Alcohol

[StarlightSerenity]

It makes me laugh how some people say 'they never will' drink alcohol; give it time. Everyone dislikes the taste of alcohol the first few times, it is normal.

Yes, I do drink alcohol, I am a student, what do you expect! :3
My favourite drink's would be straight Whiskey or Rum. But I do enjoy my lager (Beer).​

If you have too much of everything it is bad for you.​

Makes me laugh too. How on earth can someone who is, for example, 12 years old, be adamant that they will never drink?

I used to say I would never smoke, now I smoke 20 a day, I used to say boys were yucky and that I would never like one, guess what? I live with a guy (my bf).

*mini rant over* >.<

 

[Oryx]

It makes me laugh how some people say 'they never will' drink alcohol; give it time. Everyone dislikes the taste of alcohol the first few times, it is normal.​

​

Lol agreed 100x. This thread just reminded me so much of when I was young and super closed-minded and said "I've never drank, don't know anything about what drinking is like, don't have any experiences to work off of, but I'm never drinking because I know everything and drinking is evil bad not good!"

I still don't drink regularly, there's not too much of a chance with classes and stuff, but I'm open to the idea. And I've never actually been drunk, because by the time I grew out of the "alcohol is bad I know everything" phase there weren't many drinking chances.

 

[BenjiTheKid]

I cannot tell a lie, I have drank and I have been drunk. However, I've made a recent subconscious decision not to ever touch alcohol again. I've seen first hand what it can do to one and the ones they love. And honestly, I don't want to chance it. I have an addictive personality plus drinking problems run in my family- on both sides. For the people on my mind right now... it started as drinking socially. But now, it's not just drinking socially.

Also, plenty of people say they'll never touch alcohol and never do. You don't need alcohol to be social. Not even wine. I can be social without drinking. And in fact, prefer it. I'd rather have full memories over fragments. You can pretend the fragments matter, but in twenty years it will be the full memories you treasure most and you'll regret not being able to recall all the fragments.

This subject can be a bit personal for me, though, so I'll leave it at that.

 

[Shining Raichu]

It's starting to seem to me that the people who choose not to drink are being laughed down off our supposed 'high horses'.

This is sort of like telling someone with kids that you don't want kids, only to be met with their ever-so-condescending reply, "oh, you will one day." No. Not everyone wants to be a parent, and not everyone wants to be a drinker.

 

[BenjiTheKid]

It's starting to seem to me that the people who choose not to drink are being laughed down off our supposed 'high horses'.

This is sort of like telling someone with kids that you don't want kids, only to be met with their ever-so-condescending reply, "oh, you will one day." No. Not everyone wants to be a parent, and not everyone wants to be a drinker.

I'm kind of getting that feeling, too. And the assumption that we're all young. When I'm definitely not 12.

 

[Oryx]

It's starting to seem to me that the people who choose not to drink are being laughed down off our supposed 'high horses'.

This is sort of like telling someone with kids that you don't want kids, only to be met with their ever-so-condescending reply, "oh, you will one day."

Not quite the same. It's not like you can have a kid and then decide you don't want kids afterwards, which you can for alcohol. With children, you're forced to make the decision without any firsthand experience.

In my opinion, especially if you're not at drinking age yet but it still applies to people over it, if you've never even tried alcohol once, you don't have enough data to make that decision. Unlike with children, you're able to gather data such as trying alcohol in a safe environment to see if you actually enjoy it. But instead of gathering data, many people here just choose to make the decision with little to no firsthand information, making the decision very ill-informed and not likely to hold up very well if they ever actually try it.

I can only speak from my own personal experience, and I used to be on my own high horse when I was younger. I would disdain to even touch alcohol, thinking that people who did at my age were stupid and no one should ever drink and I would never let alcohol touch my lips. Now I look back on that and think how closed-minded I was, when I thought I was completely open and non-judgmental.

It's different if someone has tried alcohol and decided that they're just not interested for whatever reason, but making the decision without firsthand experience when you have access to firsthand experience seems very illogical to me.

 

[StarlightSerenity]

It's starting to seem to me that the people who choose not to drink are being laughed down off our supposed 'high horses'.

This is sort of like telling someone with kids that you don't want kids, only to be met with their ever-so-condescending reply, "oh, you will one day."

You misunderstood my post, all I was implying that someone of a young age cant for sure say that they will never drink (but then again, no one can say they will never do such and such etc...). Mostly because as you get older (think back to when you were 10-14) alcohol wasnt addressed, wasnt consumed around you and was always labelled as a big bad thing that you should never go near. Children/young teens, develop a negative opinion of alcohol without ever really experiencing it.

Why do you think that there is such a problem with binge drinking? Teens who have had a negative opinion of alcohol because its been drilled into them that booze is evil, rebel against their parents, teachers, life in general and turn to that big bad thing - alcohol. Exactly the same where sex is concerned.

The above is exactly why I will always work to "demystify" alcohol where my children (future children...) are concerned, explaining both the good and the bad aspects to it. Same with sex, drugs etc etc. They can then make their own minds up whether or not these things are good or bad or just plain neutral.

