Anonymous wrote:Alcoholic

No alcoholics always say they like the taste and get upset or offended if you say you drink for the buzz/effect. There is no other reason to drink if not for the buzz.

Anonymous wrote:My entire extended family does this. No one has ever had social, occupational, legal, or medical consequences of drinking, so I would say that we aren’t alcoholics.
But it’s part of the ritual of going out. Everyone gets dressed and then we meet up in the kitchen or the family room for a glass of wine before we leave.

You're describing a social ritual. The OP is describing a purposeful act to walk into a restaurant buzzed and if he can't do it, he doesn't bother to drink at the restaurant.

Just read up recent scientific studies(not just ones funded by liquor industry) and both take a vow to stop drinking. You don't need "social lubricant", just improve your conversation skills.

so he has one or two at home and drives to dinner?

hmmmm

My entire extended family does this. No one has ever had social, occupational, legal, or medical consequences of drinking, so I would say that we aren’t alcoholics.
But it’s part of the ritual of going out. Everyone gets dressed and then we meet up in the kitchen or the family room for a glass of wine before we leave.

Dcum is so weird about alcohol.

Anonymous wrote:Ummmm, no. My husband drinks socially. His goal is not to get buzzed. If he ever accidentally get buzzed, he asks me to drive or we would make a plan to get a ride or take an Uber.

Desiring a buzz and putting so much into achieving and maintaining it is beyond weird and not normal, social drinking behavior.

This is my reaction too. I don't think it's alcoholic behavior or anything. But it's kind of odd.

I agree with the question about driving. A drink or two and hopping in the car is not great.

If we are going out to dinner I am generally pacing in the kitchen and watching for the suburban to pull in our driveway, usually while calling up that the Uber is three minutes out and yes those shoes looked fine, yeah I’m doing a shot (or two) of freezer vodka straight out of the bottle. I have a friend in his 50s who still calls it pregaming, perhaps your husband is doing the same?

If he’s generally not a problem drinker I wouldn’t worry about it. I have a friend that likes getting drunk to Wimbledon but doesn’t drink while watching any other sport, i’ve never seen him have more than two drinks in a row pretty much ever but all bets are off for tennis.

It's a little strange. My DH does not do that, nor do I. That said there have been times when we've gone to a friends house for a drink before going to a restaurant for dinner. But that's about the social aspect more than the actual drinking.

Anonymous wrote:No, he's not cheap

Pre drinking has nothing to do with alcoholism or being cheap. If it takes 1-1.5 hours to feel a buzz, unless you’re planning to be at a long 2-4 hour dinner, you’re just guzzling pointless calories. You essentially pre drink at busy restaurants when you’re sent to the bar for 30-60 minutes before your table is ready. At neighborhood restaurants where you’re seated quickly, do that pre drinking at home.

Ummmm, no. My husband drinks socially. His goal is not to get buzzed. If he ever accidentally get buzzed, he asks me to drive or we would make a plan to get a ride or take an Uber.

Desiring a buzz and putting so much into achieving and maintaining it is beyond weird and not normal, social drinking behavior.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is alcoholic behavior if you ask me.

- Alcoholic

Half the time he doesn't drink at all at restaurants, which I don't think is something an alcoholic does? He just doesn't see the point is wasting money or drinking so many empty calories if the buzz and social lubricant isn't going to be felt while we're at the restaurant.

DP - incorrect. It's not about frequency or what they "always" do. Its what they do when they do it.

Is he then driving you guys to dinner??

No a lot of men including me do not drink alcohol at all.

No, he's not cheap