Thoughts on Alcohol/Getting Drunk

[Jaq]

As I am a recovering alcoholic, that should make my basic thoughts on drinking fairly clear. I don't have a problem with other people drinking, because not everyone has the problem I do. I also believe that very, very rarely is it true that a person who gets drunk suddenly loses all their inhibitions and becomes someone else. Like someone said earlier, they're just better at hiding it. When I drank, I was at turns sarcastic, surly, easily annoyed and was prone to being a total smartass. You know why?

Because I'm a person who is prone to being sarcastic, surly, easily annoyed, and a total smartass, that's why. Drinking just takes away the governor on your personality that allows you to throttle back when you notice you've gone too far.

[Dr. DTVT]

Forgive me for not reading two pages worth of replies and just answering the OP.

I rarely drink, and when I do it is almost always in a social situation and because others are drinking (peer pressure!  j/k).  I've only been buzzed once in the last 3 years, and the last time I was actually drunk was probably 2007.  My main things are a) I don't need to drink to enjoy myself and alcohol doesn't really make good times THAT much better, and b) going out for drinks is expensive, yet no one ever wants to just have a get together and make drinks.  I probably would have  drank more in grad school (can't comment on my current peeps yet) if my friends weren't so insistant on going to the bars - supposedly to "meet people" - even though we would all just end up at the same table and try to have conversations over the background din, which I thought was incredibly stupid.  Guess that's why I was always considered the smart one, even in grad school.

That said, I'm a beer snob, and I brew my own beer; namely for showing off my skills and the challenge.

[hefdaddy42]

I like craft beer a lot. I'd liken my zest for it to that of a coffee lover's affinity for exploring the diverse world of various beans and roasts except that coffee only makes me wanna bang fat chicks a tiny bit more than usual.

Craft beer makes me happy

Same here.  o/

I'm glad I'm in Raleigh because we have a lot of really good local breweries.

Another great area for great local breweries is Asheville.

[King Postwhore]

Oh boy.  They wife drove last night.  I had a "few" craft beers and a shot of Hennessy.  My head is ok just a little cloudy.  Haven't done that in a while.  Needed a little release.

[kirksnosehair]

I'm allergic to alcohol, almost every time I drink it, I break out in cuffs. 


So I avoid it.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

I Jack Daniels.

Me too.  How do you take it?  I like it straight, room temperature, no ice, no mixer, no nothing.

Good that way, or with a little ice. Most often I have it with Pepsi.

[lonestar]

I'm allergic to alcohol, almost every time I drink it, I break out in cuffs. 


So I avoid it.

My allergy comes out differently, when I drink, I tend to lose friends and family members.


(actually, now that I have had chronic, severe pancreatitis, I am extremely supceptable to it coming back. Any level of drinking would probably do me in, and knowing how I drink, there is really no going back unless I want to die)

[Neon]

I'm honestly surprised that the general attitude toward alcohol is on the negative side here.  But to each his own- I wasn't into drinking at all until I was about 23.

I'm 31 (fastly approaching 32...yikes) and I still love to drink.  I have cut back a lot but the main reason for that is time and money.  I've been doing the two-job thing for a year now and I just don't have the free time like I used to.

But when I can, I definitely like to get my drink on.  And occasionally, we get sloppy. But never violent or belligerent.  I've been told I'm an extremely fun drunk.  And my friends keep inviting me to hang with them so I guess I'm not too bad   

[TheOutlawXanadu]

A couple of thoughts on this topic:

1. I don't drink, and I find that when I tell people that, especially at a party, I get blank stares. There's almost a tension in the air. I think it's very interesting how ingrained drinking is into our culture, and how if you don't do it, there are a lot of people who consider you weird.

2. A lot of my friends go out drinking every weekend, and if they don't, they still find a way to incorporate drinking into what they're doing regardless. If they're taking a road trip, they inevitably stop at a bar or brewery along the way. If they're going to a basketball or football game, they buy a few beers at the arena. If they're going to see a movie, same thing. I find it kind of bizarre that a lot of people have to incorporate drinking into their spare time no matter what they're doing.

