Food, Drink & Dining Out Alcohol

[bunsen burner]

I think people confuse 'not drinking to get drunk' with 'drinking with the intention of staying sober (generally enough to drive a car)'.

From the OP perspective - definitely not.

I'm talking about people who clearly imply they are above people who drink to get drunk. They aren't referring to have a few beers after sport, or a wine with dinner, or limiting consumption in order to drive.

They are saying: I go out on a Saturday night to pubs, friends houses for gatherings, parties etc and I enjoy a few drinks but don't get drunk.

It's essentially people either trying to imply they have some class (misplaced anyway), or have some sort of insecurity about admitting using a drug to get high (i believe that's what it was made for)

 

[Tulip]

It's all about context really. Last night was the first Saturday this month I didn't drink, but each of the three before that I did.

Three weeks ago, there was a huge party on and I drank a huge amount. Unfortunately, a friend and I had suffered a falling out earlier that day so the drink, which I had intended to be something that took me away from that for a few hours, had me feeling the hurt more without being particularly drunk; despite having well exceeded my limit.

Two weeks ago, another party - did a couple of shots and then drunk beer after beer while talking with a couple of mates, barely even noticing what I was doing: Ending up stumbling into bed at 2am off my face and woke up with a bad one.

Last week was a mate's birthday, couple of pear ciders over dinner - no intention of getting drunk.

It's really about where you are and who you're with. Generally though, I drink to get drunk.

 

[Cruyff14]

From the OP perspective - definitely not.

I'm talking about people who clearly imply they are above people who drink to get drunk. They aren't referring to have a few beers after sport, or a wine with dinner, or limiting consumption in order to drive.

They are saying: I go out on a Saturday night to pubs, friends houses for gatherings, parties etc and I enjoy a few drinks but don't get drunk.

It's essentially people either trying to imply they have some class (misplaced anyway), or have some sort of insecurity about admitting using a drug to get high (i believe that's what it was made for)

How old are you BB?

In my younger years, 18-21, I would drink to get drunk.

Now I drink to relax and enjoy myself and loosen up a bit. I went out on Friday, I had two drinks and I was happy with that. I had no intention of getting smashed, and I haven't been extremely drunk since NYE.

Generally when I go out now, I have two or three, four at the absolute max. I enjoy conversation now rather than getting blind and laughing at stupid shit. Give me a chair, a table and my friends and I could have one drink and be satisfied.

I'm over it. It costs too much, you feel like shit the next day and you can spend your money on better things.

Having said that, I am going out for my birthday next week, in which I will be hammered.

 

[Rioli magic]

From the OP perspective - definitely not.

I'm talking about people who clearly imply they are above people who drink to get drunk. They aren't referring to have a few beers after sport, or a wine with dinner, or limiting consumption in order to drive.

They are saying: I go out on a Saturday night to pubs, friends houses for gatherings, parties etc and I enjoy a few drinks but don't get drunk.

It's essentially people either trying to imply they have some class (misplaced anyway), or have some sort of insecurity about admitting using a drug to get high (i believe that's what it was made for)

Or it's just people who have a few drinks but don't get drunk, without implying anything to do with class or having any insecurities.

I haven't been drunk in years, I still socialize with pissheads, I don't give a shit what they get up to and I have nothing to admit to as I don't get drunk.

Sounds like you're a bit insecure TBH.

 

[Cruyff14]

lol and I have never thought I am more classy for drinking not to get drunk.

OP has given this way too much thought.

 

[bunsen burner]

How old are you BB?

Already posted. 40-ish

Now I drink to relax and enjoy myself and loosen up a bit. I went out on Friday, I had two drinks and I was happy with that. I had no intention of getting smashed, and I haven't been extremely drunk since NYE.

I never said anything about drinking to get smashed (which i did every weekend from 15 to 21)

Sometimes I go 3 months without drinking, sometimes a month, quite often I go weekends without alcohol. But when I do drink with a close set of friends at a social gathering my intentions are:

a) I'll have either 8 cans of premix bourbon (controlling the dose), or up to half a bottle of bourbon or gin
b) I'll be catching a taxi home

This is not getting smashed (although it does happen a couple of times a year).

All I'm saying is that alcohol is a drug and that's one of it's functions. I can only roll my eyes at the people who do the "i go out and socialise but don't drink to get drunk".

 

[bunsen burner]

Or it's just people who have a few drinks but don't get drunk, without implying anything to do with class or having any insecurities.

I haven't been drunk in years, I still socialize with pissheads, I don't give a shit what they get up to and I have nothing to admit to as I don't get drunk.

