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
Also don’t drink, can confirm.
This is always weird when the doctor asks. Both my wife and I are not adverse to drinking and do but like it took us several years to use up a bottle of cognac she had picked up because she wanted to do up eggnog all special one year. So the answer is always. Yes but very very very rarely.
I drink because I like to support local business. It just happens that the local business I want to support are breweries.
Not all heroes wear capes. Thank you for your service!
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.
cracks knuckles
I’m fine with my 12-pack a day of Keystones.
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!
Try it with opiates lol.
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.
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 love the taste!
I’m also addicted to the substance.
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.
Yeah, like you could totally defend going for a wine tasting a few times a year without sounding like an alcoholic. The amount matters.
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.
Nah I’m alcoholic, why defend it beer makes me happy
I enjoy drinking
Ha, that’s actually true. Good one.
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.
But that doesn’t make sense, one beer a week is absolutely not triggering chemical addiction. At that rate you could attack any ritual behavior, or regular consumption of anything beyond nutrient paste and water
To me the important distinction is between chemical and behavioral addiction, habits and compulsions.
No one said anything about triggering an addiction, or being addicted at all.
It’s the act of defending your alcohol consumption that can make you sound like an alcoholic.
Why would somebody need to defend it lol
If you don’t like it don’t do it, if you like it do it.
