If you’re trying to justify your drinking to me after I said “Oh, I don’t drink” I’m really gonna think you’re an alcoholic because I said nothing to warrant you needing to justify yourself. I just don’t like drinking myself.
Almost every single time I have made a comment about how I do not like alcohol, I get a few replies from people trying to justify their consumption to me, as if I said I hate people who drink.
I guess I’m lucky. Since I retired from drinking no one has pushed back when I’ve declined to partake.
I think in some areas, the culture is starting to shift around that a bit. I remember the 2000-2010s era having a lot of shows that were more on-the-nose about the topic and then seeing more people talking about how to properly interact with recovering alcoholics on social media in the years following.
Purely anecdotal, of course. I just get the vibe that some areas where drinking used to be very expected, have learned to treat it as a choice
Alcohol is a great solvent and widely used in flavor extracts such as orange and almond concentrating and preserving the essence of flavors.
It’s use can add natural flavors to a great variety of recipes.
Whatever, boozer
One drink at a time!
It’s used in vape flavors sometimes too
I drink because I like to support local business. It just happens that the local business I want to support are breweries.
You betcha and I have a few great ones nearby. Cheers! 🍻
Sometimes the point of alcohol is just to get a little bit drunk.
Similarly, asking anyone to defend their position on why sobriety is superior will eventually have them sound like they are insecure and judgemental.
I can’t think of a scenario where you ask someone to defend why they don’t drink but they are the one that is insecure and judgemental. There’s plenty of situations where people drink when they shouldn’t (eg driving) but it’s not quite so common to be in a situation where you must drink but don’t.
Maybe I’m just terminally online, but I’ve seen lots of people boast that they’ve “never gotten intoxicated” and view this as some sort of moral boon. It just reads as fear to me. Not that I’d force them to get high, but don’t knock it if ya haven’t tried it.
Generally (both online and in person) when someone gives a superiority complex because they don’t drink those people are always the people I think need a drink the most. That said, some of the most genuine folk out there seem to be the sober folks who don’t give off that superiority complex.
If you are in a position where you need to defend your booze consumpion, you’re probably an alcoholic.
Not really. Say you have one beer a week after mowing the yard. I could say, “If you aren’t addicted, then just quit.”
I could say, “If you aren’t addicted, then just quit.”
Did anyone actually tell you that 1 beer a week is too much? Because it’s not a real case scenario in my mind.
And even if they really did it’s probably their own problem, and you don’t really have to defend yourself for doing that.
In any other case, if a person tells you “hey, tone it down with the booze” you probably should.
This sounds like it starts from the assumption that it can only be consumed for the effect, not the taste.
I drink once, maybe twice every year, and never more than 2-3 drinks. And I specifically either sip a finger of Jägermeister, a White Russian, or expensive gin tonics (Scapegrace is brilliantly rich and nuanced, for instance), because I enjoy the taste.
What I do not enjoy is getting drunk. Not only because the following two days are worse than death, but especially because I don’t like how my body slips out of my control and how it encourages my mind to drift toward the dark place.
You drink alcohol EVERY YEAR?! Wow, look at this boozehound over here.
I think alcohol like music can not be separated from its effect upon the mind. I think those effects are entirely the point we take it, I think if it was just taste you would not drink your White Russian. I think when you drink it it is because you want to visit or at least be reminded of your dark place. Like all drugs it is vital not to ignore the positive effects they can have while also being very aware of the long term negative consequences. As to answering the original question I think if you drink less than the average it is permissible to give as your reasons that you sometimes like the way it makes you feel. You drink in the same way you put on music, not because of the sound or the taste but because it takes you to somewhere else and for a little while that is where you needed to be.
These are a lot of assumptions about a person you don’t know.
As a counterexample, if there were any other substance which could replace vodka and coffee liqueur in their entirety while not containing alcohol, I’d drink Virgin White Russians all day long. Same goes for Jäger. And I have already tried some non-alcoholic gins and they entirely miss the pungency, which is the very element which confers alcohol its unique taste.
No, I genuinely do not like alcohol for its effects. It is not my jam. If I want to enjoy both the buzz and safe dips into my dark place, I smoke a doobie.
As for your argument about music, I think this is the wrong point of comparison. If you’re referring to a strictly emotional reaction, taste has that covered all on its own.
I love the taste!
I’m also addicted to the substance.
Look at this guy, he actually likes the taste instead of just being addicted to the substance!
I’m addicted to the taste.
There are good alcohol free beers now. I’ve been enjoying Athletic Brewing Company
I’m glad that Athletic exists, but it’s actually pretty mediocre compared to the NA beers that smaller classic breweries are starting to put out.
I wish our local brewery would do this. I love hanging out there, but I’m not a huge root beer fan and that’s the only non-alcoholic beverage they have.
All due respect, I cannot speak for your situation, but neither does your situation for everyone else who likes to sip alcohol.
I cannot stand the taste of cinnamon or licorice, but I don’t believe addiction is required to be able to enjoy them.
I think you’re reading a bit too much into my statement.
Not at all, which is why I specified this in mine.
I am merely working with what’s been given.
My uptake definitely increased significantly starting in early November 2024.
I’m a sucker for amaros, absinthes, and negronis.
Yeah, like you could totally defend going for a wine tasting a few times a year without sounding like an alcoholic. The amount matters.
Why would you need to defend anything?
So nobody takes your booze.
You need different friends.
It’s actually quite simple, sounds like you need to change your friend group
Oh, I don’t have friends, it was just a shower thought.
That’s a pretty subjective statement as it really depends on whom you’re defending it to. Does consuming any amount of alcohol make one an alcoholic? I suppose differing people will have differing definitions.
That’s the point, though. Even if you have one beer a week, defending that if challenged to quit will make you sound like an alcoholic.
Try it with opiates lol.
I enjoy drinking
I don’t have a drink problem. I drink. I get drunk. I fall down. No problem.
Nah I’m alcoholic, why defend it beer makes me happy
sure as long as your accurate. There were things suggesting one or two servings per day was actually healthy but if your using it to justify more then it immediately falls apart. Also you can justify the pleasurable effects but if it ever interferes with anything at all then that is out the window.
