Do you need alcohol that much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a nondrinker, I can not understand people's need to consume alcohol. Eliminate alcohol consumption and you eliminate many social evils and disease. What is this addiction in our society that makes it impossible for people to give up alcohol? Is it at all possible to have a great party without alcohol. If you need alcohol to enjoy life, maybe something is wrong.

Thoughts?

Do you really need that stick up your ass that much?

Here's the deal. If you have ever gotten behind the wheel when you had too much to drink, or done anything potentially harmful while under the influence of alcohol, then maybe you need somebody to shove that stick up real deep in YOUR ass. Most people have had too much to drink and done something they should not have when intoxicated so STFU.

Ummm it's called uber. Drinking and driving is so the 90s. Besides driving, what could intoxicated people be doing that sooooo puts you at risk? I had a glass of wine at home and had sex with my husband the other night. Would you like to unnecessarily interject yourself into that somehow?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow! Lots of people here are pretty threatened by talk of booze being a problem. That in and of itself seems to indicate a problem...

I don't drink a lot, but I do sometimes (maybe 2-4 drinks/month, usually a glass of wine with dinner if we are out). No one would ever consider me a problem drinker. And I think OP is batty. Of course there is a small segment of the population who has a problem with alcohol. It is like every other addiction. There is a small segment of the population who is addicted to food, sex, work, exercise, etc. That doesn't mean that most people aren't just fine and it is silly to extrapolate to that group of people all of the bad things that can be caused by alcohol.

+1. I never drank until my 30s and now just enjoy a glass of wine every now and then. I've never driven a car after even a drop, have never been drunk, and have never done anything stupid due to drinking. I certainly don't "need" alcohol, but I enjoy it in the same way as coffee or chocolate.

From what I gather, OP seems to think that all drinking is problematic drinking based on an assumption that alcohol always leads to bad things - most of us think that assumption is false.
Not sure what OP's basis for saying I must have problems in my life is, although I would welcome her take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a nondrinker, I can not understand people's need to consume alcohol. Eliminate alcohol consumption and you eliminate many social evils and disease. What is this addiction in our society that makes it impossible for people to give up alcohol? Is it at all possible to have a great party without alcohol. If you need alcohol to enjoy life, maybe something is wrong.

Thoughts?

Have you met my wife?

[Anonymous]

We have good friends and the husband is a recovering alcoholic. Even they serve alcohol at their parties (which he never drinks).

Put your big girl undies on OP.

[Anonymous]

Besides needs, people have wants, OP.

[Anonymous]

OP, you never answered the question about whether you're the child of an alcoholic. Why are you so anti-alcohol? What is the basis for your reasoning?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm so glad this thread has been revived. I have many thoughts on this issue.

I would call myself an alcoholic. I've taken myself to AA a number of times (starting when I was nineteen) and have taken multiple months-long periods of not drinking. I didn't drink from late August until mid-November of this year, as a matter of fact.

Despite my own belief that I'm always better off not drinking - am gearing up for another dry month this January - it is invariably treated as strange/an annoyance by members of the outside world when I curb or quit my drinking. A coworker once invited me over to share a bottle of wine - when I told her I didn't drink, she never invited me to anything else. I've been pressured to drink in a range of situations.

It says a lot about our cultural relationship with alcohol when not drinking is more notable or offensive to people than is getting drunk and texting people inappropriate messages, bursting into tears, or driving. I have done all of these things and the only thing that garners specific attention is when I don't drink.

Yes, that says a lot. I haven't drunk in years so most people don't have a history with me drinking but it does take some by surprise when it does come up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Besides needs, people have wants, OP.

OP may be long gone. It's an old thread, but obviously still relevant.

[Anonymous]

I completely agree, OP. The level of denial/defense in this thread is astounding and simply confirms my suspicion that there are so many alcoholics among us. If you don't drink, stay away from the crap - we all know that life is so much better/healthier when we are sober.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I completely agree, OP. The level of denial/defense in this thread is astounding and simply confirms my suspicion that there are so many alcoholics among us. If you don't drink, stay away from the crap - we all know that life is so much better/healthier when we are sober.

Wrong.
http://www.psmag.com/health-and-behavior/truth-wont-admit-drinking-healthy-87891

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I completely agree, OP. The level of denial/defense in this thread is astounding and simply confirms my suspicion that there are so many alcoholics among us. If you don't drink, stay away from the crap - we all know that life is so much better/healthier when we are sober.

Wrong.
http://www.psmag.com/health-and-behavior/truth-wont-admit-drinking-healthy-87891

This is pure BS and downright harmful to people who need help in dealing with this disease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I completely agree, OP. The level of denial/defense in this thread is astounding and simply confirms my suspicion that there are so many alcoholics among us. If you don't drink, stay away from the crap - we all know that life is so much better/healthier when we are sober.

Wrong.
http://www.psmag.com/health-and-behavior/truth-wont-admit-drinking-healthy-87891

That was an interesting article. Feeling better about my brew after work many days

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I completely agree, OP. The level of denial/defense in this thread is astounding and simply confirms my suspicion that there are so many alcoholics among us. If you don't drink, stay away from the crap - we all know that life is so much better/healthier when we are sober.

Wrong.
http://www.psmag.com/health-and-behavior/truth-wont-admit-drinking-healthy-87891

That was an interesting article. Feeling better about my brew after work many days

The link between alcohol and a whole host of cancers is irrefutable, too but the article conveniently failed to mention that issue...anyone can find something to support a position they want to support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering, OP - are you by any chance the child of an alcoholic? I can personally live without alcohol, although I do enjoy a drink once in a while. Where does your extreme viewpoint come from?

Op's position is only extreme if you can't imagine life without your alcohol crutch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I completely agree, OP. The level of denial/defense in this thread is astounding and simply confirms my suspicion that there are so many alcoholics among us. If you don't drink, stay away from the crap - we all know that life is so much better/healthier when we are sober.

Maybe you haven't heard but it's possible to stop at one and hence remain sober.