as a social lubricant. For example, I have a slight stutter. When I was a teenager, I could barely talk it was so bad. Now, however, after I have had a beer or two, I do not stutter at all. It literally helps loosen my tongue. The point is that I control my drinking, the drinking doesn't control me. And no, I do not operate a vehicle or heavy machinery after having a few.

[llong]

I have been sober since I was 18. I saw myself going down the wrong path, and stopped before I travelled too far.

I craved alcohol for about another 8 years or so.

[The David]

Alcohol is a depressant. Whether or not it's okay in moderation, you probably aren't going to wake up the next morning after a night of excess, in your own vomit, and be ready to attack the new day.

[pinkhighlighter]

I rarely drink. We probably get a six-pack once every few months, of which I only drink 1 can, and other than that I might have a tiny glass of wine or champage at special occassions (Christmas usually).

[starlet]

I have a drink about once a week. I pretty much only drink wine and some sort of drink that has a shot of rum in it. I do not get drunk, the second I start feeling weird at all I stop drinking ASAP. I'm very attuned to my body and mind.

[judge45]

I'm a complete pisshead-binge drinking-idiot. I love to drink, but I'm a binge drinker. I like to blame my parents as they were both heavy drinkers, but of course that's a cop out. I started drinking vodka when I was 12 years old. Once I gave up for 2 years and it was amazing how it changed who my friends were and my social habits.

But during that time I felt the non drinking meant I couldn't control the drinking it was controlling me at the opposite end so to speak.

I still love to drink, but physically find I can't, it takes me 3 days just to come right again, when I do drink it's all or nothing. I usually wake up in a ditch or at the police station (just kidding, although both are true, mainly my wife makes me sleep on the couch now)

I cannot have one or two drinks (I can only really drink beer now not spirits) I don't see the point, once I start it's all or nothing. The longest time lately I've been without a drink was 21 days. It was good, but it was also good getting drunk again. They say some people have addiction tendancies and others don't. If you can have a few and stop I admire you, but I don't see the point. It's like having low cal beer or worse diet coke Blah

I've been to AA and it was too depressing and there was too much God crud (I don't believe in God especially the religious kind) I am probably an alcoholic, but I don't drink everyday, so I don't know. I like to think I will never give it up, because then it means I can't control it, not drinking is good, but so is having a drink. It's probably the amount that is the problem.

I'm not a violent drunk, but I can have an acid tongue. I've had some amazing revelations when I drink about life the universe and everything. I try to write thm down and the next day they are very interesting. I've probably done some major damage to my physicality because of it, but I blame no one really except myself.

I have no regrets

Jeff

[Dimitry]

I'm doing an experiment where I'm dry for 2007 so no alcohol (only exception is cooking since the alcohol evaporates and only the taste is left).

Before I used to drink very occasionally, where some weeks I could have no alcohol at all and others I might drink 2 or 3 of the nights. Drinking for me most of the time was a couple of drinks also (2-3).

The times when I did get drunk were far and few in between. Like some people said, the amount of times I actually got intoxicated could be counted on both hands.

[Harry]

I agree with WanderingOak. Not enough choices.

You can have one drink every night, (or so I have heard), but I would not consider it in the same league having 12 drinks four nights a week.

[Freelancer]

Background;
In college

Anyway I've never been real drunk, plenty of friends who go that far. I've never felt the need to get stupidly drunk, so I've always controlled my own drinking. For instance after a night out you can ask me how much I drank and I can give you the exact numbers (I count to keep track for myself, on how I feel with what/how much inside my body). Lately I've been drinking less and less alcohol, it just doesn't taste that great anymore. I still get alcohol inside my system 2-3 times a week, good thing is that if I went with the whole social drinking I'd get alcohol atleast 4-5 times a week...

If I see some of the friends I know from soccer I'm VERY moderate, considering a regular week looks something like;
Thursday evening; After soccer practice, drink 4-5 glasses of beer or so.
Friday evening; Drink untill drunk
Next evening; Repeat friday evening
Sunday; After soccer match, drink 6-7 glasses of beer or so.
Monday; After work drink a few glasses of beer once again
Tuesday/wednesday; Recover...
Rince repeat

And thats a regular week, and not uncommon at my team.
Just imagine how much they drink if they'r really going at it for a week or so (before they collapse)...
One guy in my team is one foot in his grave, he's in his 20ties. He smokes and drinks excessive amounts of alcohol on top of a unhealthy diet and a rough job. I'm 100% positive he's not going to live past 40, if he gets it to 30 that is...

[Dilman]

I don't drink because I'm 13.

[llong]

Sorry but I have no idea how one can justify drinking.

All this talk about self-improvement and you spend money to put toxic substances in your body, to escape from reality?

[Freelancer]

Originally Posted by llong

Sorry but I have no idea how one can justify drinking.

All this talk about self-improvement and you spend money to put toxic substances in your body, to escape from reality?

Damn, I had a big responce written out about a bunch of excuses to drink. I'm not a big alcoholic but this post struck a cord with me, so thanks for helping me out identifying another area I need to change. I still don't like your tone of voice, its a bad habit to drink regularily not a mortal sin...

On a side note, most people drink socially 'because everyone else does it' and not to escape reality.






Ps. That little 'regular' week below is from one of my soccer team mates, mine is pretty boring in that regard a few beers once or twice a week.

[llong]

Originally Posted by Freelancer

On a side note, most people drink socially 'because everyone else does it' and not to escape reality.

Oh, much better.

[kpreston]

Only at parties, and only until I notice that I'm dancing. At that point, I've had enough. :P

[openeyes]

I generally prefer being sober and thus rarely get drunk, though it's not unusual for me to have a glass or two of wine with a meal or a girlfriend.

[sonbuenas]

It's unusual for me to not have at least one drink a night. I'm a bartender. Ever since I started that job my drinking has increased dramatically. I'm in the same boat as one of the other posters in that if I do drink i have several. Gotta have my buzz. Otherwise what is the point? I need to stop this behavior before it gets worse.