Why wouldn't you drink?

[Lathum]

I was just reading the smoking poll where some of you said you would never drink and I am just wondering why? I am by no means making fun of you for not drinking I am just curious for your reasons. A few drinks for most people is relaxing and there are quite a few drinks that taste good. I am not trying to change anyones mind I am just curious why you would be against drinking?

[Young Drachma]

Umm..I drink maybe a few times at year at most. Like, at random times. I can probably count the number of drinks I've had since turning 21 and I never drank alcohol prior to that.

For me, I just don't find it all that appealing. I find wine to be gross - even expensive stuff - because I can't stand the smell of alcohol. I think beer is vile and well..the only think I can stand is amaretto and even then, I have to make my amaretto sours with a soda that's got lots of sugar like Mountain Dew or something.

So, it's not a moral thing for me - though for some it surely is. I just don't find the stuff that appealing.

[Danny]

I dont need the influece of a drug (alcohol is a drug) to relax or enjoy myself. I dont like things which inhibit my ability to think or make decisions. I like who I am sober/drug free and I am stubborn to the point where I am not going to change that to "fit in".

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Danny Drickman

I dont need the influece of a drug (alcohol is a drug) to relax or enjoy myself. I dont like things which inhibit my ability to think or make decisions. I like who I am sober/drug free and I am stubborn to the point where I am not going to change that to "fit in".

Yeah, I've never been drunk. When I was in the Air Force, everyone joked they'd "get me drunk" or whatever. Even my girlfriend has joked about it before. But I've never even been buzzed or whatever. I just prefer having good control of my senses and I dunno, I think I'm probably more afraid of getting sick than anything else.

Plus, alcoholism runs in my family. So that's probably a big reason - though not a conscious motivator - as to why I stay away.

[Coffee Warlord]

...Obviously so they can drive our drunken asses around to the next bar.

[Draft Dodger]

all my friends are lushes - only have one friend that has never had a drink.

[Ben E Lou]

I've never been drunk, or even tipsy. Until I married into a country club family, I'd never had more than a sip of wine at Communion. I now enjoy the occasional glass of wine with dinner. However, it turns out that my taste in wine is in the moderate-expensive range, so I don't have it very often. My former-state-deb wife can enjoy some $8-and-under-a-bottle wines, but her raised-in-the-hood bruthaman husband can't. Go figure.

I didn't drink until 21 for morality-related reasons. After 21, it was because there was no alcoholic drink that I found tasty until I was exposed to Kendall-Jackson chardonnay.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Danny Drickman

I dont need the influece of a drug (alcohol is a drug) to relax or enjoy myself. I dont like things which inhibit my ability to think or make decisions. I like who I am sober/drug free and I am stubborn to the point where I am not going to change that to "fit in".

So do you think less of people who do drink?

[yabanci]

Heroin is relaxing too. You should try it.

[Danny]

Originally Posted by Lathum

So do you think less of people who do drink?

No. I don't believe what is right for me is right for everyone else. My dad goes out drinking every Friday/Saturday night. My uncle drinks. My mom drinks on occasion. As well as just about every other person in my family at some point in their lives. Some want some beer or some wine to take their mind off of something and relax, hey whatever works for them, as long as they do it responsibly.

With that said, I do think less of people who drive drunk or commit other terrible acts while under the influence of a drug.

[timmynausea]

I used to drink a lot in high school and early in college, but now I can't have much fun with it. I'd rather take vicodin.

[MJ4H]

Originally Posted by Danny Drickman

I dont need the influece of a drug (alcohol is a drug) to relax or enjoy myself. I dont like things which inhibit my ability to think or make decisions. I like who I am sober/drug free and I am stubborn to the point where I am not going to change that to "fit in".

Pretty much me spot on. To answer a later question, I don't look down on someone else who does drink, but I am slightly disappointed that they don't see it the way I do. None of my close friends drink. Very few in what I would call the next tier of friends do. If someone I'm with starts to drink, I will just leave. I also don't enjoy being around people that have been drinking or are drinking.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by yabanci

Heroin is relaxing too. You should try it.

