Do you need alcohol that much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Need it, no. Enjoy it on occasion because some alcoholic drinks taste good, absolutely. Almost all things are alright in moderation/if used appropriately, and, when legal and permitted, I consider alcohol to fall into this category.

There are a great many things (I would argue most things) that can cause societal ills if abused or used irresponsibly. But for the most part I don't believe in banning them just for that reason.

Example: I do not like sports. At all. Never have, never will, don't see the point. I could argue that sports cause problems -- riots when the home team loses, sometimes riots when the home team wins , people wasting their money, people wasting their time, national priorities out of whack, etc. But, I will not argue this. Because most people who like sports are reasonable people who don't end up in an obsession that controls their life, and also because just because I/you/we don't like something doesn't automatically mean it's wrong, bad, and nobody should like it.

I can't address this because to equate riots associated with a few sports games to the horrific, pervasive problems from alcohol is just too stupid.

[Anonymous]

I'm the OP and I am a vegetarian. So end of conversation?

Of course you are.

OP, everything you said about drinking I would say about religion. I certainly can live without it, many other people can't and damn straight if it hasn't been to blame for a multitude of social ills and bad decisions that affect others. If you need religion, your life is unfulfilling. Get a better job, or therapy. Don't numb it with church services every Sunday. I know I have every right to complain about the number of fanatics, proselytizers and their crimes committed in the name of some made-up supreme being.

Have a nice weekend.

[Anonymous]

OP, the Prohibitionists are calling you from the dead... maybe you should start a new movement!!!

[Anonymous]

Why does op keep accusing drinkers of drinking and driving? I drink probably three times per week on average, a glass of wine with dinner, a couple of beers while watching the game, but I honestly have never driven after more than one drink. He seems to be making assumptions of evil drinkers. Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm going to go open a bottle of wine. And since it's Friday, I'll probably empty it with the help of my husband. Oh the horrors!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does op keep accusing drinkers of drinking and driving? I drink probably three times per week on average, a glass of wine with dinner, a couple of beers while watching the game, but I honestly have never driven after more than one drink. He seems to be making assumptions of evil drinkers. Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm going to go open a bottle of wine. And since it's Friday, I'll probably empty it with the help of my husband. Oh the horrors!

I'm quite healthy too, thanks for asking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does op keep accusing drinkers of drinking and driving? I drink probably three times per week on average, a glass of wine with dinner, a couple of beers while watching the game, but I honestly have never driven after more than one drink. He seems to be making assumptions of evil drinkers. Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm going to go open a bottle of wine. And since it's Friday, I'll probably empty it with the help of my husband. Oh the horrors!

It seems that the only drinkers OP knows are alcoholics; therefore (or so OP concludes) that all drinkers are alcoholics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Read the research article in the WaPo today -- there are about 60% of the population who never have a drink or less than once a week. The top 10% of drinkers are drinking the equivalent of 2BOTTLES of WINE EVERY NIGHT! The rest are in between.

The beverage industry would collapse (according to the article) if the top 10% of drinkers were encouraged to reduce their intake. There are a lot of people who can gently handle their alcohol, and then there are a sizable number of people who are living drunk everyday and keeping the beverage industry in the money. Think about all the health issues, accidents, deaths, violence that alcohol brings to our society via those who drink too much... yet, we don't REALLY have the guts to get the abusers to reduce or stop.

I read another article recently that referenced a study showing that most people underestimate how much they drink by 50% A lot of people are fooling themselves.

[Anonymous]

Here's a little data to add to the discussion. The article basically says that a very small percentage of Americans account for a disproportionate percentage of alcohol consumption. In fact, most Americans either drink not at all or very little. I think OP's idea that those people who drink, drink to excess is not backed up by actual data.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/09/25/think-you-drink-a-lot-this-chart-will-tell-you/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP do you need food to enjoy a party? Alcohol is just a nice to have. Like air conditioning, comfy seats and good food. I enjoy a cocktail every now and then.

Alcohol is a liquid drug. It is not the same as food and air conditioning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP. Sorry folks if my thread upsets the drinkers. Apparently there are a lot of drinkers here (probably drunkards too).

