Right, so I've discussed this before with some friends and every single time, people seem to have an opinion on alcohol (more often than not, the conclusion they come to goes something like this: "it's bad but I drink it anyway").

Then today I just noticed a couple of RCs mentioning alcohol, so got me wondering what you guys thought about it.

There was once a time when I wouldn't touch anything alcoholic because I wasn't brought up with it and I believed it was bad. My first half year at university, I was extremely proud of my self-control - managing to keep away from alcohol and not giving in to the peer pressure. Somewhere through the middle of my uni years I started "experimenting" and for some reason felt quite guilty I was drinking. Later on, I started feeling alcohol was bad but it didn't stop me from drinking. Now I'm nearly at the end of my uni years, and my perception of alcohol has changed so much: I drink, but I don't drink too much. I could very easily live the rest of my life with no alcohol just as well as I could easily live the rest of my life with it being a regular feature.

So basically, I currently have no opinion on anyone who drinks alcohol - I don't admire people who don't drink and I don't think less of people who do.

I guess for some it's a religious restriction... I don't think my religion expressly forbids alcohol, although culturally and traditionally it's a bit frowned upon. If I think about why it's frowned upon though - it makes people do stupid things - then that reason is not applicable to me. I don't think I've ever done anything stupid when under the influence (that I wouldn't have done anyway when sober :embarrassed:).

When people ask me, "do you drink?" I find that such a strange question nowadays. It feels like the answer (whether yes or no) implies something. It's not as if people go around labelling themselves "social orange-juice drinker" or "non orange-juice drinker", so why the need to label people who drink alcohol?

Everything in moderation and everything is fine, I think :)

Thoughts?

It's not as if people go around labelling themselves "social orange-juice drinker" or "non orange-juice drinker", so why the need to label people who drink alcohol?

Lol! That sounds quite funny. But yeah, you have a point :)

For me, my main reason for not having alcohol is because of my religion. But I think it was more of a cultural thing with my race originally, 'cause I wasn't always religious. Only until I hit 16 did I start practicing my religion.

I do think though that even if I wasn't part of any religion, than I don't think I'd drink still. It's never really been in me. Since a young age, I've seen people drunk, etc, and I've always been put off of it.

I don't think badly of people who drink in balance.. but I do think badly of people who drink so much to the point that they ruin themselves. Give themselves diseases or carry on drinking knowing that it'll make their bodies worse ('cause I believe our bodies have a right over us. We should treat it as best as we can, 'cause we are blessed). Or people who rape/attack/get into fights under the influence of alcohol, etc. Or people who feel they need to drink to get over all their problems in life. Just extreme situations like that. It's more that I feel sorry for people who do that to themselves. You see a lot of people having regrets later :/

I do want to make one thing clear though, in case I sounded really big headed in the RC thread or something.. I don't think myself above others 'cause I don't drink. Inside though, I'm proud of myself for choosing not to. If that makes sense. I feel content without it, just like some people feel content with it :)

Nice thread, btw. xD

... Inside though, I'm proud of myself for choosing not to. If that makes sense. I feel content without it, just like some people feel content with it :)

Is it like a temptation you are glad you can keep away from?

Nice thread, btw. xD

Thanks :)

Is it like a temptation you are glad you can keep away from?

In some ways, yeah. But, at the same time, no. 'cause I've never really been tempted to even try it.. so it's never been on my 'temptation' list. Like, there are other bad things that I have, knowing that I shouldn't, but I have it moderately so my body can tolerate it. Like drinking fizzy drinks for example. lol. Or there are things that I stay away from, that are a huge temptation, but I can't have for medical reasons.. like.. coffee with CAFFEINE! ARGH! That for me is temptation. lol XD Decaf is pants :/

I guess I'm just glad that I've never had alcohol or wanted to, so therefore I haven't had to deal with any problems that *can* come with it if we're not careful. Just like smoking, really.

Btw, I'm not sure if I actually answered your question, heh. Got a bit of a fuzzy head at the moment. So, sorry if I have misread you.

Everything is worthy of discussion! (unless the act of discussing the concept contradicts it... mmm philosophy :p)

Alcohol itself is not good or bad, it's just a substance; the actions/situations it causes can be classed as good or bad. Personally I don't drink alcohol due to religious/cultural reasons but also because I've never had the desire to do so - I haven't felt that I'm missing out in some way when I'm with friends and some of them are drinking.

I wouldn't put a value on a person because they do/do not drink alcohol but because in some cases it does cause drunkenness, sickness, violence when abused, it does put me off alcohol even further.

I also rarely drink (last time was at New Year). There was a time when I almost hated alcohol and everything to do with it, but not anymore.

Similar to MsNerdinator; I don't see being drunk as a desirable way to be. When I do drink now, it's just a few. I don't really have anything against people who get very drunk, but I think it can be irresponsible if you're out in public. (And if you're sober or sober-ish, an overly drunk person can be an annoyance to deal with.)

As for drinking to help with problems etc, that's a dangerous habit to get into and I don't see how it helps anyway.

Also, I know a few people who have/had serious problems with alcohol and it really put me off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U534gmZF4ww

yerrboii

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U534gmZF4ww

yerrboii

Hmm, well that had me staring at the time bar, eyes glazed over, playing the 'how many seconds can you hold your breath for' game... no offense XD

Lol I can't even dance to that :s

Personally, I don't drink alcohol very often, but when I do, I will only drink the equivalent of a few units. This is mainly because I drive. I don't have any preferences about anyone else concerning alcohol, I don't mind if they drink it or they don't. It's their choice.

On the plus side of drinking alcohol, a nice glass of wine or cold fresh beer or lager at a party or at a family gathering, can come as a welcome treat. It makes people feel more comfortable and more relaxed.

On the negative side of alcohol, there are too many cases of people getting really drunk and getting into trouble, whether it be because of a drunken fight or just general rowdiness. A lot of crime programmes on television outline cases of crime caused by excessive use of alcohol. I think if people consumed fewer amounts of alcohol this would lead to fewer cases of crime.

I work in a supermarket and the prices of alcohol in some cases are cheaper than soft drink prices. You could buy a 3 litre bottle of cider for only a few pounds. If the government are trying to reduce underage drinking, then alcohol prices on some of these products should be raised.

Overall, I would agree with storm and probably many others in saying that alcohol should be consumed in moderation. It is a person's choice how often and how much they drink but I think they should bear in mind the health implications about it. I would agree that if people drank alcohol in moderation and according to the government guidelines rather than excessively, then people would be generally healthier.

http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo177/db1986/Treasure%20Hunt/EasterEgg6.jpg

I like to drink, though not too regularly and not in vast quantities. I don't like being reallllyy drunk cause I just don't like the feeling so I avoid that but alcohol can enhance the enjoyment of certain thingsss like parties and food!
Also alcohol isn't necessarily always detrimental to health.. I'm sure studies show that people who consume modest amounts of alcohol have fewer diseases than those that consume none or too much...

The problem in Britain, atleast, with alcohol is the drinking culture that exists. From my experience, people start drinking for drinking's sake around 14/15 and it becomes an essential part of the weekend from there on. Soo for a lot of people a lot of their social activities heavily involvee getting really drunk which is quite bad on a regular basis I guess. It's hard not to become a part of it when everyone does it but I think people should just be a bit more sensible and think for themselves about what it does to their health.