Heroin is also illeagel, don't try to create an argument by comparing apples and oranges

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Danny Drickman

I dont need the influece of a drug (alcohol is a drug) to relax or enjoy myself. I dont like things which inhibit my ability to think or make decisions. I like who I am sober/drug free and I am stubborn to the point where I am not going to change that to "fit in".

Funny, I do.

Seriously, maybe it's from being in the Marines years ago.. but I like beer very much so. I don't get hammered anymore, but a few beers on the weekends and definitely on golf night. In fact, is there a better beer than at a baseball game?


Todd

[Ragone]

I don't drink/smoke at all.. its a person preference.. and i feel the money i've saved from not doing so allows me to spend it on my other vices.. video games

[samifan24]

I am 22 and have never drank in my life. I don't intend to, either. I decided not to drink for personal reasons when I was younger. As I grew older there was a time during which I despised my friends for drinking, but I've grown out of that stage now.

As a resident assistant for two years and a residence director for a year in college, I've seen plenty of people who drank too much and made poor decisions. I know that many people drink responsibily and I commend them for it, but my college memories are filled with taking care of other people. My drinking is a personal choice and I'm happy with that choice.

[Danny]

Originally Posted by MattJones4Heisman

I also don't enjoy being around people that have been drinking or are drinking.

Edit. when I said I felt about the same, I meant being around people who are drunk or are drinking to get drunk. I dont have a problem with being around people who have a beer or order some drink at a restaurant.

[korme]

it seems that the people that didn't drink until they were 21 were the ones that don't like beer.. i guess when i started drinking, beer was the only option so you just get it down. but now, beer tastes great. acquired taste for sure.

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by MattJones4Heisman

Pretty much me spot on. To answer a later question, I don't look down on someone else who does drink, but I am slightly disappointed that they don't see it the way I do. None of my close friends drink. Very few in what I would call the next tier of friends do. If someone I'm with starts to drink, I will just leave. I also don't enjoy being around people that have been drinking or are drinking.

Not to start a war on this, but c'mon man. Seems a wee bit extreme there. Your choice to not drink is your choice, but is there a particular reason you feel THAT uncomfortable around someone just having a drink?

[FBPro]

Don't need it to feel good or escape, don't like the taste.

[yabanci]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Heroin is also illeagel, don't try to create an argument by comparing apples and oranges

I wasn't comparing apples and oranges, I was advocating the use of more effective relaxation techniques.

[Ryche]

If I didn't like the taste I wouldn't drink. I don't drink wine or liquor for that reason. Don't drink stuff like Bud or Coors anymore for the same reason. I never liked the taste or smell of cigarettes or pot too, so I always avoided those.

But there are few things I think taste better than a good beer.

[Cringer]

Hmm. I do not drink very much, and Ido not really know why. Lately I have been having beer a little more often but not very much compared to many.

I love beer, especially the darker ales. I love the taste, it has nothing to do with getting drunk or buzzed. That was when I was 15-19. I was drunk quite often during those times. Threw keggers, went to keggers, it was all about the kegs. And the only wine I have ever had also came during that time, Boone's and Mad Dog 20/20 (more turpentine then wine I think).

Guess I burned myself out early on. Between working on the road (in which I cant and never drink) and my small time home, I just don't have enough time to worry if I have beer or not to drink every night.

Been a while since I had vodka too, about 7-9 years.

[sooner333]

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

it seems that the people that didn't drink until they were 21 were the ones that don't like beer.. i guess when i started drinking, beer was the only option so you just get it down. but now, beer tastes great. acquired taste for sure.

Yeah, is it wrong when you don't mind, even kind of like Keystone Light?

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by sooner333

Yeah, is it wrong when you don't mind, even kind of like Keystone Light?

Yes.

Friends don't let friends drink shit beer.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Ragone

I don't drink/smoke at all.. its a person preference.. and i feel the money i've saved from not doing so allows me to spend it on my other vices.. video games

A man after my own heart

That and since I'm allergic to smoke, I'd hack up a lung.