Sounds like you're a bit insecure TBH.

Insecure? Obviously you haven't seen enough of my work on BF. I'm quite open and comfortable with my drug taking habits. I thought that was pretty obvious.

Not buying the "don't get drunk" rubbish. Some people, but not near as many as the people i hear utter.

 

[Oh Tayteridge]

Australia has a culture of binge drinking, likewise the UK, where generally the aim when you go out to a pub or club is to get as hammered as possible and write yourself off.

I noticed in the US and some countries in Europe there isn't as much of a binge drinking culture. In the States you would often see people in bars just having a few drinks without the intention of getting shitfaced. I remember being at a bar in San Diego and there was a group of Aussies and Poms in one section of the bar all getting hammered and being all rowdy while the rest of the bar was yanks having a few quiet drinks and looking horrified at us yobbos. They can't understand how much we drink or why we write ourselves off just about everytime we drink.

Also made the mistake of getting in a round with some American blokes once and they would drink way too slowly, I had finished my beer and they had only taken a few sips. Had to get out of the round and just buy my own drinks or I wouldn't have gotten drunk at all.

Couldn't disagree more. Australia definitely has a culture of binge drinking, but I'm in the US, San Diego in fact, right now and every time I've been drinking with Americans they've been trying to get absolutely smashed. They do it differently though- they're all about shots and getting ****ed up quickly. Back home we'll drink progressively over a long period of time, whereas here they start drinking at 10pm and are ****ed by 12.

Considering it's the college scene for me it's probably a different experience to what you've seen, and Australians definitely can drink a lot more than most yanks- but everything I've seen from younger Americans is an inclination to get as ****ed as possible as quickly as possible.

Also, marijuana is pretty much legalised over here so I think that's often used instead of alcohol.

 

[Cruyff14]

Already posted. 40-ish



I never said anything about drinking to get smashed (which i did every weekend from 15 to 21)

Sometimes I go 3 months without drinking, sometimes a month, quite often I go weekends without alcohol. But when I do drink with a close set of friends at a social gathering my intentions are:

a) I'll have either 8 cans of premix bourbon (controlling the dose), or up to half a bottle of bourbon or gin
b) I'll be catching a taxi home

This is not getting smashed (although it does happen a couple of times a year).

All I'm saying is that alcohol is a drug and that's one of it's functions. I can only roll my eyes at the people who do the "i go out and socialise but don't drink to get drunk".

You seem to have the mentality of someone young.

I know plenty of people who drink not to get drunk.

 

[pekay-norwest]

Taste?

Once you get to the age where sugar-packed stuff is too sickly sweet to enjoy on a regular basis, there aren't actually that many enjoyable alternatives that don't have alcohol in them.

Certain types of alcohol you'd have to be a moron to drink to get drunk. For example, anyone who drinks 15 year old single malt scotch to the point of getting plastered has way too much money.

I reckon 80-90% of the time I have a drink, the fact that it happens to be alcoholic is pretty incidental to the decision. In fact, most of the time it's more an inconvenience than a benefit (since I have to watch my intake if driving, etc.).

I find myself reading your posts in Doc Holliday's twang. Always.

 

[Plugger35]

Couldn't disagree more. Australia definitely has a culture of binge drinking, but I'm in the US, San Diego in fact, right now and every time I've been drinking with Americans they've been trying to get absolutely smashed. They do it differently though- they're all about shots and getting ****ed up quickly. Back home we'll drink progressively over a long period of time, whereas here they start drinking at 10pm and are ****ed by 12.

Considering it's the college scene for me it's probably a different experience to what you've seen, and Australians definitely can drink a lot more than most yanks- but everything I've seen from younger Americans is an inclination to get as ****ed as possible as quickly as possible.

Also, marijuana is pretty much legalised over here so I think that's often used instead of alcohol.

That's true that there is a binge drinking culture in the US college scene but I don't think they have a binge drinking culture in general society like Australia does. Most Americans tend to grow out of binge drinking when they leave college but Australians tend to be binge drinkers beyond their teenage years/early 20s.

 

[Daytripper]

Don't know what the OP is on about.

There are plenty of people who like to just have a glass of wine with dinner or a champagne to celebrate a happy occasion.

Me personally, I tend to not get drunk at all these days. On a Friday night I might have a couple of stubbies and same on a Saturday/Sunday. So basically 6 stubbies over a weekend over 3 days.

I enjoy having a beer on hot days too. Seems to go down really well.

If you're drinking purely to get drunk, then you've got a problem.

 

[crazyman27]

Australia's drinking culture has got to be good for the economy. Rock on alcohol!!!