I disagree with the recent idea to raise the minimum cost of alcohol. I think the problem is more to do with attitudes and education than the cheapness of buckfast. And it punishes the rest of the people who don't abuse it!

I've only drunk alcohol on around 5 or so occasions at uni. Never got drunk and as long as I didn't manage to cause inconvenience towards others, then that was fine by me.

Personally, I'm not reliant on alcohol and don't need it myself, but if people wish to drink it in their own privacy or on a night out then it shouldn't become a problem.

What does become a problem though is people who consume large amounts without taking into account how their subsequent behaviour will affect others i.e. the passing public outside a nightclub and the strain on local Police forces.

If someone is aware they cannot handle alcohol, especially at an early age, then they have an option of not consuming anymore. Some people are prone to excessive drunkeness more than others.

On those who drink in their early teens, below the legal age of sale then if they get drunk then as long as they don't disrupt the public, then they can make idiots of themselves in thier own privacy.

~Hmmmm well don't I feel like a pariah right now?
heheh also a good job that as of today I have decided to not give so much of a crap what people think of me :D
The relief is immense and overwhelming, why I almost feel like opening a bottle of......heheheheheheheheheh :P

Everything is worthy of discussion!

Indeed it is. Otherwise storm wouldn't have posted the topic and we all wouldn't have replied :)

(unless the act of discussing the concept contradicts it... mmm philosophy :p)

Lol :razz:

Alcohol has been a part of human society pretty much since around the time we began thinking as a society. Beer apparently goes as far back as mesopotamian times. Wine is a little younger, but dates back to also mesopotamian times, and later made popular by babylonians and widely distributed by the greeks and romans.

And that's not all, booze was pretty much all they drank, since water was unsafe to drink. Even in roman times, they were pretty drunk most of the time, though wine and beer had a much lower alcohol content back then.

Alcohol's stigma started about 400 years ago when the dutch (at least i think it was the dutch) introduced distillation. And well, people started getting thoroughly wasted then.

But i'm a firm believer of "everything in moderation", and that includes alcohol, something i very much enjoy. :)

Me and my brother even make our own beer still. Beer was regularly made in german homes until the end of the 19th century, but my family kept it in the family tradition and we make the same family recipe my dad's side handed down to us at home, though with much more modern equipment and better sanitary conditions.

Everything is worthy of discussion! ... The motto of every good gossip :twisted: :razz:


Only recently I started to be, eg at a work party, where everyone was drinking a lot, and I just drank coke all night. They ripped into me for it but I was quite proud of myself for not having anything.

Well done for resisting the pressure :) I think that's a sign of character.

(One comment I thought was particularly odd: "Why don't you add vodka to it? You can't even taste it." Well, if I can't taste it, why would I do that? Just to get drunk? No thanks). ...

Only just scratching the surface here but...

I used to feel the same way but then I changed a bit. I can be really reserved/highly conscious of my surroundings and peoples' reactions sometimes and I find that alcohol helps me loosen up a little. So sometimes even if I don't like the taste of say, vodka, I'll have a shot anyway, just because I like being a little more relaxed/natural. I don't think it's a very good reason to have alcohol, but I guess people might argue that in small quantities it's a relaxant and that can't be a bad thing =)

Also, for me it magnifies whaever I'm feeling so if I'm feeling tired and I have some alcohol, it usually makes me feel even more tired. If I feel fairly happy, it'll make me a little more energetic. So I don't treat it as a 'cure', but more of a catalyst, if that makes any sense :)

Edit: Ooh, interesting history there 2.0 :)

Thanks for that info on beer and wine 2.0 very interesting.
My views on alcohol, well ive always drunk it throughout my life, partys, clubs ect not really a home drinker that dosent appeal to me at all.
My drinking has never really caused me a huge problem i dont drink that often for it to be a problem.
But for my sins in my youth and adulthood i have sometimes over done it and its not a good look it also makes you act differently in public around others, a normally quiet person can be a right pain in the butt when drunk ect.
So my view is this in life it would be nice for everybody to act correctly with drink, but alas we dont, drink isnt evil but can lead to evil doings when overdone, moderation is the way to go, dont go along with others who over do it to fit in be yourself.
But if yourself is to overdo things take a look at yourself pissed on camcorder not something to show the inlaws lol.

I don't drink and I never will. You might ask "How can you know you never will?" Meh, I just know. Two main reasons are my religion and my knowledge.

I've been taught from a young age that alcohol is bad for me, both at home through religion and in school through many, if not all subjects - but Biology in particular. I've seen the proof with my own eyes and I don't wish to experience what I see.

Like many of you have said, I wouldn't think bad of anyone because they drink alcohol but it does upset me to a certain extent. Most people I know don't go out getting drunk, go raving but they drink in moderation. When I feel close to someone and they're someone I trust and genuinely care for it upsets me when they drink. I do wonder "That person is so lovely, why do they drink quite a lot (without getting drunk). Don't they care about their body?"

I get that alcohol can in some ways benefit us [e.g a small amount of red wine a couple of times week has been proven scientifically to improve er something... (I dunno tbh, I still wasn't convinced so out it out of my mind :/)] in medicines, as an antiseptic and so on, but I still don't see the point in drinking it.

Although I am a strong follower of religion, I could honestly say hands on heart if I left my religion today and believed in nothing, I still wouldn't drink alcohol. I value my body too much to even risk putting it through any potentially harmful experiences. The same goes for smoking and experimenting with drugs.

I don't want to sound corny here but one thing which recently kept me focused (not that I need it) is the fact that I'm a blood donor. I'm thankful to have a perfectly working body, no allergies, I barely get ill, I eat well and my body can generally take a lot of pressure before I start to stress. I'm grateful to have these things as well as others which some people aren't fortunate enough to have. Alcohol, smoking and drugs can affect our blood in big ways. It makes me realise how important it is for me to look after myself and how much I can help others by keeping myself far away from the things which could harm me.

Might as well put my views in as well :)

I rarely drink - and when I do.. I end up getting ill quite quickly - lol XD The last time I drank anything (a few glasses of Champagne at Christmas) I ended up getting drunk quite quickly, made a fool of myself (lol) and ended up with a hangover a few hours later :eek: (seriously!)

If I go out with friends, I am usually the nominated driver. I don't mind this at all as I don't need a drink to have a good time - but also, don't mind others who drink, providing that their behaviour isn't over the top. What I do have a problem with is when someone clearly has had their fill, but continues to drink. Completely plastered people really irritate me (sorry!) as quite often they are loud or obnoxious and then the next day, they will moan to all and sundry about how awful they feel.

To echo what has been said... moderation is the key and knowing your own limits.

@ AJ:

Hmm, not sure whether it was alcohol, smoking or drugs, but the way one, or all of them(?), react with neurotransmitters in the body is not extremely harmful. Ah, we did this in neuropsychology last semester but I've forgotten how they work >.<

Alcohol and smoking may well have other effects though (I guess you're referring to the effect of alcohol on the liver) which can be harmful.

I wouldn't smoke, because of the effect of tar on lungs, but drugs and alcohol imo are fairly innocent in moderation - it's only when people start treating these things as cures that problems really start emerging.

Tbh storm, it's just everything. It wouldn't bring me any benefits and just knowing what it could do to me upsets me. Googling the effects of alcohol, smoking and drugs are enough to scare me but I've had to study each in detail. My dad was a smoker until I was about 3/4. Thankfully I have no memories of him smoking but his close friend died from smoking a few years later leaving behind four kids and his wife. I daren't imagine where my family would be today if my dad didn't quit when he did. My dad's old and grey enough as it is! :p

I drink alcoholic beverages. Regularly.

And occasionally to the point of being so completely drunk I forget most of the evening before... Which is probably not good.

The thing I find is that I'm not the most outgoing of people... but when I've got a bit of Dutch courage, I'll have a chinwag with anyone. And no... I don't just talk at them in a drunken stupor, lol! People I meet on a drinking night always find me more amiable and easier to get on with than on one of my shy-non-drinky evenings.

So I drink for the benefit of others. ;o)

hm,....i dont drink (no duh, im like...6 years underage for that plz) and this is prob a repeat of half of what was said up there..but i havent had a chance to read every word thoroughly...

but like...i dont like seeing/hearing people drink...
for me its more of an issue of what happens when people drink, hearing bout car accidents and whatnot, even around here, we've heard bout at least 3 people a year that went to my school that got killed due to drunk driving or drunk drivers... its just sad :(

dislike smoking even more though :( people in our school actually smoke in the halls and stairways... which 1) smells nasteh -_- and 2) is sad :( the whole lung issue and everything (i dont feel like going back to health class plz)

/me shrugs
i've grown up pretty...well...i dunno XD like, not knowing a thing bout the "bad" things in life, just knowing why i should avoid them..but its a good thing probs :)
i dont see the point of drinking or smoking or whatev....life can so be fun without them :D

I drink alcoholic beverages. Regularly.

And occasionally to the point of being so completely drunk I forget most of the evening before... Which is probably not good.

The thing I find is that I'm not the most outgoing of people... but when I've got a bit of Dutch courage, I'll have a chinwag with anyone. And no... I don't just talk at them in a drunken stupor, lol! People I meet on a drinking night always find me more amiable and easier to get on with than on one of my shy-non-drinky evenings.

So I drink for the benefit of others. ;o)
LMAO.
Yes i must agree ches with a drink inside him is a much chattier specimen totally.
:rolleyes:

...moderation is the key and knowing your own limits.

Now this is very true.
There was a programme on the television relatively recently describing the tolerances of different people towards alcohol. They performed an experiment with different types of people with varying heights, weights and general lifestyle habits, and detected how much alcohol they could legally take before driving.
Of course, nobody was allowed to drive just in case they did go over the legal limit :biggrin: The people were tested with one of those police breathaliser tests after every glass of alcohol they consumed. I can't remember exactly how the results went, but I do know that the results were very varied and unexpected.

It seems that people have quite a large range of tolerances in general. They came to the conclusion that it is very difficult to judge how much alcohol one particular person can take before undertaking certain activities, and that it is almost impossible for anyone to justify a suitable quantity as a guideline limit to everyone.

I assume that drinking only one alcoholic drink would be just under the legal limit for driving in the UK, but whenever I go out and have to drive, I normally don't touch an alcoholic beverage at all.

I drink! Normally I drink a glass of red wine every day. I love it. It's like having a cup of coffee to start off the morning, having a glass of wine in the evening just... makes my day! When I go out, I'll have two or maybe three glasses, and if a meal is involved, I'll normally have a digestiv instead of the third glass. If the place we go out to has no (decent) red, I'd be likely to have a coke or a bitter lemon etc. I drink beer too, but I have to really fancy that. It's more a summer drink to me - at a BBQ, or with certain other foods, or when I want something really refreshing. I never drink any alcoholic drink that I don't enjoy.

I'm not proud of myself for drinking, but I'm CERTAINLY not ashamed either. I don't see alcohol in those terms at all. In the same way, I am neither impressed or scornful when someone doesn't drink. It's really not something to get one's knickers in a twist over, lol.

I do find it terribly insulting and patronising when people assume that drinking alcohol means getting drunk and all the crap that goes with that. It's not the same thing at all. It's like - ok, I don't eat potato chips (crisps), I just don't like them. If I saw you eating a packet of them and assumed that you are weak-willed and had an eating problem and no self-control because they are not totally healthy, and that you will probably end up overweight and unhealthy then you'd be pretty weirded out/amused/pissed. And that's without the assumption that your personality must suck and that you are likely obnoxious.

No-one in my social circle gets drunk - it would be really weird. I hate being around drunk people. Out of control people make me nervous. One, two drinks and people loosen up a bit and it's nice.

I think there is a different attitude here to alcohol. I don't know ANYBODY who goes out 'to get drunk'. It's not that it would be looked down on, it's just that it's not how people think about alcohol here. It would be exactly like someone saying 'hey guys, let's go out and eat candy bars until we throw up!' There's nothing wrong with candy, but no-one would say that, right?

Alcohol = good! :biggrin:
People who lack the brains cells to use it sensibly = BAD :mad:
People who make assumptions about people who enjoy a drink = IRRITATING :rolleyes:

~Hmmmm well don't I feel like a pariah right now?
heheh also a good job that as of today I have decided to not give so much of a crap what people think of me :D
The relief is immense and overwhelming, why I almost feel like opening a bottle of......heheheheheheheheheh :P

Lets go out and get pissed! :twisted:

Ohhhh hell yeahs!!!!
Mines a voddie and tonic :D
Or a pint of Strongbow... :P

Pint of voddie and tonic it is then.

I don't get the urge to get totally wasted like I did years ago ... in fact I never have more than maybe 2 drinks at a time. When I started seeing my wife years ago she took me out to this pub in Rugby and because I wasn't driving for a change I think I had 4 pints and a Jack Daniels. She says she's never seen me like that - all giggly and stupid.

hehehe sounds like meeeee! i drink mainly cos I am pretty shy, and it makes me more sociable and less...quiet :P
plus I likes being drunk muahahahhaah

Shy? erm... riiiiighhhtttt ....

:O
I am!!!!

I don't drink- and I probably never will :). Unlike Nerdy though- I don't feel proud of myself for not drinking because (sorry if this sounds harsh)- I don't think it's a good thing to stay away- more that...like other things which supposedly give people enjoyment- I believe it's inherently harmful and certainly not necessary (as there are many other ways of having fun- and to me, if you are in the small minority who can't have fun without it- there are serious underlying issues :().. Unlike with smokers, I don't have something against people who drink very occasionally- but do look on people more negatively if they drink too much/too often especially if they do thinks they wouldn't while sober. Thankfully it's not even an issue the majority of the time, as I don't have enough in common with these people to ever become close to them. It's a sad reflection on society that people feel the need to have a few drinks (not even necessarily- get drunk) in social setting just to fit in- and I think it does take some integrity to not want to be like other people.

I don't really buy the "it's good in moderation" thing related to red wine either:- as recent research suggests that studies in the past may not have allowed for all confounding factors. Quite often people who used to drink earlier in life- and then stopped for health reasons are included in the "non-drinking" category in studies- and this would obviously skew the results. There have also been very few prospective/cohort studies- the majority are retrospective or cross sectional which are less reliable and more prone to bias :p. All the studies have been observational too- but this is unavoidable as it's unethical to do a randomised control trial (the gold standard in terms of studies)- because forming "equal" groups and then allocating how much each person in each group drinks isn't feasible. I'm also quite skeptical of community interest- like it or not, a good % of society drinks so even if there was a tiny benefit- it would most likely be exaggerated to satisfy public/mainstream opinion and make people feel better about themselves.