 

[Shining Raichu]

Not quite the same. It's not like you can have a kid and then decide you don't want kids afterwards, which you can for alcohol. With children, you're forced to make the decision without any firsthand experience.

In my opinion, especially if you're not at drinking age yet but it still applies to people over it, if you've never even tried alcohol once, you don't have enough data to make that decision. Unlike with children, you're able to gather data such as trying alcohol in a safe environment to see if you actually enjoy it. But instead of gathering data, many people here just choose to make the decision with little to no firsthand information, making the decision very ill-informed and not likely to hold up very well if they ever actually try it.

I can only speak from my own personal experience, and I used to be on my own high horse when I was younger. I would disdain to even touch alcohol, thinking that people who did at my age were stupid and no one should ever drink and I would never let alcohol touch my lips. Now I look back on that and think how closed-minded I was, when I thought I was completely open and non-judgmental.

It's different if someone has tried alcohol and decided that they're just not interested for whatever reason, but making the decision without firsthand experience when you have access to firsthand experience seems very illogical to me.

I'm not judging people for drinking; if I did, I would find it incredibly hard to work in a liquor store. I simply choose not to, I don't need the data; it's irrelevant to me. I never started drinking, I don't miss it, it's simply not something I'm interested in trying. I've been legal drinking age for over two years now, constantly surrounding myself with alcohol and never touching a drop of it. Not because I think it's icky or immoral (or even 'evil bad not good'), but simply because I choose not to.

What's bothering me is the condescension. The people who are indicating that they don't want to drink are being patted on the head as though by the creepy uncle at a bad family gathering and being told "oh how adorable is that, but trust me you will."

 

[Ces soirees-la]

I've had the option a few times but never took it up.
Recently there was a party on the weekend, and I'l list several things that happened to the drunks that further puts me off drinking in excess (which was almost everyone.)

1. There was this one girl, a friend of mine actually, that I had to hold up because she was off her face in the first 1/2 hour.
A mate of mine ended up hooking up with an ex after she asked him to smell her breath.
Said girl had just broken up with her jealous boyfriend, and my mate and I spent yesterday either avoiding him until he cornered him.
my friend owes me big time for the ass kicking that the guy received.
I have sweet bruises though.
3. A while back my girl friend and I ended up having to resuscitate
someone who fell in the pool and couldn't get out.
4. I've seen many fights, some that have resulted in serious assaults.
note: always try to break up a fight before the drunks start chanting.
tl;dr: Don't get too drunk.

 

[Sammi]

It's starting to seem to me that the people who choose not to drink are being laughed down off our supposed 'high horses'.

This is sort of like telling someone with kids that you don't want kids, only to be met with their ever-so-condescending reply, "oh, you will one day." No. Not everyone wants to be a parent, and not everyone wants to be a drinker.

That irritates me and I'm a drinker. :/ I understand there's a multitude of reasons why not to drink, and I respect that.

I have a great respect for people that choose not to drink. It's kind of hard to explain why. I think it's that there's just so much peer pressure surrounding alcohol and drinking at social events. It's not the kind of self-control I have, to say no.

Or maybe I'm a bit sad because I was one of those people that, as a kid, said "oh I'll never drink ever" or "I'll never get drunk" and I've done both. :p Although I don't really regret it.

 

[Nihilego]

What's bothering me is the condescension. The people who are indicating that they don't want to drink are being patted on the head as though by the creepy uncle at a bad family gathering and being told "oh how adorable is that, but trust me you will."

Haha, that's an amusing analogy.


Anyway. In all honesty I too am worried about the evident number of people in this thread giving the whole "never have, never will" response. I don't get how someone can base an opinion off something which they've never tried. I get that some of you are saying that you've had firsthand experience with stuff going wrong as a result of drinking but that shouldn't put you off of alcohol; it should just set an example of what you don't want to end up doing, in a way making you a more responsible drinker.

Really if you drink sensibly, nothing should go wrong and if you get a little too drunk then just enjoy it while it lasts and try to stay aware of what you're doing. Unless you think you can't be responsible I really can't see a reason not to drink socially. In moderated amounts, alcohol is so rarely dangerous.

 

[Percy Thrillington]

1 - As you touched on, I've found that people who start to drink (coming from my experience working in a liquor store) do begin to feel that they need it to have fun. I just think that is the saddest state ever for the world to be in: where people feel like they need to have their minds chemically altered to have a good time.

No, seriously. You can laugh if you want, but I will never drink. There are way more reasons for that than just tasting bad.

It's starting to seem to me that the people who choose not to drink are being laughed down off our supposed 'high horses'.

This is sort of like telling someone with kids that you don't want kids, only to be met with their ever-so-condescending reply, "oh, you will one day." No. Not everyone wants to be a parent, and not everyone wants to be a drinker.

