I'm pregnant now and don't drink and don't miss it at all. But if I wasn't pregnant I'd enjoy a glass or two at parties and even (shock) at home with dinner. It doesn't make one an alcoholic.

Try being a teacher in a Title One public school OP. Constant pressure to raise test scores will cause you to want to drink.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every society since the dawn of man has figured out how to make alcohol out of what they have on hand -- beer, wine, mead, fermented yak milk liqour, sake, fruit brandy, etc. Something deep inside humans is drawn to it. You are free to abstain, but millions and millions of people worldwide won't.

Well, it was safer to drink than most of the available water sources and it was a way to save the harvest.

Sure, but that was then.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Only about 52% of Americans drink alcohol at least once per month. There are a lot of people who don't drink alcohol. Maybe you should branch out in your acquaintances -- and I mean that sincerely.

http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs2014/NSDUH-DetTabs2014.htm#lotsect2pe

Anonymous wrote:Every society since the dawn of man has figured out how to make alcohol out of what they have on hand -- beer, wine, mead, fermented yak milk liqour, sake, fruit brandy, etc. Something deep inside humans is drawn to it. You are free to abstain, but millions and millions of people worldwide won't.

Well, it was safer to drink than most of the available water sources and it was a way to save the harvest.

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?

Agree. Hate alcohol for the most part.

I know only a few people who are unable to distinguish between unhealthy drinking and normal, healthy consumption. There are a myriad of studies showing the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, and the risks of too much drinking.

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.

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.

Op is exactly right.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I LIKE drinking. I like the taste of beer on a hot day, a cold martini with my oysters, a nice red wine with my steak, and a pina coloda at the ocean. Sometimes, I like feeling a bit buzzed. Drunk sex can be fun, too. Which is totally legal, and none of your damn business.

Do you think buzzed driving is a good idea?

SHE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT DRIVING.

You sound like an alcoholic. Sorry.

Just for pointing out that there are many myriad ways that one can enjoy a drink without driving afterwards, I get called an alcoholic?

Or are you calling PP (not me, I hate oysters) with the oysters and steak and great sex an alcoholic?

I bet both of us are smarter and happier than you.

Anonymous wrote:the cdc has shown that alcohol-related deaths due to over-consumption (so not drunk driving) has gone up over the last 15 years.

The drinking culture, especially in large urban areas, is out of control IMO.

And the number of older people in society has gone up as well. I wonder if those two things might be related?

Anonymous wrote:the cdc has shown that alcohol-related deaths due to over-consumption (so not drunk driving) has gone up over the last 15 years.

The drinking culture, especially in large urban areas, is out of control IMO.

Yep. And we all have to pay for it.

I like the taste of some alcohol. I just do. And, I usually have a glass of wine every night. Because I like it. Can I go without it? Yes, and I have. For many days. For a pregnancy.

I agree that those who drink and drive are pretty awful. Most of us don't (we use uber when we know we are going to be out and drinking).

I think we can all agree that the college binge drinking is problematic (but I would argue it's not just the alcohol but poor judgment of young people). I also think your suggestion that "nothing" is being done about it is wrong. Have you been to college? Because, the messaging is there for sure. And restrictions (i.e., you could not drink in the dorms at my college).

Beyond that, I don't care that you don't like alcohol. I also don't care for your sanctimony. Because, regardless of your intention or the message you mean to convey, it all gets lost in your tone.

I am a vegetarian. And have some pretty strong views on that and a lot of other things. But, you know what? Sanctimony is a conversation killer. And, you appear to be the queen of sanctimony, which is why your getting the push back that you are. Reconsider your tone and save your judgment. I'm sure if we looked, and probably not all that hard, we'd find plenty to judge you about too.

Unfortunately, drinking just leads to criminal behavior

That's quite a conclusion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I LIKE drinking. I like the taste of beer on a hot day, a cold martini with my oysters, a nice red wine with my steak, and a pina coloda at the ocean. Sometimes, I like feeling a bit buzzed. Drunk sex can be fun, too. Which is totally legal, and none of your damn business.

Do you think buzzed driving is a good idea?

SHE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT DRIVING.

You sound like an alcoholic. Sorry.