One interesting point is that the- maximum level for benefit is probably a *lot* lower than previously thought. This month NHMRC guideliness (in Australia) were recently made more strict- because previously, men could drink upto 4 standard drinks a day and this was still considered to be "within safe levels"- but now the safe daily maximum has been cut to two in lne with women. Newer suggestions also take into account binge drinking- and apparently to reduce the risk of either short or long term harm because of alcohol, it is recommended that nobody ever has more than 4 standard drinks on any one occasion.

A lot of this is because of my personal pov, but I guess upbringing and cultural background would also have played a role. Like tasha and storm- my religion and cultural background doesn't forbid it- but it is discouraged however my family doesn't have as strong a view on it as other things. Somewhat surprisingly- my parents never imposed any drinking restrictions on me (even though they do try and control almost every other aspect of my life)- but maybe that's because I never really showed an interest in it. I've haven't seen my mum drink (not even a single glass) for a very long time, partly due to health concerns :S - and I've only seen my dad drunk a few times in my life. We've never had wine, beer or other alcoholic drinks at home- so dad only drinks a few times a year- typically for work parties. Like AJ- I feel fairly certain that I never will drink - ever, I just feel so strongly about it :P One little thing does get on my nerves though (and sorry to those of you who have seen me enter into *mini-crusade* mode- I can get quite vocal and offend people :(...which is why I sometimes do try and avoid the topic :S, same with vegetarianism, even if I did follow that thread closely.) People are very happy to jump on the bandwagon of "anti smoking" and "anti drugs" because it's much easier to be against those things- the dangers are more easily understood but moreso, (Western) society's attiudes make it a lot easier to be against those things. Again I'm rather fortunate as my immediate social circle (in terms of family, family friends and uni friends) do not have such a drinking culture- but I know that back at highschool most our age did. I wasn't very popular at school because there weren't many people with similar interests, but at least unlike in primary school, I had friends.

Luckily- my friends are social drinkers at worst (and quite a few are like me- and they don't drink at all), so despite the fact that I do go out a lot (actually- too much lately :S) I certainly don't have all that much pressure to drink at parties, restaurants or other people's homes. Even if I did- the idea basically puts me off and I've never had the temptation to try it (because it isn't "forbidden"- it's just a choice). I don't go to pubs at all (though clubbing can be fun)- not because of the temptation but because I find it frustrating being in a place where the primary purpose seems to be- drinking, and so to me there isn't much point.

For ages (my first 1.5 years of uni actually!)- I had the "excuse" that I was underage/not 18 yet, but now- well tbh, most people have calmed down and it's not even such a big deal anymore as we are all a little more mature. The novelty has kind of worn off- and so many people realise that they do not need it to have fun- it's just a pity that in some cases, it took experiences like having to be picked up because they were kicked out of the Hyatt because during our Ball :( (which happened to 30 people in our year back in first year) due of antisocial behaviour. I agree with NH too- as a non-drinker, it can be a nuisance dealing with people who are so intoxicated that they develop a different personality :(. I've been on the receiving end of unwanted advances several times :S (thankfully nothing happened) - and the next day it was actually even more awkward/embarassing for the guys involved. Despite all my issues with drinking- I haven't ever tried to make people stop- or tell them they shouldn't- I just chose not to myself- and also make a conscious effort not to become too close to people who do let alcohol be a big part of my life :S.


Of course other people my age still enjoy getting drunk- but as my close friends either don't drink at all or only have a few/are now well behaved- I have less reason to take notice of other's pov's (eg when they ask- perfectly seriously, why not? and actually question my reasoning!) either as they are less relevent to me. I feel I definitely do not need alcohol to have a good time. Maybe it's because I naturally have quite a chatty personality so using it to "unwind" certainly doesn't apply to me. I think moreso, I choose to hang around with people who have similar attitudes/opinions/interests to me :).

One thing a lot of people don't know is- I'm not a soft drink fan either. I wasn't brought up with it - as mum is a health freak so we never had soft drinks at home while growing up. I actually hate the taste of coke, tea and coffee (though lately I've given into caffeine occasionally- as in once/twice a week in moccha form- because 2/3 hour nights are exhausting....) and I don't drink soft drinks or even juice at home (just water- and sometimes plain cold milk or hot chocolate). although at parties I sometimes have a glass of Lemonade, Ginger Ale or a mocktail if I'm in the mood. I guess my worst habits might be a weakness for chocolate and some icecream- but it seems like the exception rather than the rule as I dislike fried food, lollies, or anything with too many colours/preservatives. Sorry if that was irrelevant- but I guess I'm trying to show that - unlike with some people, it isn't so much the issue that I'm afraid I might be addicted if I start- more the fact that, I try not to develop a liking to things like that :S but have no real issues if others do (as long as it doesn’t affect me- they can do what they like ) : ).

Haha sorry that was long- and I wonder if I contradicted myself anywhere :embarrassed:, but more importantly- sorry if I offended anyone :( < 3- I didn’t mean to

Waaayyy, maps is back in true essay form.
I drink alot, often. I dont plan on drinking this excessivly for my whole life, but i'm a fresher and i'm enjoying it too much at the moment. I can and do have fun without alcohol, but i happen to prefer the nights out that involve serious binge drinking, i have to many hilarious memories and storys of such situations, i dont regret any. I dispise being sober when all my friends are out getting trashed, and when i'm mortal i hate being around people who are sober and not enjoying themselves, or looking down on us for being so trashed; luckily this is verrrrryyy rare

Also i think its mad that so many people on here dont drink.. or dont drink much, not mad-stupid, mad-weird, i think all together in my life, family, friends, family friends, i know about 3 people who don't drink, then on here it seems that about half dont. Maybe thats something to do with the sort of people isk attracts? possiblaa

seems like more than half to me :/ unless the booze-monkeys are keeping quiet :P

I like your post Mapface, goes into a lot of detail and thank God, finally someone who writes more than me!! (You need to post more lol :p)

Something that confused me... People are very happy to jump on the bandwagon of "anti smoking" and "anti drugs" because it's much easier to be against those things- the dangers are more easily understood but moreso, (Western) society's attiudes make it a lot easier to be against those things.
Do you mean Westerners are more easily anti-alcohol/smoking? I was actually thinking the opposite. It seems that Western countries don't seem to be as anti-alcohol/smoking in comparison to places like Africa. Yes, I know I've mentioned it a few times now but BBC 3's "The World's Strictest Parents" - not only did we see parents being anti-alcohol/smoking but they schools were too.

The impression I got from schools 'out there' was that they were more concerned about trying absolutely everything in order to keep their kids 'in line'. When the Indian/Jamaican kids heard the teens smoked they were shocked and slightly disgusted by it.

I know I said I get upset when really close friends drink but it's not like I say "Woe to you! You intoxicated fool!" It's more like a "oh, you're drinking even more? :(" kinda thing. My main reasons, shockingly (to me) come from general knowledge about knowng the effects alcohol can have on anyone. I say it in a caring manner and both people I've ever said it to, although they reacted negatively "don't tell me what to do", the converstions ended with "wow, you really care about me" lol. So it's not that bad really. One person actually said something along the lines of "it's nice to see you care because I've never really thought about how even a couple of pints a week can affect me" and that was nice I guess.

