[Wilderness]

I drink socially, but I don't require alcohol to be myself, act outgoing or have fun.

That might make me an unusual INTJ?

[Feral]

It helps socially, but I'd rather be sober and anti social than drunk and social. I don't like being drunk, or hungover.

[SeverusSin]

	Originally Posted by thehammer To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	The filter in my brain that keeps me from saying certain things dissolves in alcohol, so it can be useful at times. My friends like to get me liquored up just to see what I'll say, and it's usually hilarious.

This is the same with me, that internal judgmental dialogue which says "oh don't say that" or "that's not acceptable" tends to lessen proportional to the alcohol intake.

[Sk8ordude]

I've drank before I prefer Jager, but its not really my thing. It feels like it dumbs me down to a more "reptilian" state of mind, any more then a buzz feels like a migraine headache combined with turkey meat, and I never get any good ideas or interesting thoughts that still look good sober. Compared to other drugs I lump alcohol in with huffing glue, meth, and pcp, it kills thousands a year, its depressing, toxic, addictive, it incites violence, and is mediocre at its best.

But to each their own, and maybe I've just been spoiled.

[Torka]

	Originally Posted by Senthe To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	In my case, I don't drink at all. I tried it, in my teen years (13-16), but never got drunk or anything. I just don't like it, and after all I've seen going out with my friends I really don't want to like it.

Some people shouldnt drink. They become idiots, get angry, get emotional, or drink WAY too much. Drinking around teenagers or when your a teenager sucks because no one knows how to be drunk. Then its all about getting "wasted" ,"shitfaced", or "plastered". When in fact most people really dont like being "sloshed".

Being a sober person around drunks is not fun and often insulting.
For instance, you (sober) realize your friends (wasted) are acting like idiots. You then guess how screwed up they are, and through no fault of your own talk down or try to fool them (albiet mostly for their own good). They being slightly less trashed than you think, pick up on this. They then, in their less than rational state become beligerant, hostle, or angry towards you.

Drinking too much and hangovers are signs of the inexperenced. I cant remember the last hangover I had. Ask your local drunk when the last time that they felt like shit in the morning. (The really dedicated ones will tell you never, often because they dont stop drinking.) Moderation is the key.

Some people dont like the taste of booze. Those people have never explored the liquor store. Or perhaps when they were young had a snort of grain alcohol that made them puke. Booze can be had in just about any flavor. Some of my favorites being applepie, rootbeer, peppermint, liquorice (sp?), plus all other kinds of schnapps, and what I refer to as fruity girly shit.

Beer is an aquired taste (which I have aquired). I think its consumption is partially connected with to the reward or outcome of a buzz.

Wine is incrediblly good. It has such a wide range of flavors, depths, textures, and smells available. To say you dont care for wine is like saying you hate black people. Sure you dont like most of them, the ones you've tried smell like shit, but I'm sure somewhere out there is one that you will like!

Hard liquor has such an incredible diveristy of EVERYTHING!! Hard liquor is almost drug like in its effect on me.
Gin, for instance has a cocaine like rush, where I'm wide awake 10feet tall and bulletproof.
Scotch, (and some irish whiskey)is a fireplace in a bottle. After work I sit down put my feet up, forget about the world and just gaze into the flames.
Vodka, still makes me gag at the smell.
American wiskeys, are not that great in my opinion. Most have "in your face" flavor, too harsh, and young.

I could go on for days about this topic. I love my booze.

And if you dont appreciate the effects then atleast appreciate the craftsmanship, energy, and efforts that goes into a good bottle of wine or scotch. A baker can make you a cake in a day, a carpenter can build you a house in a week, but a distiller has years of work before his art and craft can be apprecitated. If you cant recognize the beauty in the artistry of good alcohol, then perhaps your the one with the skewed sense of reality and prioritys.

“I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day.” Frank Sinatra

[ScottH]

I love to drink. Too much, in fact, so I deliberately limit myself.

Although I can drink a "froo-froo" drink (i.e., sweet) at a dinner or special occasion, I usually drink scotch.

For me, it is a relaxer, whether social or just for stress relief, and can make sleeping easy when I can't otherwise.

I would say in one drink or two (over a couple hours), I'm happy, mellow and very social. Beyond that I tend to become a vocal activist shedding what little tact I have when sober and just wanting to voice my non- white-washed opinions.

In any case, I'm always a friendly, nice person.

I have gotten too drunk a couple of times and have commensurate stories. Maybe I'll share the most hilarious some time :-)

[thehammer]

	Originally Posted by Torka To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	“I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day.” Frank Sinatra

Pretty much how I feel about hangovers.

[mormeguil]

Well It too me a few times until I got used to the right alcool quantity. Too much and I get depressed and slump around. Now I know the right amount. I like the taste and it does make a nice relaxing feeling.

On the other hand, I probably have an higher likelyhood of becoming addicted. Had some alcoolism problem in the family and have a tendancy to really get into something easily. Because of that I try not to drink too much when alone or sad. I might have a beer or a cocktail but not more then that. I also don't ever start drinking daily.

[SRVcardsfan27]

If there were no health consequences of drinking then I would be drunk just about all of the time with the exception of when I exercise. I have always been a big health-conscious person but I'm confident that my love of alcohol will override that eventually. Everything is so much more pleasurable while drinking, and I often go to school and work interviews drunk to help with my anxiety -- yeah, big problem arising potentially. Most people can't tell when I'm drunk unless they smell it on me -- I don't get wild and crazy on it. It makes my thought process slow down to a level where I can absorb everything and rationalize everything. It also makes me a hell of a lot more creative.

[Distance]

Nope. Social drinker here. Had a few last night with friends which turned out to be an interesting time.