I'm not judging people for drinking;

Looking at the above quoted posts... yes, you are. Which part of "It's starting to seem to me that the people who choose not to drink are being laughed down off our supposed 'high horses'" and "1 - As you touched on, I've found that people who start to drink (coming from my experience working in a liquor store) do begin to feel that they need it to have fun. I just think that is the saddest state ever for the world to be in: where people feel like they need to have their minds chemically altered to have a good time." doesn't involve judging people???

I simply choose not to, I don't need the data; it's irrelevant to me. I never started drinking, I don't miss it, it's simply not something I'm interested in trying. I've been legal drinking age for over two years now, constantly surrounding myself with alcohol and never touching a drop of it. Not because I think it's icky or immoral (or even 'evil bad not good'), but simply because I choose not to.

What's bothering me is the condescension. The people who are indicating that they don't want to drink are being patted on the head as though by the creepy uncle at a bad family gathering and being told "oh how adorable is that, but trust me you will."

Alright, here. If the data is 'irrelevant' to you, this thread should be 'irrelevant' to you. You can't not be interested in something as accessible as alcohol and refuse to try it but decide you'll never drink it because it doesn't look like a good idea to you. You cannot do that. That's just mind boggling from an objective debater's form of mind.

Seriously, you're justifying your responses to this thread with posts amongst the same logic as 'I work in a rehabilitation centre so I must know everything about drugs.'

But hey, my post ain't gonna change your mind. The only thing that may do that is if you conquer those INNER DEMONS and get a couple of drinks for yourself.

 

[Uecil]

I drink, but not a lot. Just once in a while and I don't think I've ever got drunk from drinking.

 

[Overlord Drakow]

I only drink a small quantity of alcohol when I have stomach pains - it helps balance the Ph levels.

Otherwise I do not drink - I refuse to be manipulated by alcohol.

 

[Esper]

I don't know why firsthand knowledge is so important here. I mean, it's a personal choice, for starters. Is it because people don't always follow through on their commitments? Granted, that does happen, but some of us do stay committed to that stance. I'll point to myself for example. Never been drunk, never had a full drink of alcohol, only sips to be polite and only for things like toasts at weddings. Probably all told it wouldn't even measure up to a full glass. I know it's not the perfect "I'll never have a single drop" idea, though if I'd had things my way it would've been except for people getting angry at me for trying to politely refuse. That's what I don't understand, why my (or someone else's) decision not to drink meets such hostility. Not saying it always happens, but it happens often enough. Why does anyone care and why does anyone feel the need to prove me wrong?

Not to get too far away from the topic, but I get this kind of response often enough for being a vegetarian. "Are you sure you won't have some?" "Why not?" and so on. It feels disrespectful in both instances.

But yeah, back on topic. A person doesn't need firsthand knowledge to decide they don't want to drink. There are tons of secondhand sources that are more than enough to base a reasonable, grounded decision on. Do we need to try marijuana or tobacco to know we don't want to smoke? Do I need to go to church to know religion isn't my thing? /rhetorical questions

 

[WriteThemWrong]

I completely respect people who choose not to drink. But until you actually do it, like at a party or something, people will just laugh at you and think you're being all high and mighty. It takes a lot of guts to say no.

It also seems like people have a misconception of alcohol. It's not all frat guys doing keg stands and getting so hammered they run down the street naked. You can have fun parties or get-togethers where people have some wines, maybe some mixed drinks, and everyone goes home safely. Don't let your preconceived notions about alcohol stop you from trying something different.

 

[King Of The Blues]

I don't drink alcohol and I'll never will. Why? It just doesn't interest me, and yes you can say, "wait till you get older" or "wait till you try it" but it just doesn't interest me, simple as.

I was offered a drink once by my Dad, he wouldn't have a problem with my drinking but I refused. It just doesn't interest me along with smoking.

If people have a hard time understanding that they came p!$$ off. lol

 

[Sydian]

It's starting to seem to me that the people who choose not to drink are being laughed down off our supposed 'high horses'.

This is sort of like telling someone with kids that you don't want kids, only to be met with their ever-so-condescending reply, "oh, you will one day." No. Not everyone wants to be a parent, and not everyone wants to be a drinker.

It's starting to seem that someone is taking things too seriously and needs to take a drink a chill pill.

Anyway, I've never had alcohol and don't really see what the fuss it about. It's uninteresting to me, plus I'm still underage. If I was with friends or actually went to social things, maybe I'd try it, cause like I said, I don't know what the fuss is about. What better way to find out than to try it out, eh?

As for other people drinking, I really don't care...unless it overruns your life and causes you to make poor decisions and your moderation is just out of control. I do enjoy it when I get lovely IMs from my drunken online buddies though. You guys are silly, if you're reading this. lol

 

[Xyrin]

I will never drink. My grandpa has never had a drink or smoked. And neither has my dad. I wouldn't like to break that tradition, I've got a religious family so I probably won't ever.

 

[TwilightBlade]

I've never had an alcoholic drink. I don't plan on drinking when I become 21. First hand experience? It doesn't get any more personal than seeing your family and friends ruining their lives because of over indulging.