Alcohol (as a social phenomenon) thread

[~ P O L A R I S ~]

To catalogue and compare your favourite booze, post here: http://forum.yugiohcardmaker.net/topic/346296-alcohol-thread/

 

This thread isn't so much about how booze makes you feel, but rather how you feel about booze. 

 

I'm not totally unintrigued by alcohol and the idea of experimenting with results/tastes/comfortable limits, but for a number of reasons I haven't tried it at the age of 20. The main one I tend to cite is my high school friend getting drunk and jumping in front of a train to meet his untimely demise at 17, though my maternal grandfather's nasty habit of getting drunk and beating his wife and kids probably plays a bigger part in why I don't drink. I really wouldn't want to see myself uninhibited to the point of hurting people I'd never want to (he did eventually quit entirely for that reason). I don't imagine I'm the only one with traumas related to cases of irresponsible drinking, so if you'd like to talk about them here feel free to. 

 

I spent a year on residence at university and saw a lot of posturing over who could drink whom under the table from large men and tiny women alike. Parties involving a combination of physiological retardation and probably-insincere exchanges of romantic gestures didn't appeal to me either. I'd like to think that if I ever were to start drinking I'd be level-headed about it, but how often does well-intended drinking spiral and go awry (especially in places like colleges and bars)? How can one ensure that they drink responsibly when drinking itself undermines one's ability to drink responsibly? Does it really taste that good compared to non-alcoholic beverages, or does taste come secondary to how it makes you feel? 

 

I don't mean to chastise anyone or suggest that sobriety is the optimal way to navigate alcohol. For those who do drink I'm curious as to how you'd outline your experiences with alcohol to someone who's never tried it, whether or not you'd recommend it and in what circumstances. For those who don't, what's kept you from doing so? I doubt I'd take it up anytime soon, but stories and sentiments would be appreciated as I can't really relate to bottle collections. 

[Aerion Brightflame]

I am a student living in the UK; Alcohol is a significant part of my social environment as a result. I don't really drink that much booze when it's not a social enviroment, because whilst I find being drunk fun, drinking itself isn't especially pleasurable without the enviroment around it. I never really thought I would drink before Uni, but I'm glad I was willing to try it, because it's pretty entertaining. 

 

Like anything, there's gonna be good times or bad times involved with it. It's a coin flip a lot of the time. I've had a good share of amazing nights and a share of shitty ones. 

 

I would personally recommend everyone to do it at least once as a social activity, because it's an interesting expierence, but you don't miss anything out by not drinking alcohol. And I don't mean go out to a club or anything; I've had great nights just joking around with friends in someones back garden whilst we drank steadily. 

[Catman25]

I've been at college 3 years, I'm so socially inept I haven't even seen a single alcoholic beverage let alone consumed one

[Wahrheit]

Alcoholism is a proud legal tradition.

 

I started drinking in college when I got invited to my first party and realized that as long as you're responsible about it, it's not nearly as bad as it's made out to be. The incidents you hear of are the most extreme edge cases of people not being responsible. There's a time and place for that, and it's called Bar Review. I'm still hungover from last night.

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

It turns decent people into sorry despicable excuses for people

[Wahrheit]

It turns decent people into sorry despicable excuses for people

My experience is just the opposite.

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

My experience is just the opposite.

Rape "culture" has gotten worse in recent years

[Wahrheit]

Rape "culture" has gotten worse in recent years

You know I JUST graduated, right? And I'm in graduate school?

 

Rape is awful and alcohol contributes to it, and I in no way want to minimize its atrocities, but it just so happens that the vast majority (say, 99.9999%+) of people consuming alcohol on a daily basis neither commit nor are victims of rape.

[epicmemesbro]

Well I can't legally drink still for starters, however I have no desire to do so. I've been pressured once to drink a few years ago, but I turned it down. I guess I want to have control over my judgment at all times, or perhaps its that several members in my family, like my grampa, and my uncles, where alcoholics. All I recall from their drinking endeavors where that it tended to result in bad memories. I accidently drank an alcoholic beverage as a kid, and barfed; That could be another reason.

[Thar]

I've been at college 3 years, I'm so socially inept I haven't even seen a single alcoholic beverage let alone consumed one

 

That's good, cause it's never a good idea to drink alone, especially when you don't know your limits.

[LordCowCowCowCowCowCowCowCow]

Drinking makes me extremely uncomfortable because my parents are both alcoholic, as well as several other family members. An aunt died because of drunk driving, and in general it's torn my family to pieces and I think it's disgusting to do overall.

Though if people can do it responsibly more power to them, no problem with that, and I've had a couple drinks before. Just not something I'm fond of in any way because of the risks I've seen due to experiences.

[Thar]

Drinking makes me extremely uncomfortable because my parents are both alcoholic, as well as several other family members. An aunt died because of drunk driving, and in general it's torn my family to pieces and I think it's disgusting to do overall.

Though if people can do it responsibly more power to them, no problem with that, and I've had a couple drinks before. Just not something I'm fond of in any way because of the risks I've seen due to experiences.

 

Sorry to hear that about your family. I myself can frown upon that kind of drinking, and part of me is ashamed to do it even though I would never drive or cause a public scene under the influence.

[Shalltear Bloodfallen]

I'm kindof in a weird spot when it comes to drinking, because I'm of the firm mindset that "if you need booze to have fun, you're having fun in the wrong way", but at the same time since I started drinking I can see some value in it as long as it's being done in heavy moderation and you can trust the people around you if things are beginning to go to far.

 

For instance I only ever drink at the bar our uni student council manages because then I'm around people I have complete confidence can and will stop me just incase I go to far. Although I still drink with extreme moderation, because I'm not after getting drunk.

What I want is to relax (which is why I mostly only drink after finals week), and that is quick to kick in :P

 

If you're in a social enviroment with people that can and will stop you from doing something stupid, then fine, I wont complain.

But even the idea of drinking at home makes me sick, because I see it as a clear sign of addiction.