As for drinking, I like a good glass of wine every once in a while (ever been to the local wineries, Ragone? there is one in particular that's pretty good). I'm poor so it's not as if I can afford good alcohol tho if anyone's offering- I'll have a drink and, well, bad hard liquor tastes like ass unless it's in something (I had a roommate who used to drink McCormick vodka so you can only imagine how I arrived at that conclusion). Nothing against drinking, but then there's getting drunk...

To the question asked earlier, yeah, I look down a bit on people who need to get drunk to have fun. The drunks I've been around are either prone to being stupid or surly or whatever when drunk and then afterwords come back to apologize for something stupid/surly/whatever they did. Have some accountability- you're going to act differently when enebriated so just don't so it.

SI

[korme]

Originally Posted by sooner333

Yeah, is it wrong when you don't mind, even kind of like Keystone Light?

after the first taste of nati with a little sting to it, it goes down pretty easily. heh.

[Radii]

Too expensive, doesn't taste good, don't like being drunk, plus when I do drink I get tired real quickly. If I did drink i'd be a boring drunk.

[hhiipp]

I used to go out to the bar every so often, the reason I don't really drink now is because of the way I feel the following day. To me it's not worth it to feel good for a couple hours and feel like shit the entire next day.

[hhiipp]

Originally Posted by Radii

Too expensive, doesn't taste good, don't like being drunk, plus when I do drink I get tired real quickly. If I did drink i'd be a boring drunk.

I'm also a tired drunk, drink 5-6 beers, feeling good, 30 minutes later I'm ready for bed while for everyone else the 'party' is just starting.

[sooner333]

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

after the first taste of nati with a little sting to it, it goes down pretty easily. heh.

Booooooo! Nati is far worse. Granted, I'm finally getting to the point where I'll go a tier up from stones and nati and up to Bud Light or Coors Light. I'm willing to get 6 fewer beers for the same price for a slight bump up in taste.

[Cringer]

Originally Posted by hhiipp

I'm also a tired drunk, drink 5-6 beers, feeling good, 30 minutes later I'm ready for bed while for everyone else the 'party' is just starting.

That just means when you get to 5-6 beers, you need to drink about 10 more to get you over that hump.

[timmynausea]

Bell's is the best beer.

[MJ4H]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

Not to start a war on this, but c'mon man. Seems a wee bit extreme there. Your choice to not drink is your choice, but is there a particular reason you feel THAT uncomfortable around someone just having a drink?

Yes. I don't like the effect it has on people's bodies, mind, self-control, etc. I don't want to be around people that are under that sort of external influence because it makes me uncomfortable. I also don't want to feel pressured by them to drink (it won't make me drink, it will just piss me off). It is just a situation I choose not to have in my life. Luckily it is very, very rarely an issue for me. Most of the people I hang out with feel the same way.

[Schmidty]

Personally, I prefer peyote. If I can't get that, I huff Elmers.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by MattJones4Heisman

Yes. I don't like the effect it has on people's bodies, mind, self-control, etc. I don't want to be around people that are under that sort of external influence because it makes me uncomfortable. I also don't want to feel pressured by them to drink (it won't make me drink, it will just piss me off). It is just a situation I choose not to have in my life. Luckily it is very, very rarely an issue for me. Most of the people I hang out with feel the same way.

Same here. I never drink at home anymore and back when I did, it was an occassional sippin' juice type stuff. I think going to local bars is stupid, not so much because of the bar but because of the people that are there and how they are acting. I would much rather spend the time going to a nice restaurant. However, I do drink the couple of times a year that I travel - esp. when I go to Las Vegas. Don't have to worry about driving or getting around and it seems to be the thing to do. But then again, I am not 21-32 anymore and back then, I was like many of you.

[TLK]

I'm starting to think an FOFC gathering would be rather boring.....

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by TheLionKing

I'm starting to think an FOFC gathering would be rather boring.....

It's Saturday night. Do the math.

[gstelmack]

1) I hate the taste. When I was a kid I was given tastes of beer, wine, and champaign and could not stand any of them.

2) I never understood why kids in high school thought it was so cool that someone was puking in the bathtub all night at a party. Throwing up is one of the worst feelings in the world, and I have no clue why anyone would bring that on themselves voluntarily.