[Sigz]

1. I don't drink, and I find that when I tell people that, especially at a party, I get blank stares. There's almost a tension in the air. I think it's very interesting how ingrained drinking is into our culture, and how if you don't do it, there are a lot of people who consider you weird.

Odd, because I haven't had that experience at all. I mean, I go to allegedly one of the biggest 'party schools' in the nation, yet I know plenty of people who don't drink (or didn't drink until they were 21) and have absolutely no problem getting on at parties with everyone else. I mean, maybe it's just the groups of people I hang out with, but if you tell them you don't drink at a party they just say "oh cool, more for me", offer you a non-alcoholic drink, and continue on with the conversation.

[Dr. DTVT]

A couple of thoughts on this topic:

*snip*

I think we generally have similar thoughts on the subject, but I've found it's just easier to get one drink to not make it an issue.  When I used to sell vacuum cleaners, one of the things I learned is that when you have to connect with people, the best way is to just do what they do.  If we were offered a beer during a demonstration, we were told that the proper response was, "Sure, I'll have what you're having." since it builds a connection.  It's a situation I am finding myself in a lot lately as I'm spending time getting to know the faculty.  I'll have a drink if everyone else orders, one of the other new hires doesn't, and I'm finding that people are are making more of an effort to get to know me even outside of drinking situations because of it.  So, sometimes giving into peer pressure and doing the socially acceptable thing is the right thing to do if it keeps the spotlight off the subject.

[El Barto]

Holy shit.  You mean there really was such a thing as door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesmen?  I always thought that was a myth created for television purposes. 

[Dr. DTVT]

Yup.  My first job after college was a Kirby salesman.  It was a great way to work on my demonstration and speaking skills while waiting to find a real job.

[Ħ]

I'm turning 21 on Thursday. My friends are taking me to a bar. Any drink recommendations?

[yorost]

I'm turning 21 on Thursday. My friends are taking me to a bar. Any drink recommendations?

Plenty of water afterwards.

Prairie Fire

[El Barto]

I'm turning 21 on Thursday. My friends are taking me to a bar. Any drink recommendations?

Plenty of water afterwards.

And before.


And during.

[black_biff_stadler]

I'm turning 21 on Thursday. My friends are taking me to a bar. Any drink recommendations?

Appletini

[yorost]

I'm turning 21 on Thursday. My friends are taking me to a bar. Any drink recommendations?

Plenty of water afterwards.

And before.


And during.

Aye.

[Ħ]

Prairie Fire

I have no experience drinking and even I think wtf at the thought of drinking that.

[Dr. DTVT]

I'm turning 21 on Thursday. My friends are taking me to a bar. Any drink recommendations?

Plenty of water afterwards.

And before.


And during.

If they offer you a Nazi Taco, pass on it.

[pogoowner]

I didn't start drinking until I was 20. At the time, it was centered around house parties and getting completely smashed. It was a lot of fun. But in only 3 years since that time, my attitude has changed a lot. I rarely get out of control like that anymore. These days, my drinking habits mainly consist of getting a nice buzz from a few craft beers and calling it a night. It's a bit of a hobby of mine now. I keep a list at BeerAdvocate of every beer that I try. It's probably nothing to a more experienced beer drinker, but I've now tried about 140 beers.

[Ħ]

Yeah, my bro is telling me to go with a few AMF's. Maybe later in the evening but not right away.

[yorost]

Feel free to turn down drinks.  If someone buys you something you don't want make them drink both.

[Adami]

Also don't feel the need to drink in general.

If you want....sure. But don't feel like you have to just because you're turning 21.

[El Barto]

Yeah, my bro is telling me to go with a few AMF's. Maybe later in the evening but not right away.

I had to look that up, but man, it sounds terrible. 

[Neon]

I'm turning 21 on Thursday. My friends are taking me to a bar. Any drink recommendations?

