I drank because I loved the feeling. I drank when I was happy. I drank when I was sad. Eventually I loved the feeling so much (and it helped me get to sleep during a terrible insomnia spell) that I did it every day. I quit 3 years ago and haven't regretted it for a minute.
Sounds like you are able to enjoy alcohol in moderation. Some are able to pull this off, others are not, but happy that you are able to keep yourself on an even-keel (or so it seems).
It's the best buzz, which is likely the reason alcohol has endured over hundreds of years of mankind and remains the "go to". That said, like most vices, it has it's downsides and all too often, the downside far outweighs the brief buzz you attain by drinking.
Good song Also. “If you don’t start drinking I’m gonna leave” and “One bourbon, one scotch, one beer”. George likes to sing about drinking.
The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom...you never know what is enough until you know what is more than enough. William Blake
If a person doesn’t curse and drink in moderation, he/she cannot be trusted. My grandma used to always say…
Uh nope. It's like drinking decaf coffee. I drink my 2 cups of coffee every morning because I need the caffeine. My wife will drink a decaf after dinner but not me. I know there are Millennials and Gen Zers who can order up a coffee that tastes like a shake but I'm talking straight up black coffee. If not for the caffeine I wouldn't drink it.
If one elects to abstain, more power to them. But the recovery movement is lamentable as it ingrains helplessness over substances which might be enjoyed in manageable quantities.
This article seemed relevant to this thread. Alcohol is no longer cool, evidently. It's official, alcohol is not cool anymore. Here's how a movement that began in 2018 became mainstream — resulting in a sober New Year's Eve ball-drop
And the hits keep on coming. How’s a guy supposed to loosen up all those rigid gals? In college, if NA drinks were a thing, I’d been quite the dud. Man, those days at the swamp(bar) were great. Thanks Gatorade for making me reflect back on the old days.
My recollection years ago on the other message board that drinking was a big part of your life as you discussed being intoxicated a lot. I’m glad you are in a better place. I’ve finally admitted to myself I really can’t social drink, beyond one or two drinks, because after that point I just want more and once I’m drunk I’m often belligerent and make dumb decisions. The question is if I can just limit it to an occasional one or two beers and cut off. I think so but remains to be seen.
Oh yeah, I was a regular member of the Drunk Thread. I had a lot of fun but things just got out of hand. Juggs is sober as well. 2 years now I think.
I'm listening to this book now. It is geared not only toward those who want to quit entirely but also just cut back, which is my goal - mostly for physical health and energy reasons. Seems so far like her message is a bit unconventional and maybe overly optimistic about how easy it is to quit or significantly reduce consumption. But I think it's worthwhile for those interested and may hopefully add to the discussion. Hopefully people will continue to weigh in on their own experiences, challenges, goals, and progress. This Naked Mind: Control Alcohol, Find Freedom, Discove… Millions of people worry that drinking is affecting their health, yet are unwilling to seek change because of the misery and stigma associated with alcoholism and recovery. They fear drinking less will be boring, involving deprivation, difficulty and significant lifestyle changes. This Naked Mind offers a new solution. Packed with surprising insight into the reasons we drink, it will open your eyes to the startling role of alcohol in our culture. Annie Grace brilliantly weaves psychological, neurological, cultural, social and industry factors with her extraordinarily candid journey resulting in a must read for anyone who drinks. This book, without scare tactics, pain or rules, gives you freedom from alcohol. By addressing causes rather than symptoms it is a permanent solution rather than lifetime struggle. It removes the psychological dependence allowing you to easily drink less (or stop drinking). Annie’s clarity, humor and unique ability to blend original research with riveting storytelling ensures you will thoroughly enjoy the process. In a world defined by ‘never enough’ Annie takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of alcohol and specifically the connection between alcohol and pleasure. She dispels the cultural myth that alcohol is a vital part of life and demonstrates how regaining control over alcohol is not only essential to personal happiness and fulfillment but also to ending the heartache experienced by millions as a result of secondhand drinking.
Acquired taste with alcohol is an interesting topic. Roland Griffiths, who is an expert on substance abuse and addiction if anyone is, postulates that acquired taste for alcohol is basically what you claim, although working on a deep, subconscious level. The brain and body learn to crave the taste of certain alcohols based on repeat exposure to that taste becoming associated with a desired feeling or chemical dependence (in the case of true addiction). It's pretty basic stimulus-reward behavior. So it might not be as cut-and-dry as your friends liking bourbon just because it gets them bombed, but they definitely like the taste of bourbon because their minds/bodies perceive that taste as having positive "rewards" in the near future.
Makes sense, I find that the less I drink the less varied my taste for beers becomes. I just don't like nearly as many as I did a few years ago.