It kinda amuses me how even though I'm really into religion, the way I feel about smoking and drinking comes from everything school, college and uni taught me. Guess I just learnt something new about myself :)

When I was 17/18 I had just started uni from home which meant being at home a lot as this was/is my uni. This when I got addicted to iSketch and my online social life experience was just beginning. So many people (iSketchers, uni, chat, forums, sites on interest etc) would ask "what are you doing in tonight, shouldn't you be out drinking/partying/having fun with your mtes?" I think that was the time I realised how much people had a certain view about young people, i.e most go out boozing on Friday and Saturday nights. It's not offensive to me at all, I just think it's sad that this what people think about late teengers- early 20's, particularly about uni students.

... i think all together in my life, family, friends, family friends, i know about 3 people who don't drink, then on here it seems that about half dont. Maybe thats something to do with the sort of people isk attracts? possiblaa
Well we need to be sober to type our guesses properly. evn tho a lt of ppl typ lyk dis :p lolz i gt a txt lst nite n i cudnt rd it prply. Mum askd y i wz pulin fces XD

Innit?

Da msg u hv ntrd is 2 shrt

Hmm. I think, like anything, alcohol is okay in moderation. I used to drink quite a bit, and would often go out just to get drunk. These days I rarely drink, and when I do (usually on special occasions like New Year or Christmas) it's just one or two drinks. I don't miss it at all. Now if only I could give up smoking too.. lol.

I do not drink, for the same reasons most on here who don't drink have put. It is against my religion to do so, it is bad for you and it is nasty tasting (in my opinion anyway).

Also, 1 quick point, everyone keeps saying "it's fine in moderation". Sure, everything is fine in moderation. The problem to me is that alcohol is one of those substances that can turn from moderation to exess very quickly and people very easily get addicted to alcohol. Therefore in my opinion you should not even put yourself in that situation.

Well we need to be sober to type our guesses properly.
Lol, No you don't. Ahaha. Hmm..

Right. I agree with Katie in a sense, in the sense that I'm young and I'm enjoying myself whilst I can... I think if you saw drinking alcohol as the worst thing I'd done whilst I was young then I would be happy... At this age you're going to experiment find out what's wrong and what's right... I just think some people end up learning to use it to help deal with problems... but, if that helps them, then so be it. If they didn't do that then surely they might turn to other methods, just because they're not drinking doesn't mean what they could be doing instead wouldn't be worse... Some people just deal with problems in their own way... I dunno. Ahah.

I don't really like alcohol when it becomes a problem, when people get addicted to it and their daily life involves having one or two drinks in the morning etc.

I drink, but I don't drink often. Some stuff just doesn't benefit my taste buds :P. My parents wouldn't be happy that I drink as the religion they are doesn't allow it. And for most of the part, I don't like alcohol. But I go out, when I do (which is like never ahahaha) and I tend to drink a lot... Or, not even much but it ends up being more. But yes, I don't get to the point where I would not remember what I had done that night... I think that's getting a bit too far as I don't see the fun of it if you don't even remember what you've done.

Yes, you don't need alcohol to have fun, but sometimes it can be good for everyone to have a few drinks and loosen up a bit... But I am very lively and chatty anyways, I don't need it to loosen up. I just enjoy to drink sometimes. I dunno.

I drink, yet I hate seeing what it has done to others... Eh. Hypocritical, I know. :) I'm sure when I'm older I will stop drinking just as quickly as I have started it... -shrugs- I'll learn my own lessons about it, hearing that it will cause me to have liver problems etc wont stop me, and I'm sure it wont stop many others that drink either... :) I think.. Eh. :)

My opinion, the stuff sucks, but people will drink it anyways, myself included and that's how it will be with everything really. :)

Well, sex can be addictive too, but if we banned it, we'd all be screwed (haha).

Caffeine is addictive. Sugar is terribly addictive. Both of these things MUCH more so than alcohol. Shopping, danger, exercise, hob-nobs, attention, cell-phones, this forum - all addictive. But most people know how to handle themselves.

There are certain people with addictive personalities. They may become druggies, or alkies, or gamblers, or whatever else. Such people have always existed and will always exist. That doesn't mean the rest of us don't possess the sense to know when enough it enough. And again - if someone says 'I like a drink' it does not mean the same as 'I like getting drunk' in the same way that taking a few mins to relax out of your day doesn't make you lazy, or having a biscuit with your tea doesn't make you un-health conscious.

Alcohol ISN'T dangerous in moderation. It only gets dangerous when it's drunk in very large amounts or when it's combined with a lethal weapon, like a car.

Marauders - people don't go to the pub with the primary aim to get drunk! They go because it's a place they can meet with their friends and hang out and meet people. Or at least, that's what pubs are to me and my friends.

Sorsie - I agree with you. Young people go out, experiment, go a bit crazy for a while - I know I did! So long as you are SAFE and with people you trust and don't get yourself into any trouble, I think it's just a rite of passage. And in a few years, you'll calm down again. Don't look back on your youth and regret that you wasted all that potential fun that life offers you at that time! But just.... stay safe :P

I would like to make a couple of things clear before posting:
I don't think that drinking is cool
I think that if you don't drink alcohol you'll probably live a better and healthier life
I don't want to encourage drinking alcohol
I drink for the pleasure and warmth it gives to my heart and not to get drunk or act like an idiot

Some points of the discussion that leave me perplexed are:
-dividing persons in drinkers and non-drinkers
why not divide people in blonde and brunettes, fat and thin, fast-food eaters and vegetarians...
it seems like for some of you that if a person drinks alcohol you should consider him as different from the normal human beings and to be more precise as a bad person

-going out to get drunk or "if I don't drink I don't have fun" thing
needing to drink to have fun, kiss the boy/girl you like, to have the courage to enjoy to dance, live your life... this really sounds crap.
I don't even like this kind of drinking mentality to which today's society has led us (the "quick and all toghether" kind of thinking) and thinking that all drinkers drink to have fun or get drunk is a very short minded view of the fact

- drinking in moderation is fine
I don't agree with this. if you drink you drink, if you don't drink you don't drink. Easy. There is no moderation because it is something you can't measure, it's different from person to person. The fundamental thing is, I think, not how much you drink but how/why you drink. I really think a drinking culture/mentality is missing.

That's all for now but I could go on writing for another couple of pages if I wasn't so drunk right now.
nah just joking :P

Tasha - I think it's an age difference thing. When I was still a teenager I would also see people getting 'stupid' drunk. I did it myself a couple of times. Once you're older, you calm down again.

I think the people who look down on you now for not drinking and who overdo it, would probably look down on you for something else, if alcohol wasn't available. The music you listen to/don't listen to, the clothes you wear, the car your parents drive etc. It's always SOMETHING when you're a teen. Some people deal with their new sense of self by making it all a power struggle.

It sucks at that age, and it feels like alcohol is one more weapon used against people who refuse to fit in. I totally understand why a LOT of teenagers are really against alcohol.

I guarantee you - if you stay the way you are - classy and intelligent - and have friends who are the same way, alcohol will not even be an issue in a few years, regardless of whether or not you choose to drink it.

I agree with what everyone else has said about people overdoing it, although I DO think a couple of wild nights when you're young are not a bad thing (so long as you feel comfortable).

Oh wow. I'm loving the discussion and passion in this. I find it so interesting to hear what other people think and justify themselves :)

Ahh... I've never quoted so many people in one post before, me thinks :D Here goes.