I am perfectly fine with people who have a drink or two now and then. I feel the same way about people who intentionally go out and get drunk the same way I do about people who smoke: fine, it's your choice, but why one earth would you want to do something like that to yourself?

[FBPro]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

1) I hate the taste. When I was a kid I was given tastes of beer, wine, and champaign and could not stand any of them.

2) I never understood why kids in high school thought it was so cool that someone was puking in the bathtub all night at a party. Throwing up is one of the worst feelings in the world, and I have no clue why anyone would bring that on themselves voluntarily.

I am perfectly fine with people who have a drink or two now and then. I feel the same way about people who intentionally go out and get drunk the same way I do about people who smoke: fine, it's your choice, but why one earth would you want to do something like that to yourself?

Concur, nicely put.

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

it seems that the people that didn't drink until they were 21 were the ones that don't like beer..

I started drinking (read: getting wasted) on a regular basis when I was 18 (and in college). I've always hated the taste of beer, but during my early drinking days, I tolerated it. Once i moved up to drinking pretty hard stuff, I have basically given up all beer.

But I don't drink much anymore. I've built up a huge tolerance to alcohol and can barely even get buzzed no matter how much alcohol I drink.

[kcchief19]

Me three with gstelmack and FBPro. I hate the taste. Why waste good money drinking stuff that to me tastes like piss. Not everyone likes everything. There are bound to be people who don't like alcohol just as there are people who don't like chocolate.

The only thing about being a non-drinker with drinkers is that there are certain "types" of drinkers that annoy me. For instance, I was out with four women from work the other night and they all wanted to find something I would like. They struck out all night long, but it didn't stop them. I don't like it -- deal with it.

Then there are the drinkers who drink beyond the point of "feeling good" and start to either act stupid or throw up on my shoes. I make fun of the first group until they get made at me because frankly I feel if you're going to act stupid you deserve to be mocked and ridiculed.

The second group I don't care for at all. Once in college because you're young and stupid isn't OK, but I'll let it slide. Do it when you're 30 and you're just a pathetic loser. Learn to practice some self control.

[Coffee Warlord]

Oh, and btw. I drink pretty regularly, but it's almost always a matter of...head to the bar, drink a pint or two of Guinness, shoot the shit with the regulars & staff, take my leave.

I've gotten actually drunk perhaps 3 or 4 times in the last year. Don't drink to get drunk, drink 'cause I enjoy Guinness, and the social aspects of sitting at a bar and talking with folks. I'm almost ALWAYS gone before the little kiddies arrive. Much prefer a quiet bar with a handful of nice people there.

Prolly why I'm still single. Most of the women arrive long after it becomes "too many damn people here" time.

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by sooner333

Yeah, is it wrong when you don't mind, even kind of like Keystone Light?

I remember one party I was at in college. It was getting late and I started noticing people go to the frig, open it and then close it without taking anything out. I thought all of the beer must have been gone. I get curious and went to look (since I was drinking vodka and didn't care if the bear was gone). I just let out an "Ah" when I opened it and noticed at least a dozen cans of Keystone Light. I sat back down and downed another shot of vodka.

[cthomer5000]

What else is there to do?

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

just as there are people who don't like chocolate.

Get out of town!

[Schmidty]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

It's Saturday night. Do the math.

3 year-old + Wife =

Do the math.






I'm actually not bored though. what does that say about me?

[lighthousekeeper]

but without alcohol, how does everyone else around here escape the reality of their pathetic lives??













oh right, sport sims.

[Ryche]

I've always liked the taste of beer, I remember stealing sips of my dad's beer when I was only like 5. It was like pop but better. *shrug*

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by Schmidty

I'm actually not bored though. what does that say about me?

Heh. No wife, no kid, still didn't go out. Didn't feel like it.

On the flipside, I'm moderately bored. I haven't touched World of Warcraft in over a week, messed around with the Sims 2 briefly before I decided to call it, and I think it's time to resort to digging through my damn near 100 DVD's...and still not find anything I wanna watch.