What he said! “Unlike some men, I had never drunk for boldness or charm or wit; I had used alcohol for precisely what it was, a depressant to check the mental exhilaration produced by extended sobriety.” ― Frederick Exley, A Fan's Notes
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." - Variously attributed to Sinatra, Dean Martin, W.C.
I only drink during Gator football games with some wings and with friends. Never at home by myself or a random Tuesday. When not football season then maybe only at events (work fund raisers and such)
I'm a wine snob. I drink usually to enhance the dining experience. The right wine can make a good meal great, and a great meal spectacular. Similar thing with beer, and there are only a few beers I'll drink, and almost always with a meal. Rarely, if ever, drink without having a meal, and these days, it's wine and select beers. Occasionally a cocktail before dinner, and certainly not every day.
The answer for me is I don't. I asked myself that question 30 years ago after waking up with a hangover. I was never a heavy drinker and don't like the taste of alcohol but I did tie one on every now and then and when I did I tended to over do it and make an ass out of myself. I looked myself in the mirror and asked, Why do you do this? Haven't had a drink since.
People drink for a variety of reasons. Social acceptance, peer pressure, altering inhibitions, etc.. Alcohol like any drug is a mind and body altering drug like any other one decides to partake. Some are capable of tolerance and others are not. What drinking provides same as any other drug is that moment of bliss. Like the person addicted to adrenaline there is no other substitute for such a feeling. I confess I do like my morning coffee with a shot of Baileys one mug that I'll sip on throughout the day. Don't drink beer or liquor much but I do like a variety of beers for taste. Especially on a hot summer day, a pilsner, a lager or a malt you can definitely taste the difference. Don't care for ale, mead or IPA's. Sam Adams can take a hike. For me a second one is never as good as the first. As for liquor I like my liquor on ice. A double shot of Crown Royal Black, Pikesville rye or Jägermeister on occasion and I'm good. That drink typically comes during a meal (steak and potatoes) out on the town. Not that I haven't tried them but I don't much care for other liquors. The unfortunate aspect some people get addicted to alcohol chasing that high or shall I say low as it is a depressant.
Think what you want. My wife and I share a bottle of wine. That’s two glasses each. If I have a beer with a friend which is not very often that would be considered social drinking. Since I had neck two surgeries on my cervical, drinking too much causes bad headaches. I have my medical marijuana card. If I want to get high I can eat a gummy or two, or three, or four, etc.
You just described my journey nearly to a T. I did outpatient after my mom died, lost my job and another life impacting event; they all happened within a month. Family said it was time to quit. I took that seriously; read everything I could get my hands on about addiction. Learned I really did have general anxiety and depression. Became a facilitator, at SMART recovery, AA, instead based in science and has continuous improvement of the process built in. After quitting 28 years of drinking I would go to a bar and for the first time notice; not everyone drinks alcohol. It never crossed my mind that there would be a fulfilling life without it. I believe the fear of losing one’s social tool is one of the biggest obstacles for someone contemplating sobriety. I used exercise mostly for my AA. Ran under 8 min mile 5k every day, followed by an hour of hard core lifting; goal was 400 lifts a day; 150 incline crunches with a 25 pound plate followed by 300 side to sides with a 45 plate. Typical workout is 900-1300 calories. I’ve tracked every physical activity since 2013. First two years I averaged 5.8 days a week for two years straight. I ended up at 8-10% body fat which I’ve maintained. Year of Covid; no gym; my app says was my most intense year; 750k calories burned. I ran either 6miles or a 3.8 mile 1200 foot ascent/descent chipped rock mountain here in Boulder everyday in 50 min. My brain at that time of complete sobriety; no pot; was the sharpest in my life. Math skills I never had in my head b4. Some of the interesting things I learned in my research was that two groups have little issues with alcohol; Jews and Italians. Italians because it is socially unacceptable to be visibly drunk. Jews; well they are just good at being good. Although, the article did say drugs are more of a problem in that group than alcohol. Tribes in the Amazon basically have zero problems with addiction; they do use an LSD type drug which may be a factor in their sobriety. It’s nearly impossible to get sober and keep your mates in Australia. In fact, around that time I read an article about Colin Hay; Men At Work. He said he had to come to the US(Cali) to get sober. A recent deep study into alcoholism found there are basically two types of drinkers: the type that drinks 1-3 drinks and feels tired and the type who do not get tired and are energized; me. The latter group is almost always the problem drinker. I never found a single study that found that alcohol provides any benefit that exceeds the damage it does to every part of your body. In fact the two most legal drugs; have zero medicinal value, alcohol and nicotine, which should make them a class 1 drug. I live in a college town; average age in Boulder is 28. The number of non-drinking college kids astounds me. They seem to have gotten the message that drinking isn’t a plus. Good topic, OP.
I like to drink because a.) I enjoy the flavors (I'm a craft beer and bourbon guy), and b.) I enjoy catching a good buzz. I often take a gummy on Friday night to go along with a couple of pours and maybe a beer. This makes me feel really good and Im not one bit ashamed to say I like it. I don't believe I'm trying to escape or dull anything other than getting the work week out of my head and being present with what's important: Family, friends, conversation, games, music, etc. Admittedly, I've never been one to suffer hangovers much - so that changes the calculus for me. It's just a win with very little downside.
I started drinking less a few years ago and phased it out of my life entirely pretty quickly. If anyone is considering quitting or slowing down this is a solid book. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0525537236?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
My husband stopped drinking cold turkey 10 years ago after working himself up to a bottle of wine a night. He knows his wine and still to this day picks out my wine. If I have Italian food, I have to have a good Cab or Pinot Noir. He found Heineken 00 which he really likes. I am not a hard liquor person, save for the yearly Margarita or two during Cinco de mayo. I have had a bloody mary at brunch, but that contends with a mimosa.
You recognize that wines have their own exquisite tastes but you can't recognize the bourbons and scotches do as well? Tequila's have varying flavor profiles as well. Your point about vodka is correct, because it's a neutral spirit and distilled to be flavorless. I enjoy tasting different bourbons and different scotches. But rarely do I have more than one - in those rare times when I am drinking them. So I'm no way am I looking to get bombed. Maybe your friends are drinking the browns to get hammered - only you would know that. But there's a whole subculture dedicated to whiskey that doesn't center around pounding it.
I rarely drink - mostly bourbon or wine while I cook. Can go weeks between drinks. Was in NYC 2 weeks ago and went to a play. At intermission I went to the bar and got mixed drinks for my wife and self and a beer for my son. The bartender asked for $86. Nobody got drunk that night.
- As a social crutch, it loosens you up - it can give you anything from a sense of confidence to invincibility. - there is an association with the taste and feeling While I’ve never drank with great frequency, I have from time to time abused alcohol and drank too much. After a certain point sometimes you don’t want to stop.
I like caymus, textbook and crossbarn cabs. Interesting post from you. Thanks for sharing. I’m starting to appreciate red wine myself. I’m easing into it.