... No-one in my social circle gets drunk - it would be really weird. [...]

I think there is a different attitude here to alcohol. I don't know ANYBODY who goes out 'to get drunk'. It's not that it would be looked down on, it's just that it's not how people think about alcohol here. It would be exactly like someone saying 'hey guys, let's go out and eat candy bars until we throw up!' There's nothing wrong with candy, but no-one would say that, right? ...

I think it's really something admirable that no one in your social circle drinks to get drunk. I really think that's quite rare.

I do feel (like you), that it might be a result of culture/age. I know back home almost none of my relatives drink; it's just not a done thing. Funny thing... during New Year's this year, I went out to dinner with my aunt and uncle and their two kids, and there was free beer, and my uncle offered me some. I almost think it was a test, to see if I'd been 'corrupted' because I'd spent the last few years of my life abroad. I was a bit hesitant about accepting it, so at first I just hedged, and I was like "oh mmm, umm, no, it's OK, thanks". He insisted and the tempation to shock him overcame me, and I was like "well, actually I don't like Fosters. I prefer Budweiser". The look on his face was priceless (lol). Everyone laughed it off. I think they weren't willing to accept I drink. Fine. They asked for it.

Once my sister asked if I drank wine, and I was like I've tried it. She was shocked :s I was like, "come on, I was in France for a year, it's a cultural thing(!)"

... It's a sad reflection on society that people feel the need to have a few drinks (not even necessarily- get drunk) in social setting just to fit in- and I think it does take some integrity to not want to be like other people. ...

I agree it takes integrity to establish who you are on your own and without social pressure. I used to think drinking to fit in was bad, and that was the primary reason I never tried alcohol when I started uni - I thought I'd be "trying" it just because I wanted to another thing in common with my friends, and that that was a bad reason.

Although my reason for initially tasting alcohol was because I wanted to see what my friends were all so excited about (I thought beer would actually taste good, the way they all kept raving on about it -- boy, was I I disappointed :rolleyes:), I think that it's OK that that was my reason. It's not like I would feel bad because I tried go-karting because my friends looked like they were having fun, so was there really a need to beat myself up over trying alcohol for the same reason? I decided 'no'.

... Somewhat surprisingly- my parents never imposed any drinking restrictions on me (even though they do try and control almost every other aspect of my life)- but maybe that's because I never really showed an interest in it. ...

Interesting, my family have never imposed any restrictions on drinking either. I don't know if they know that I occasionally drink, and what they'd think of it. I suppose they must know that I've at least tried it. I don't explicitly tell them I drink alcohol, because I don't see it as something that important. It's not like "I drink therefore this says something about me as a person". It's just another drink to me nowadays, like orange juice, or Coca-Cola, or milk.

... Also i think its mad that so many people on here dont drink.. or dont drink much, not mad-stupid, mad-weird, i think all together in my life, family, friends, family friends, i know about 3 people who don't drink, then on here it seems that about half dont. Maybe thats something to do with the sort of people isk attracts? possiblaa

I think it's to do with the sort of people in your life, actually. It varies from person to person, but if you've been brought up in a culture and environment where drinking is a popular social activity, then it's highly probably that you will fall into the same pattern and adopt it as a social activity too, thereby only meeting people who share the same preference for fun activities as you do.

... So many people (iSketchers, uni, chat, forums, sites on interest etc) would ask "what are you doing in tonight, shouldn't you be out drinking/partying/having fun with your mtes?" I think that was the time I realised how much people had a certain view about young people, i.e most go out boozing on Friday and Saturday nights. It's not offensive to me at all, I just think it's sad that this what people think about late teengers- early 20's, particularly about uni students. ...

It's true though. The stereotypical definition of "uni fresher" is someone who gets pissed beyond belief, gets kicked out of the club, throws up on the streets, eats kebabs and has a splitting hangover the morning after. Then does it all over again. Stereotypes don't come from nowhere; this is how it is, unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view, lol).

... Also, 1 quick point, everyone keeps saying "it's fine in moderation". Sure, everything is fine in moderation. The problem to me is that alcohol is one of those substances that can turn from moderation to exess very quickly and people very easily get addicted to alcohol. Therefore in my opinion you should not even put yourself in that situation.

Hmm, I think some people do have trouble controlling themselves, but in my opinion, the first time I put myself in that "situation", if I recall correctly, I was with very close friends whom I knew I could trust, and "drinking" was not the main attraction. It was just a dinner and there some alcohol for whoever wanted some. So I felt very safe. I think the risk of becoming addicted increases depending on why you drink and how much you drink. Most alcohol probably tastes foul the first time around I think, because your taste buds aren't used to the taste (let's face it, most shots tastes like what nail polish remover smells like - hardly attractive, IMO :p).

... I just think some people end up learning to use it to help deal with problems... but, if that helps them, then so be it. If they didn't do that then surely they might turn to other methods, just because they're not drinking doesn't mean what they could be doing instead wouldn't be worse... Some people just deal with problems in their own way... I dunno. Ahah. ...

I don't think alcohol really helps you deal with your problems; it just helps you avoid them by forgetting about them. Avoidance isn't dealing, I believe. I think it's an immature and unsafe way to handle problems - no matter what the problem.

Well, sex can be addictive too, but if we banned it, we'd all be screwed (haha).

lol!

There are certain people with addictive personalities. [...] That doesn't mean the rest of us don't possess the sense to know when enough it enough. And again - if someone says 'I like a drink' it does not mean the same as 'I like getting drunk' in the same way that taking a few mins to relax out of your day doesn't make you lazy, or having a biscuit with your tea doesn't make you un-health conscious. ...

Thank you. And Thank you again.

I'm no advocate of alcoholics, and people who get drunk don't really impress me much. So I think it's really unfair to group everyone who drinks alcohol together. I don't like categories (as I mentioned in my OP), but alcoholics and drunkards really are a rather different story, IMO.

... Sorsie - I agree with you. Young people go out, experiment, go a bit crazy for a while - I know I did! So long as you are SAFE and with people you trust and don't get yourself into any trouble, I think it's just a rite of passage. And in a few years, you'll calm down again. Don't look back on your youth and regret that you wasted all that potential fun that life offers you at that time! But just.... stay safe :P

Some people don't calm down though, heh.

Regarding getting drunk - this is something I'll never do. If other people are fine with getting so pissed they don't even know what they're doing, fine - but I simply don't have the guts to compromise my safety. God knows what I would do and the risk is too great, even with friends you trust. You can't talk sense to a drunk person and for all anyone knows, the sober person could be put in danger too. For the same safety and risk reasons, I would never go bungee jumping xD It might be an awesome experience but I read once that a girl went blind after bungee jumping because of the sudden blood rush. :s Sorry, I think I'll give getting drunk and bungee jumping a miss - they're not worth the risk.

... Some points of the discussion that leave me perplexed are:
-dividing persons in drinkers and non-drinkers
why not divide people in blonde and brunettes, fat and thin, fast-food eaters and vegetarians...
it seems like for some of you that if a person drinks alcohol you should consider him as different from the normal human beings and to be more precise as a bad person

Mhmm, as with my orange-juice drinker example in my OP :)

... - drinking in moderation is fine
I don't agree with this. if you drink you drink, if you don't drink you don't drink. Easy. There is no moderation because it is something you can't measure, it's different from person to person. The fundamental thing is, I think, not how much you drink but how/why you drink. I really think a drinking culture/mentality is missing.