Appletini

Fuck that.  Do a shot of Jameson.

[KevShmev]

A couple of thoughts on this topic:

1. I don't drink, and I find that when I tell people that, especially at a party, I get blank stares. There's almost a tension in the air. I think it's very interesting how ingrained drinking is into our culture, and how if you don't do it, there are a lot of people who consider you weird.

Man, if that ain't the truth. 

[lonestar]

Yeah, my bro is telling me to go with a few AMF's. Maybe later in the evening but not right away.

I'd avoid that one, and here are a few others to avoid...

'anything' iced tea
Car bomb
touchdown
gorilla fart
three wisemen
stoplight
mind eraser
jager bomb(or anything jager for that matter)

Just off the top of my head, I'm sure I'll come up with more, I have done extensive research in this field.



I do feel a proper shot of tequila is a must though. Good luck.

[black_biff_stadler]

Oh the irony of tequila being the shot you DO mention after concluding the list of what to avoid.

[Fiery Winds]

I'm turning 21 on Thursday. My friends are taking me to a bar. Any drink recommendations?

Rum and coke.  Sorta like vanilla coke with a spicy kick.  If you're only having a few, you should be fine, but down a 32oz bottle of Gatorade beforehand.

[lonestar]

I'm turning 21 on Thursday. My friends are taking me to a bar. Any drink recommendations?

Rum and coke.  Sorta like vanilla coke with a spicy kick.  If you're only having a few, you should be fine, but down a 32oz bottle of Gatorade beforehand.

And eat, please for God's sake eat.

Oh the irony of tequila being the shot you DO mention after concluding the list of what to avoid.

Some rights of passage must be taken here, don't you agree?

[Sigz]

AMFs are just fucking retarded.


To me, '21st birthday first drinks' should be solid standards and a few 'party' type drinks:

Pint of a good beer
JD and coke
Gin and tonic
A good straight scotch
Proper tequila shot (i.e. with salt and lime)
Vodka shot
Irish car bomb (because it's fucking delicious, though don't be afraid to make it a half pint)
Jager bomb
Others that I'm sure I'm forgetting now.


And eat before hand, have some water in the middle, and keep a few water bottles by your bed. You have no idea how many times my life has been saved by bed water.

[black_biff_stadler]

Oh the irony of tequila being the shot you DO mention after concluding the list of what to avoid.

Some rights of passage must be taken here, don't you agree?

Well yes but:

1. I don't exactly consider hugging porcelain a rite of passage.

2. I'm pretty sure he'll end up violently vomiting from getting shitfaced at least once in the next couple years anyway so there's no real urgency in the matter.

AMFs are just fucking retarded.


To me, '21st birthday first drinks' should be solid standards and a few 'party' type drinks:

Pint of a good beer
JD and coke
Gin and tonic
A good straight scotch
Proper tequila shot (i.e. with salt and lime)
Vodka shot
Irish car bomb (because it's fucking delicious, though don't be afraid to make it a half pint)
Jager bomb
Others that I'm sure I'm forgetting now.


And eat before hand, have some water in the middle, and keep a few water bottles by your bed. You have no idea how many times my life has been saved by bed water.

Jesus lord, no! Ian, you've conditioned yourself to borderline champ status through whisky and box wine consumption. If Planck Williams drinks that trainwreck you posted, his grandkids will be born hungover.

[DebraKadabra]

1. I don't exactly exactly consider hugging porcelain a rite of passage.

Not MY idea of a good time, that's for sure.

[lonestar]

Oh the irony of tequila being the shot you DO mention after concluding the list of what to avoid.

Some rights of passage must be taken here, don't you agree?

Well yes but:

1. I don't exactly exactly consider hugging porcelain a rite of passage.

2. I'm pretty sure he'll end up violently vomiting from getting shitfaced at least once in the next couple years anyway so there's no real urgency in the matter.

True dat, at some point we all have to bend the wires of a chain link fence while repainting our shoes with our lunch.