Be Excellent To Each Other

I'm not one for drinking alcohol much and certainly haven't been drunk before this last month.

So far I've failed to see the point as I haven't been any different post drink and all that it has resulted in is a lesser sense of balance. Oh and slower thinking.

One thing I noticed on the two occasions I've imbibed a significant amount of alcohol is when going to bed I've felt like it is rocking back and forth so much that my stomach has reacted as if it actually is. That isn't to say that was sick due to it just that it really felt like I was physically moving. But only when I closed my eyes.

So, what's the point in all this drinking thing?

I think the trick, as with most things, is not to over-do it. Drink until you're relaxed, then balance it over the evening, not the typical British attitude of drinking so much you puke and start acting like a twat.

You see, here's the thing. I don't drink. This is my choice and I don't have a problem with people that do.

This does cause problems in life though. Some people just can't understand it! Like my girlfriends parents, they know I don't drink but say things like "but you'll have some wine with your meals won't you?"

I'm also treated like a leper in pubs.. apparently ordering soft drinks is to be frowned upon!

People also say stuff like "Oh, I bet you'd love a cold beer though wouldn't you?" Yeah.. about as much as a vegetarian would like a lamb kebab.

So.. My point is that drinking is to be expected of you in this modern day culture and anything less is not to be tolerated.

I think you did it wrong. Kinda like a scientific experiment. Doing it properly with a bunch of chums who are all having a good time will make you feel jolly and good. Doing it alone in a lab will make you want to kill yourself.

I was at a party and I was drinking alcohol simply because I'd finally found a drink I liked. I still didn't drink a lot. Maybe about 1.5 litres at 4%.

I found it didn't particularly enhance my experience as I was quite jolly and that already.

Also I commend your non drinking stance TheVision. There doesn't seem to be any point to it. Unless there happens to be a drink you discover you like.

To be fair, for someone who doesn't drink, that is LOADS. I could never drink that much.

I am in the "just keep drinking" category, and most people in the BBBC will be able to confirm.

Even as someone with a large tolerance for booze, who drinks with ludicrous speed and zeal*, I think the sweet spot for most people is at around three or four pints, drinking more slowly throughout the night to maintain the 'buzz' for as long as possible without making themselves sick.

I've long maintained that we don't have a "binge drinking" problem in this country, though. What we have is an endemic "lightweights who happen to be vicious wee cunts" problem. Nobody I know who's a genuinely nice and level-headed person has ever magically transformed into an aggressive tosser when drunk, except due to the persistent haranguing of other rubbish boozers.

*This isn't posturing, you understand - it's a constant source of mild embarrassment.

I calculate this based on 4 bottles at 330ml each. Which is actually more of 1.2 litres. Actually there was slightly more as I had a can of Tetleys as well. There isn't any difference to not being drunk personality wise as far as I can tell.

If you didn't feel anything at all, maybe you're a fellow fish and need to get several more down you, next time.

But yeah, as has been mentioned, it's fairly unlikely that you'll feel the more enjoyable effects of booze if you're just supping some beers on the couch. It's best when you're out roflcoptering with friends, listening to music or walking around in the fresh air (preferably in the early afternoon on a nice day).

I was dizzy and slow thinking but I was just as happy on occasions when I haven't had a drink.

Ah. If it isn't making you any happier - even briefly - it's not worth it, except to enjoy the taste of a good ale.

I've never had alcohol change my mood, except for a subtle highlight to my happiness if I'm already in a good mood, but I'd attribute that to being more relaxed. Booze certainly doesn't make one happy, and especially not if you're already feeling down about yourself.

Having a slow drink on a plane is lovely, though. I don't mind flying, but I find the atmosphere of planes and the length of the journey incredibly tiresome; a quick vodka/gin & coke/tonic settles me down a treat, leaving me to enjoy myself instead of sit there getting increasingly bored. The altitude boosts the effect, too, so I only need one drink at those disgusting prices.

I've never been drunk, but my drinks have.

Get him off! Get the stripper back on!

Still back to my original point, the feeling of rocking side to side when eyes are closed, is that normal?

Yep, if you've gone (for me) too far. It's not a pleasant feeling.

How about knocking someone's red wine onto the carpet, then while mopping it up falling into the christmas tree? Is that normal?

Zis can 'appen.

What is the point of drinking?

Well it dulls the pain and quiets the shrieking voices in my head.

Oh some of it tastes rather nice as well.

Also

And yes I especially hate that thing of, "Just try one you might like it", etc. Please get it into your thick head - I don't drink.

Heh.

I've genuinely no idea what happened from about 0001 on New Years Day to my waking up with my head in a bowl some considerable time later. Felt a bit ropey until about 1300 when I had a couple of beers and a burger, and was then able to settle into a nice drinking rhythm again.

My limit lies between 1 pint and 8 pints, a bottle of wine, a shitty shitty white rum lime cordial sold as a "mojito" and half a bottle of champagne.

Which was odd, as I was coherent and fairly lucid up until the fireworks, then it was like "BANG! The wave of alcohol perfectly strikes MaliA, wrecking for 145667 damage" and I turned into Patsy from AbFab.

I think a man ought to get drunk at least twice a year just on principle, so he won't let himself get snotty about it. ~Raymond Chandler

Apparently people were putting champagne in my Leffe, so I'm not in trouble with the New Year party's host. Brilliant!

Back from Oxford, unfortunately. Though trying to find an open, decent pub on New Year's Day was quite off-putting.

I only drink beer I like the taste off, but I don;t mind being drunk..

And drinking slammers with the landlady till 3 am is awesome....

Couldn't bloody well get drunk over christmas and new year, despite the best efforts of Messers Brandy, Whisky and Beer.

Someone at the NYE party thought that mixing our game-round-losing-forfeit shots of Krupnik (Polish honey-vodka) with absinthe would be funny.

It was disgusting.

The main plus point for drinking is the wonderfully tasty drinks. Nice ales or beers can't be beaten by any soft drink (In my opinion obviously).

But, if the only alcoholic drinks available are Fosters, Carling and the like then I'ld never drink again.

Likewise, though having a bit of a cold throughout helped prevent it. My parents are undoubtedly being crushed by the huge teetering stacks of unconsumed booze they bought for us.