If I were diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, it wouldn't bother me to give it up permanently. For that matter, giving anything up that's unnecessary, isn't a big deal.

[kalieldriel]

I'm an alcoholic. I have to be careful to not indulge when I'm hormonal or when stressful events have been going on.

[mieu]

Alcohol is definitely a fantastic social lubricant for me. Thankfully, I know my limits and have been told that my drunken company is just as enjoyable as my sober company. I don't reach for a drink immediately, but as long as someone else is tipping them back, I'll help myself!

[seekingclarity]

I just realized 4 years ago that my family is a bunch of dysfunctional alcoholics and co-depedents. Now that I see the damage that continues being passed down from one generation to the next because of its abuse, the stuff doesn't taste very good anymore. I prefer to keep my wits about me so I'm less likely to get sucked into the web of crazy that alcoholism weaves...

[Senthe]

@Torka

My statement was a simplification of my feelings about alcohol, I didn't want to write a dissertation about why I think alcohol has become a problem in society when it's use for recreational purposes has displaced any other traditional, and usually more healthy, ways of socializing. And that would be only a beginning as I can continue with the use of alcohol as a way of improving interpersonal skills (shyness, inhibition, etc) instead of working towards that improvement by yourself, or as a way of coping with problems instead of dealing and solving them.

Yeah, I decided not to drink or have any other drugs, not even caffeine, but that doesn't mean I have to be preaching all the time about why people shouldn't drink. It's a personal choice. If you ask me I will tell you my reasons but I will never try to impose them. In fact, I think all drugs should be legal and everyone should decide by themselves whether they want to use them or not.

Is brewery an art? Sure, why not. Bullfighting is also an art and that doesn't make it less cruel in the eyes of some people. Also some fighting sports are considered arts and that doesn't make them less brutal. Even war can be considered an art. I'm not saying that alcohol is like any of thes, just that saying brewery is an art is not a good argument.

You love alcohol, that's ok with me. Just say you like how it makes you feel or that you think it's something that helps you get by some difficult moments. I don't like how it tastes, I don't like how it makes me feel and I don't like how it's used, but I will never say that I feel pity for you.

You have your reasons, I have mine. None of them are better or superior or an absolute truth. Live and let live. I just can apologize if you felt insulted by my very brief previous post or by anything I'm saying here.

[saxon]

The only time il have a drink is if im coaxed into it (very rarely.. maybe once every 6months or so where il share a carton or 2 with a mate) but other than that i keep a carton of beer in my room and maybe have one beer by myself for when im playing around with my survival equipment, as i find it helps me come up with new ideas on how to better my gear. although i MIGHT go to a stripclub once a year with one or two friends... But apart from that im basically a recluse... at 20. Haha. i dont see anything wrong with it... everyone else seems to though.

[Chosen]

I drink (too) much.

[Subtle]

I drink alcohol in moderation. Parties and similar events would be unbearable without the ability to numb oneself.

I cannot say that I, in general, prefer to be drunk, though.

[Hewholistens]

I'd rather much drink juice or soda. Alcoholic drinks stink and taste horrible. I'm also straightedge so i wouldn't drink them anyway.

[GSOgymrat]

I don't drink alcohol. It tastes terrible, it's expensive and I don't like the feeling of intoxication. I've never done an illegal drug in my life. Thanks, but I like my brain the way it is.

[seekingclarity]

Originally Posted by Bevan To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Alcohol is a peculiar drug in that it appears it may be addictive to some people, but not everyone. Unfortunately, there is only one way to find out if you are a potential alcoholic. I spent 10 years working in journalism and threw a 10-year drunk at the same time. I was an extreme introvert working in a field which demanded intense interaction with other people for 40 hours a week. On almost a daily basis, I had to approach strangers and persuade them to answer questions. If they declined to participate, I still had to get a story and meet a deadline. I was regularly exposed to emotionally unsettling material, mostly in the form of police reports, Department of Family and Children Services reports, and grand jury presentments. Despite my introversion, I performed very well in my work. My consumption of alcohol, however, led me to the uncomfortable position of being in a living hell. After the first five years, I had to drink whether I wanted to or not, and no longer received any pleasure or relief from the drug. I began to realise that alcohol was literally killing me, that I would die if I did not stop. I was unable to drink in moderation. Call it addiction or personal weakness, lack of self-control, whatever you like. I was in serious trouble. The first six months of withdrawal was just as hellish as drinking had become, perhaps even more so. Getting through the stage of early withdrawal and recovery took about 18 months. Today I prefer not to drink.

Those that underestimate addiction are not afflicted with it or they are in denial about it, bottom line. People that aren't plagued with alcohol addiction cannot fathom its power and therefore have no room to comment on an addict's self-control, weakness, etc. I look at it like non-addicts got lucky this incarnation and nothing more; they should not preach anything to an addict. That being said, addiction pollutes everyone that comes in intimate contact with the addict. Addiction is a toxic parasite. It makes good people do really shitty things to people they love. As a child reared in alcoholic dysfunction, I have many internal wounds I'm just now uncovering as a woman in her 30s. Despite all my psychological/emotional baggage from the stuff, I realize there is an incomprehensible matrix supporting the disease. Every person surrounding the alcoholic plays their part in maintaining the addiction, this includes those that aren't alcoholics. 4 years ago, the fog lifted for the first time in my life, and I objectively witnessed my family's alcoholic reality. I was shocked that I had never noticed it before! When I tried to disengage from the matrix, I couldn't believe how peculiar everyone started acting (unconsciously), even the non-addicts. I was a threat, somehow, because they all feed off it in some way. They all get their 'fix' through the drama of the alcoholic. Fascinating, really. And equally terrifying...