 

[edgie]

over the last 2 nights i've had in total half a bottle of rum (bout 10 standard drinks) to chill out after work and watch a funny show. Haven't been drinking to get drunk but dont have the intention of staying sober either. Maybe i'm getting the hang of that 'moderation' stuff. I don't see the appeal anymore of intentionally wiping yourself out, i get sick before i get 'maggot' or whatever in people call it these days

 

[Hap Hapablap]

l rarely drink Alcohol l dont even know when l had my last drink.l just dont enjoy it no where as near as much as l used to.

i fall under that category, havent had a drink since feb last year. just doesnt do it for me anymore. i used to smash it at uni back in the day but now its really doesnt faze me.

 

[edgie]

Do you think people who go to uni and people who move straight in to work develop different alcohol consumption habits/attitudes?

 

[The_Reaper]

Do you think people who go to uni and people who move straight in to work develop different alcohol consumption habits/attitudes?

People in uni drink cheaper stuff?

Nobody drinks goon for the taste.

 

[bunsen burner]

Don't know what the OP is on about.

There are plenty of people who like to just have a glass of wine with dinner or a champagne to celebrate a happy occasion

comprehension. Not your strong point.

If you're drinking purely to get drunk, then you've got a problem.

what problem? Care to clarify?

 

[edgie]

People in uni drink cheaper stuff?

Nobody drinks goon for the taste.

Hahaha, I actually use to make a pretty good goon cocktail but I can't remember, funnily enough. I gave it up cause goon hangovers are the worst for me. I didn't go to uni either.

CHECK THAT, just remembered it was goon (golden oak fruity lexia to be specific) and coke. Taste kinda like Iced Tea. Pretty generous calling it a cocktail considering it's got a massive 2 ingredients.

 

[bunsen burner]

over the last 2 nights i've had in total half a bottle of rum (bout 10 standard drinks) to chill out after work and watch a funny show. Haven't been drinking to get drunk but dont have the intention of staying sober either. Maybe i'm getting the hang of that 'moderation' stuff. I don't see the appeal anymore of intentionally wiping yourself out, i get sick before i get 'maggot' or whatever in people call it these days

You're implying you dont see a difference between getting drunk and getting shitfaced. I notice you're not the only one who considers them one in the same. Not sure why.

 

[Daytripper]

.

what problem? Care to clarify?

An alcohol problem.

 

[fairdinkum]

An alcohol problem.

Almost a tautology, I would have thought.

 

[edgie]

You're implying you dont see a difference between getting drunk and getting shitfaced. I notice you're not the only one who considers them one in the same. Not sure why.

Well it would take a lot of educated or inebriated minds to come up with a formal scale but I do see a difference.

I find it weird, I don't realise I'm drunk until I'm shitfaced, and by then it's too late. So to me they go hand in hand. To use a metaphor, if the speed limit is 60 and you're doing 61 or so you may not realise you are speeding, but by the time you creep up to 70 and more you'd probably start to think "hang on, I seem to be traveling at excess speed"

 

[bunsen burner]

I find it weird, I don't realise I'm drunk until I'm shitfaced, and by then it's too late. So to me they go hand in hand. To use a metaphor, if the speed limit is 60 and you're doing 61 or so you may not realise you are speeding, but by the time you creep up to 70 and more you'd probably start to think "hang on, I seem to be traveling at excess speed"

This happens less and less as you get older.

Someone else in thread mentioned they don't get drunk anymore because of the hangovers. I rarely get shitfaced because of the hangovers. I quite like getting shitfaced but the hangover makes it not worth it.

In the last few years I have switched to pre mix bourbon. Costs more, not quite as nice, but at least i can control the dose. I know on a Friday night if I go around to friends' houses and take 8, that's enough to be drunk with a hangover that won't impede my saturday.

I also know if I take 4, I'll finish them and want more. But if I take a bottle a mixer, I might drink 1/3 of a bottle, 1/2 a bottle, or if they're going down well I just might do the whole lot (and regret it the next day).

Another way I control my dose is if I have guest over and drink from a bottle I use a measuring nip. Doesn't reduce the number of drinks but does stop me pouring 70% alcohol 30% mixer drinks.

But going around to friends houses on the weekend for bbq or dinner and drinks, I don't see a point in having a few (unless I have to drive, work the next day, have a headache etc). It's like having a root and not coming.

 

[fairdinkum]

But going around to friends houses on the weekend for bbq or dinner and drinks, I don't see a point in having a few (unless I have to drive, work the next day, have a headache etc). It's like having a root and not coming.

Well said, good analogy.