If you need alcohol to lighten up and to have a good time, something is wrong. Either your job is too stressful or your life is unfulfilling. Get therapy, a better job, or change whatever is the source of your stress. Don't numb it with alcohol every weekend (or weeknight), then drive a car, or make bad decisions that affect others, and then come on here arrogantly defending your actions because you were lucky enough to not hurt or kill anyone because of your drinking.

I'm sick of people who can't control their drinking and then make bad decisions as a result of it. There are far too many of you.

We live in an area where parents are actually chaperoning parties for underage kids and providing alcohol too. The parents are equally guilty in fostering a culture of excessive drinkers and contributing to alcohol related crimes.

So am I a pearl clutching, buttock clenched DCUMer? I don't really give a shit if I am. I know I have every right to complain about the number of alcoholics, excessive drinkers, and the alcohol related crimes.

If you can't handle drinking, it's easy...DON'T.DO.IT.AT.ALL.

You're just an unpleasant and incredibly judgmental person. Live and let live. It'll help you relax because you're incredibly high strung.

Don't worry about me, PP. I'm fine. But if you can't handle your drinking, it becomes my problem, doesn't it? So I'm going to complain and you need to hear it.

The vast majority of people can handle their drinking. Not sure why you can't comprehend that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm the OP and I am a vegetarian. So end of conversation?

Of course you are.

OP, everything you said about drinking I would say about religion. I certainly can live without it, many other people can't and damn straight if it hasn't been to blame for a multitude of social ills and bad decisions that affect others. If you need religion, your life is unfulfilling. Get a better job, or therapy. Don't numb it with church services every Sunday. I know I have every right to complain about the number of fanatics, proselytizers and their crimes committed in the name of some made-up supreme being.

Have a nice weekend.

The world would be a better place without alcohol and religion.

[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 eat meat OP? As a non-meat eater, I cannot understand people's needs to consume meat. Eliminate meat 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 meat? Is it at all possible to have a great party without serving meat? If you need meat to enjoy life, maybe something is wrong.

The difference between you and me is that I would never actually say the above (despite it actually being accurate when phrased the way you did it). I just choose not to eat meat and let people who choose to eat it eat it without me looking over their shoulders passing judgment. I even - GASP - serve it when I have parties because people like it. I guarantee there is something you enjoy (perhaps meat) that others do not and could easily be perplexed by you. So just shut up.

I'm the OP and I am a vegetarian. So end of conversation?

If a person can handle a glass of wine and never let it affect their mind, fine. But I think it's abundantly clear many people can not. The recent story about the UVA story of HG prompted me to write this thread. And it needs to be brought up and should be openly, honestly discussed. You don't like that it makes you feel judged? Sorry. People are injured or dying every day because of alcohol related issues, certainly not limited to the recent case of HG and DWI. So you don't like that I bring it up? Too bad.

The point was that you could substitute ANYTHING for "alcohol" in your post and come out with a bunch of people who enjoy it, and a bunch of people who don't; a bunch of people who think it's a detriment to society and a bunch of people who don't; a bunch of people who feel judged by it and a bunch of people who don't. And it's irritating for anyone to have some snarky woman come on here, who undoubtedly has her own things that she enjoys that other people don't and feel are harmful judge them in some generalized way. You're very naive in your thinking.

[Anonymous]

Don't worry about me, PP. I'm fine. But if you can't handle your drinking, it becomes my problem, doesn't it? So I'm going to complain and you need to hear it.

Please tell me exactly how it becomes your problem if I can't handle my drinking. I am having several beers on my porch and won't be driving for another 48 hours. And this is your problem how?

[Anonymous]

Yes!! Sober almost 2 months

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP do you need food to enjoy a party? Alcohol is just a nice to have. Like air conditioning, comfy seats and good food. I enjoy a cocktail every now and then.

Alcohol is a liquid drug. It is not the same as food and air conditioning.

The PP didn't say 'food'. The PP said 'good food'. And the last time I checked, air conditioning isn't a necessity. It's nice to have, but it's not a necessity.