Well, when I use the word "moderation" it doesn't mean to me "the legal amount of alcohol allowed before driving" (for example).

To me, moderation refers to how much I can personally take. This will vary depending on how much I've had to eat before I drink, what I drink, and how fast I drink it. I usually stop once I feel a buzz or I've spent what I budgeted to spend that night, whichever comes first lol. I guess some people are probably balking at the thought of how clinically I treat my drinking habits, but hey, I like being in control. :razz: ;)

Holy shiz, now that was long... XD

Ahaha. I loved what you said about beer. I hate beer. Mostly. I don't see the attraction in it at all. It's just.. Hmm. Bleh. And shots. I think aren't there to taste nice.. well when I say shots, thinking about it now the worse ones are usually vodka based. So vodka. >.> Lol. Just yeah. Some things taste like urggggh in the alcoholic areaaa.

And what I meant by dealing is Emotion focused coping? (Psychologggy booh yah) :) Sometimes it might be seen as running away, but what if you can't do anything about that problem, if you can fix the problem, then fine, but what if you can't change the problem. Yes. Sometimes like it probably isn't the best way, but if it helps a person feel a slight amount of relief for one night.. I Dunno. Hmm... I think that you can avoid problems for a while anyways, if the problem causes you that much pain as time can be a good healer. But as long as the person doesn't become dependent eh...

I like your post Mapface, goes into a lot of detail and thank God, finally someone who writes more than me!! (You need to post more lol :p)

Something that confused me...
Do you mean Westerners are more easily anti-alcohol/smoking? I was actually thinking the opposite. It seems that Western countries don't seem to be as anti-alcohol/smoking in comparison to places like Africa.


Sorry AJ that was ambiguous :embarrassed:, I should have added :

People are very happy to jump on the bandwagon of "anti smoking" and "anti drugs" because it's much easier to be against those things- the dangers are more easily understood but moreso, (Western) society's attiudes make it a lot easier to be against those things.
...it's much easier to be against those things- than it is to be anti-alcohol. I agree with you though- African and some Asian countries are much more anti-alcohol - but seems like most societies are anti-smoking....and anti-drugs now, it's just that people tend to be a lot more complacent where alcohol is concerned.

Most alcohol probably tastes foul the first time around I think, because your taste buds aren't used to the taste (let's face it, most shots tastes like what nail polish remover smells like - hardly attractive, IMO :p).

I agree! So why in the WORLD would someone want to get their body USED to something that foul?!!!!!!! But I have tasted it more than once and every single time it is disgusting!

I agree! So why in the WORLD would someone want to get their body USED to something that foul?!!!!!!! But I have tasted it more than once and every single time it is disgusting!

Remember the first time you ate sprouts?

I guess you palette just changes with time.

Although I think I've liked beer since I was about 5. lol.

Didn't like sprouts until I was 17 though. :razz:

Yup - this is why it's called an 'acquired' taste. A lot of people acquire tastes for things like strong cheese, or spicy curries and are glad they did because they can really appreciate them.

I have never acquired a taste for spirits - knocking down a pure shot would make me feel sick. 15 years ago, a young, oaky Cabernet Sauvignon would probably have made me feel like my tongue was shrivelling up - but now it's one of my favorite reds to sip in the evening.

I don't particularly like these alcopops that you see now. Spirits are the most dangerous types of alcohol health-wise and I don't think it's sensible to make them as drinkable as a cola. It's crazy that kids who would make a face at a sip of Chianti can guzzle down 4, 5, 6 shots of vodka and hardly realise it. I don't think it's any mistake that our palettes mature as we do so that when you CAN drink stronger stuff, you have the experience to be able to handle yourself better.

Marauders - people don't go to the pub with the primary aim to get drunk! They go because it's a place they can meet with their friends and hang out and meet people. Or at least, that's what pubs are to me and my friends.

Vik- I meant the primary purpose of a pub is for drinking (not getting drunk)- because they are by definition- places which serve alcoholic beverages. If your purpose is only to meet people/just hang out- there are other settings where it's easier to do that.

So many people (iSketchers, uni, chat, forums, sites on interest etc) would ask "what are you doing in tonight, shouldn't you be out drinking/partying/having fun with your mtes?" I think that was the time I realised how much people had a certain view about young people, i.e most go out boozing on Friday and Saturday nights. It's not offensive to me at all, I just think it's sad that this what people think about late teengers- early 20's, particularly about uni students.

Well said :), I completely agree with this- but I'd even take it further by saying- that a lot of people think that it's tough to party/have fun with friends/go out without alcohol or other drugs. Online friends are often surprised when I say I don't drink (I usually don't say so anymore unless it specifically comes up- because sadly, people have ended up being offended/becoming overdefensive) because I do go out to dinners/parties/the casino quite a lot...while rl "associates" (not friends) think that just because I don't- by extension, I'm "mad-stupid" (not "mad-weird" as lemonss put it <3) don't have a life :P. There's a false belief that if you choose not to drink- then you never really go out. Sadly there are two major stereotypes re: people our age- either nerds who spend their lives online- or people who get smashed every weekend and in reality, hardly anyone falls at either extreme :(. It does seem like the other end of the spectrum get a lot more publicity though :S- and I just think it's worrying that kids grow up thinking it's not only normal- but expected/natural.

I know I said I get upset when really close friends drink but it's not like I say "Woe to you! You intoxicated fool!" It's more like a "oh, you're drinking even more? :(" kinda thing. My main reasons, shockingly (to me) come from general knowledge about knowng the effects alcohol can have on anyone.

Thankfully none of my closest friends really drink- but yeah when they used to take it too far on the rare occasions they did drink (eg at the ball in first year)- I reacted like that too. It was pretty distressing to see them like that tbh :(. I was still underage at the time :S- but that experience definitely put me off even more than before (which is saying something).

In Aus- we also have this concept known as "Leavers/Schoolies"- which is basically a week for school leavers to get trashed and "have a good time" . It's considered a right of passage :P. From what I've gathered- a lot of other western countries have similar traditions but celebrations tend to be small scale and not so organised/nation-wide as this. This is actuallly official- and largely- government sanctioned :(. So much of the focus seems to be on drinking responsibly- which is fair enough I guess, but they literally almost encourage underage drinking . Though they have cleaned it up a little in recent years in WA at least (eg by introducing a bracelet system, reducing the length and ensuring that older predating "toolies" don't have such easy access to leavers'-hot spots)- there are still so many awful incidences of alcohol-related rapes, violence and crime every year :S. I bet I won't be very popular saying this (esp amongst my fellow Aussies) but I think it's a sad reflection of society's complacent attitudes towards alcohol that this is not only seen as a "rite of passage"- but you are looked upon strangely/weirdly if you decide not to take part :P. FWIW I wasn't allowed anyway (surprise surprise) but from what a couple of other people told me- it's no fun if you don't drink anyway- just because EVERYONE else is smashed and it's hard to find sober company if you're the only one/the designated driver anyway :P.

