What is the attraction of alcohol?
Discussion
I enjoy the occasional drink, I like having a drink in the pub with friend occasionally. However when talking to a close friend who is tea total and has never drunk in her life, I have difficulty in explaining why alcohol is so agreeable.
When I first drank I disliked the taste but persevered, some drinks I still don't like, she doesn't like the taste and can only see the bad side of drink.
For instance, she was raped by a drunk university friend, she was attacked by drunk older siblings when young, her ex husband was abusive when drunk.
So when I try to explain why alcohol is so agreeable she comes back with the above and cannot see the attraction of a drink that doesn't taste nice and makes you feel crap the next day.
Over to you.
When I first drank I disliked the taste but persevered, some drinks I still don't like, she doesn't like the taste and can only see the bad side of drink.
For instance, she was raped by a drunk university friend, she was attacked by drunk older siblings when young, her ex husband was abusive when drunk.
So when I try to explain why alcohol is so agreeable she comes back with the above and cannot see the attraction of a drink that doesn't taste nice and makes you feel crap the next day.
Over to you.
Many people think its acceptable to be on the phone whilst driving, and I have a problem with it as I know a biker who was killed by one. I dont know anyone who has been killed by a driving eating crisps, and I dont see the problem with eating crisps whilst driving, but others with a history otherwise will probably frown on me as I munch away on them in the traffic.
With that kind of history associated to alcohol im not surprised!
With that kind of history associated to alcohol im not surprised!
ewenm said:
So why do it? Because I like the taste. There's a difference between having a drink and getting/being drunk.
This.Like most people in my late teens and early 20's, I drank to get drunk, but now at 32 I have pretty much shunned every drink I don't actually enjoy.
I now very much enjoy the tastes of finer red and white wines, Vodka, and some other spirits. I can't stand cheap wines or spirits (or most beers) and more are rarely get 'completely pissed'.
I now drink because I find it refreshing, relaxing and as above the taste of finer booze.
I would be lying if I said I didn't also enjoy the slightly euphoric mental state and reduced stress levels that alcohol also causes
Reasons I like alcohol: lowers lack-of-confidence, makes me into some kind of social butterfly, yada yada.
Reasons I dislike it: Unrelated to the social-butterfly-aspect actually, but sometimes I get a bit generous with the "fine, my round" thing... (well, 2 times. Nowadays I take x amount of cash with me and no cards and it's self-limiting generosity. By the time I'm at the 'generous' stage I am unable to spend...). And the waking-up the next morning thing. Without fail I'm awake before 9, when pre-booze I was happy to lie in until 12... (I get so much more done on a boozy weekend as a result!)
Edit: Would like to note I drink primarily for the taste. Tried tequila shots, for example, they are foul. Lager is more my thing at this point in my life... (getting the gut and everything
)
Reasons I dislike it: Unrelated to the social-butterfly-aspect actually, but sometimes I get a bit generous with the "fine, my round" thing... (well, 2 times. Nowadays I take x amount of cash with me and no cards and it's self-limiting generosity. By the time I'm at the 'generous' stage I am unable to spend...). And the waking-up the next morning thing. Without fail I'm awake before 9, when pre-booze I was happy to lie in until 12... (I get so much more done on a boozy weekend as a result!)
Edit: Would like to note I drink primarily for the taste. Tried tequila shots, for example, they are foul. Lager is more my thing at this point in my life... (getting the gut and everything
)tim2100 said:
For instance, she was raped by a drunk university friend, she was attacked by drunk older siblings when young, her ex husband was abusive when drunk.
So when I try to explain why alcohol is so agreeable she comes back with the above
Dude - pick your battles. You'll never justify anything to someone who's gone through that! Just agree that it's terrible and what on earth are you thinking when you decide to drink.So when I try to explain why alcohol is so agreeable she comes back with the above
But carry on anyway.
Then get more and more lecherous towards her as the night goes on. Perhaps leaping out on her when she's coming back from the loos etc.
Carthage said:
They seldom affect the personality/behaviour of the wearer though.
Nor does alcohol. A drunk, violent, abusive, 
is just a violent, abusive, , who happens to be drunk. It's not surprising the lady has negative psychological associations with alcohol that are probably unlikely to be altered by "Well I like it really, there's not much more to it than that."
It's not law that everyone must like alcohol so far as I'm aware. Just like anything else.
Disregarding the picture posted previously, I would say that the attractions are social.
To me, going for a pint with mates is sacred. The chance-after a long week at work- to sit and talk nonsense for a couple of hours is the perfect way to unwind from the stress of work.
Although I drink far, far less frequently than I used to, to me, a beer simply is the perfect partner to virtually any situation. 4 days camping near a motor race in France? Certainly Sir, that will be crate after crate of whichever lager was on offer at Carrefour. I really couldn't contemplate NOT having too much beer whilst I was there, in fact if I'm honest, I most likely wouldn't go if I knew I couldn't have a few. Same with most things as above- weddings are far better with a drink or two, rugby is best watched with a crowd of like-minded individuals with a pint or several. The list is virtually endless, almost every situation can be improved by a beer.
That isn't the ramblings of an alky- far from it- and I can see how a great deal of people have problems with alcohol, but to be blunt, for me, I will be honest enough to say that I enjoy having a few beers and generally being immature, and long may it continue.
To me, going for a pint with mates is sacred. The chance-after a long week at work- to sit and talk nonsense for a couple of hours is the perfect way to unwind from the stress of work.
Although I drink far, far less frequently than I used to, to me, a beer simply is the perfect partner to virtually any situation. 4 days camping near a motor race in France? Certainly Sir, that will be crate after crate of whichever lager was on offer at Carrefour. I really couldn't contemplate NOT having too much beer whilst I was there, in fact if I'm honest, I most likely wouldn't go if I knew I couldn't have a few. Same with most things as above- weddings are far better with a drink or two, rugby is best watched with a crowd of like-minded individuals with a pint or several. The list is virtually endless, almost every situation can be improved by a beer.
That isn't the ramblings of an alky- far from it- and I can see how a great deal of people have problems with alcohol, but to be blunt, for me, I will be honest enough to say that I enjoy having a few beers and generally being immature, and long may it continue.
StottyZr said:
In the response to the thread title. It gives me confidence and is essentially happiness in a can.
I owe a lot to alcohol
Pretty much this. I'm much more fun while pissed. I do tend to drink too much, sometimes far too much. I'm not an agressive drunk though and very rarely have any hassle.I owe a lot to alcohol
I drink when I'm happy and I drink when I'm sad, it's been a way of life since my mid teens.
My brother in law managed to drink himself to death at the grand old age of 42, I greeted this news by getting smashed as soon as possible!
Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff