I gave it up at age 46 and I'm 66 now. I've found that about the only one that cares if I drink or not is me. At social events I keep a glass in my hand just like everyone else except I'm drinking water or diet Coke. No big deal.

If people actually give you a hard time about not drinking then you seriously need to hang out with better people.

I respect people for their choice to not drink, its not the end of the world.

I like a beer once in a while, but it reeks havoc on my blood pressure these days, or perhaps interacts with my meds adversely.

So, there I be .

quote:

Originally posted by Copefree:
I realized last year that I neeed to make a change. And I did ... after about 10 years of drinking WAY too much.

It sucked but oh man was it worth it!!

Here I am, 203 days later, sober as the day I was born, and I’ve saved $3,448.15 over that duration (according to my tracker).

Here’s to one more day, tomorrow.

Nice work, keep going.

I did pretty good for the first year, but was very aware that I wasn't drinking. Year 2, same but easier.

It wasn't until this thread that I realized I passed the 3 year mark a couple days ago. I don't really even think about it much anymore. Now I just see it as weakness.

I don't know because I've never used alcohol, but I suspect I'd be an alcoholic. I can't put my finger on why I get that sense, but none the less I believe it. The only time I ever had a drink was unwittingly.

After a hard earned championship title was awarded to one of my teams, we went to my pad and among other things, made some hot chocolate. One of the guys on my team sat next to me on the couch. His chocolate smelled minty. I remarked how strong the aroma was. He gave me a sip. It was super powerful! When I said so, he said he poured some peppermint schnapps in. Until then I had never tasted alcohol. While I liked the flavor, I stuck with my own hot chocolate.

I think alcohol is like any other substance. When abused, it is destructive. The trouble I see is that one never knows if he can use without falling into addiction until it is too late. In my case, I chose to not find out. Plus I have other things I'd rather spend my money on.

As to what alcohol has done to society, I think it does more harm than good.

I pretty much got over alcohol at 28. I used to go clubbing 5 nights a week and dink 10 drinks a night, and one night was just totally bored with it. I still drink but only a few, Maybe once every 3 months, and don't miss it.

I love to have a couple of high end beers occasionally, but hate feeling intoxicated. I have a bit of vertigo and that doesn't mix well with alcohol.

That being said, my wife and I are cutting it out to get back in shape.

I have an impending jaw surgery, and depending on how that goes, I may have a nip to avoid the pain pills.

I don't despise alcohol, I just don't drink much any more. There's a bottle of Chopin Vodka in my freezer for several years. Had a shot New Years Eve.

A couple Of Shiner Bock, sometimes, but that's it. With the meds I take for BP, a couple of stiff drinks on top of the meds really fucks me up.

Years ago, I drank alcohol, lot's of alcohol.

Had my first beer when I was 7 or 8 at a Polish Wedding or Funeral, I forget, they're much the same.

I don't drink because I don't like the taste of any alcoholic beverages--some are worse than others. I am perfectly willing for others to drink as long as they don't get drunk around me (or on the road). I cannot say I've never had a drink, because there have been very rare situations where I put myself out a little in order to fit in--it's amazing how long one can string out drinking a single shot.

Regarding John Wayne: if I'd been in his presence and he wanted me to have a drink with him, I'd probably have made an exception in his case (I really respected him) and I'd have found something I could tolerate (there are a few that would work). To put things in German terms, I am a nicht trinker, not an anti-alkoholiker.

flashguy

Gave it up myself as it would have been the demise of me.............. do I miss it, fuckin-a.... It’s a powerful demon for some. And yes, I LOVED the taste

As I get older I find it much easier to moderate alcohol consumption. If I have more than one cocktail or three beers in a night I feel like hell the next morning. The price of having too much fun is too high for me now.

I love the stuff.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view), I finally had to admit I wasn't capable of using it responsibly, so I gave it up.

A six pack of beer lasts me about 2 months or longer.

When I was a yoof, during the time that I was in the Navy and the ten or fifteen years after that, I drank a lot.

I sort of tapered off and basically lost interest in alcohol. Not a conscious decision to stop drinking, it just sort of happened.

Now, I might have a glass of wine with dinner, usually none, occasionally two glasses. I probably drink around ten or fifteen beers a year.

I really liked a good martini, but I haven't had one in years.

Single malt whisky. I liked it, and I have a bit in the pantry, that has been there for years. Can't even remember the last time I tasted it.

Hmmm... I might want to have a little drink-winky tonight. An ounce or so will be plenty, all I'll want to do is taste it.

I enjoy a nice drink once in a while. I am lucky enough to be a person who can drink one, once or twice a week, and leave it at that.

Anyone else is free to enjoy alcohol as they see fit, or not at all.

I don’t despise alcohol, but I’m not a fan of folks who can’t handle alcohol and won’t stay away from it.

Used to enjoy nice red wines, but they stopped agreeing with me. Now I’ll smell the wife’s glass and call it good. From time to time I’ll have a Beam and water at home, but that is about it and even that is infrequent. The paying for any significant amount of alcohol the next day just isn’t worth it, and one drink doesn’t really do much.

Now if I could get off of coffee, then I’d really be living...

quote:

I have come to despise alcohol!

I know what you mean. It's a somewhat touchy subject in my family. We all grew up with beer and wine but some have had more than they should. We have at least one admitted alcoholic who went through multiple rounds of treatment before hitting rock-bottom but has now been completely sober for about 10 years.

When you go through the depths of complete addiction with someone you love, whether it's drugs or alcohol, it's very hard on everyone in the family.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Booze is here to stay because people want it and just about anyone with some basic knowledge, tools and material can manufacture it.

There will always be alcohol and there will always be people who abuse it.

Amen! If Prohibition should have taught us anything it's that.

Perhaps I'm lucky but alcohol was always used in great moderation in my family and no one has had a "drinking problem". This is true of my parents, my siblings, my kids families and my in-laws.

My wife and I have our "cocktail hour" before dinner which is our time together. I sip a small Bourbon or Scotch and she has a glass of wine. One and we are done.

quote:

Originally posted by TXJIM:
I rarely drink but I do enjoy a couple of glasses of wine at dinner once every month or two. I enjoy a beer or two on about the same frequency at the ranch when others are around. About two or three times a year I will drink some whiskey with friends either around the campfire or at a party. I enjoy all three for different reasons but could never be a regular drinker for the shitty feeling the next day.

This is pretty much me as well. Maybe a glass or two of wine with a good homemade Italian meal, a couple beers if grilling out with family /friends, or maybe a good scotch or two if I'm somewhere with an exceptional menu. But all told it's probably 2-3 drinks a month on average.

I like to sip a couple shots of bourbon & I mean sip. A shot might last 1/2 hr or 45 minuets. As soon as I feel it, I'm done. No more.

I also truly dislike drunks. With me, it's behavior. Most I've met are loud, mean or both, I can't be around them. I smoked 42 yrs. and put them down cold turkey May 6th, 2003.