Anyway- back on topic (sorry if this is turning into another essay haha)

Some points of the discussion that leave me perplexed are:
-dividing persons in drinkers and non-drinkers
why not divide people in blonde and brunettes, fat and thin, fast-food eaters and vegetarians...
it seems like for some of you that if a person drinks alcohol you should consider him as different from the normal human beings and to be more precise as a bad person
Thing is though- blonde/brunette and fat/thin are appearance based so more superficial :P (even though technically- you can dye your hair and weight is partly based on lifestyle choices), other things like Vegetarianism ( I have even more drastic views on that- which is why I refrained from posting there :() and urghh, smoking >< , are choices. I definitely don't consider people bad because they drink...but this doesn't extend to smoking :p- just because it's easier to cause harm to others- even people who moderately/occasionally smoke are putting others at risk via passive smoking (we all breathe the same air- so having smoking/non smoking sections- is like having peeing/non-peeing sections in a pool :S). As Vik said- alcohol itself isn't evil- and as long as people are sensible enough to not be irresponsible/dangerous- it's not as bad quite simply because unless as a non-drinker, I'm unlucky enough to be involved in a car crash with a drink-driver or something similar, I can opt not to put myself in risky environments (ie there's no equivalent to passive drinking..). My bigger issues with alcohol are related to- how easy it is to exceed the safe limit, the effects it can have on people and most of all, society's complacent attitudes towards it.


-going out to get drunk or "if I don't drink I don't have fun" thing
needing to drink to have fun, kiss the boy/girl you like, to have the courage to enjoy to dance, live your life... this really sounds crap.
I don't even like this kind of drinking mentality to which today's society has led us (the "quick and all toghether" kind of thinking) and thinking that all drinkers drink to have fun or get drunk is a very short minded view of the fact
I agree with this too- to a degree, it's just that- I can't justify it in my head either way (ie justify it enough- to give me a reason to try it- others do not need to have a reason). The major ones I can think of are- trying to fit in (then I'll just be like the rest), drinking to have fun (I already have enough fun without it), losing inhibitions (if it's something you wouldn't do while sober- why would you want to risk doing it while intoxicated?) drinking to escape sorrows (there are safer/healthier ways of dealing with stress). I feel like- not only do I not need it...but hypothetically if I ever need it in the future, then it would be because I have VERY serious issues :(- and actually, even thinking of some worst possible scenarios- I struggle to justify it even then.


- drinking in moderation is fine
I don't agree with this. if you drink you drink, if you don't drink you don't drink. Easy. There is no moderation because it is something you can't measure, it's different from person to person. The fundamental thing is, I think, not how much you drink but how/why you drink. I really think a drinking culture/mentality is missing.
I think this is true to a degree (as harsh as it may seem to people who really are occasional drinkers). I think how frequently/in what circumstances you drink are also important- as well as how and why. Not quite sure what you meant by "drinking culture/mentality is missing" though.[/quote]


That's all for now but I could go on writing for another couple of pages if I wasn't so drunk right now..

Haha ditto :razz: - or maybe it's the other way around- if I was ever drunk and lost all my inhibitions , then who knows what I might say! :embarrassed: (believe it or not- this is pretty toned down on my behalf- once again, sorry if I caused offense)

Just to say, being drunk and in possession of a mobile phone and having your ex's number in there is not a good thing. Trust me on this.

Just to say, being drunk and in possession of a mobile phone and having your ex's number in there is not a good thing. Trust me on this.

Lmao. What did you text her?

Come on! Tell! :P

Can't remember the whole thing ... when I got home at 4am I logged on with a screeching dial-up modem (this was about 1999) and emailed her as well ... woke up asleep on the keyboard with the computer doing that "di di di di di di di di" sound when you've had a key pressed too long ... like 4 hours too long ....

Wow, a lot of discussion on this topic. I'll be brief. I drink. My parents drank. Their parents drank... and on and on... When I was a lot younger, I did often go out to get deliberately drunk, but have some wonderful crazy stories to tell people about those times. Now I mainly confine my consumption to a glass or two of wine with dinner, or a brandy at bedtime. Hangovers at my age are killers! I do respect all peoples' opinions on the matter, though, and I agree that drunks can be very unpleasant (I used to be a bartender, so I would know).

Phwoar this is a longgg thread! I don't quite have the endurance to read it all right now.. so I hope this isn't going to be too repetitive of what has already bin said but here goes -

I've never considered alcohol to be explicitly bad, yes I realise the damage it can cause to some people's lives, but to me it will never be this evil substance. It is the drinker who is in control, not the drink!

The whole binge drinking pop culture is quite a scary and expanding phenomenon, and I do wish that parent's took more control of their children and their drinking habits! It seems more often than not that is the parent who buys the drinks for the child! I can understand this to some extent, the whole "well if I buy the drink for them, then at least I'm in control of what they drink and how much.." but it definitely isn't always the case.. As I think someone mentioned in an earlier post - during my skim reading lol, young people are bound to experiment and go a bit crazy for awhile. Yet it's when these habits become a permamanent fixture that worries me..

I drink, yet I've never gone out with the mentality that I'm drinking to get drunk. I like to have a few drinks and I like the feeling that it gives me when I do! I don't like being drunk so I'm (usually :embarrassed:) always in control and know my own limits. I don't need to drink to have a good time, nor do I think that's the case with my friends either - but I do think it can make it better! XP My parents are regular drinkers and I've noticed in recent months are even drinking more than they used to! It seems almost everyone my age goes out and drinks, yet I've noticed that fewer people seem to have the ultimate aim of getting stinking drunk than what it used to be a couple of years ago - so it does prove that the whole binge drinking thing is just a phase - (for most) !

Hmm I appear to have lost my train of thought.. lmao! I'm prolly not making much sense.. ahh
/me runs off before she writes anymore nonsense

* Medea.;170224 runs off before she makes writes anymore nonsense

I'm prolly not making much sense..
:o What makes you say that? :razz:

Mapster: Re: ambiguity, I see what you meant now. Thanks for clarifying.

:o What makes you say that? :razz:
Oops!! Lmao.. *edits post*
Nobody saw that... *whistles innocently* XP

i didn't realise that most of the people on isketch don't drink. anyway, i agree with the people that say alcohol in moderation is fine. Personally, i drink quite often, but i've never done anything bad because of it... that affects the public and i've never even been arrested before xD
i drink because when i go out with friends, i find that it makes the whole experience more enjoyable as everyone is more relaxed and happy and just generally in a really good mood. i don't drink to get absolutely drunk- in fact i've only passed out twice in my whole life. usually i only have a few- it makes me feel really happy and chatty and less reserved so i find conversation flows easier and if you're meeting new friends, it is much less awkward :/ all this stuff is from my own personal experience, others may think differently. uh... like getting blind on public streets and violence and the fact that substance abuse ruins lives is very very bad. don't do it! the way i see it, you have to be responsible and know your own limits. its not alcohol itself, its the way people use it xD

i'm not saying that in order to have a good time with mates means that you absolutely have to drink, i'm just saying that alcohol, when consumed responsibly in moderation, can really make an experience more enjoyable. i know its not good for me, but i'd rather live a shorter life and enjoy it as much as i can instead of padding myself with cotton wool against anything that could so much as pose a risk to my health... and possibly die tomorrow in a road accident anyway. hopefully that won't happen.

actually, i was at this awesome little french bar/cafe last night cos some friends had a gig there. good music (jazz/latin), good company, good food and good wine (optional). Fantastic atmosphere and really friendly staff.

La Niche cafe, 73 smith st, Fitzroy...Check it out! ;)