Drank when I was in the Military...as there was little else to do at those times. But Thankfully I can take it or leave it. And I chose to "leave it" 20 or more years back.

I did thirty two years on the Police job and THAT certainly tainted my opinion on drinking and drinkers. SO MANY people who should NOT consume, yet they do. Alcohol has ruined so many lives.

Many of us used to joke that if it wasn't for alcohol, we would be out of a job.

I love being a near forty year Montana resident. It's a wonderful place to live, but unfortunately alcohol is FAR too ingrained in every day life here.

There can't be any sort of a social function here without a beer tent or beer at least available. Teenagers get killed here in car accidents and other mishaps, because of alcohol, at a terrible rate.

We are unfortunately always near the top of the list for worst DUI/worst alcohol related death , rates.

Sadly the attitude here is that it's OK for HS kids to go to keggers, to get an older kid to supply beer on a Saturday night, etc. Sad state of affairs that is thankfully changing, but changing ever so slowly.

quote:

Originally posted by FN in MT:

Sadly the attitude here is that it's OK for HS kids to go to keggers, to get an older kid to supply beer on a Saturday night, etc. Sad state of affairs that is thankfully changing, but changing ever so slowly.

I see that too. Young kids too. Sometimes 13 years old.

Good parenting helps, but as a parent, well, you can only do so much. Peer pressure is high.

Haven't had a drink in almost 25 years.
Don't miss getting goofy.
Never looked back.
BTW my potent potion of choice was Bombay Sapphire and bitter lemon with a lemon slice.

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:

quote:

Originally posted by FN in MT:

Sadly the attitude here is that it's OK for HS kids to go to keggers, to get an older kid to supply beer on a Saturday night, etc. Sad state of affairs that is thankfully changing, but changing ever so slowly.

I see that too. Young kids too. Sometimes 13 years old.

Good parenting helps, but as a parent, well, you can only do so much. Peer pressure is high.

Sadly, we occasionally see Parents SUPPLYING the beer for HS keggers or parties!! Some times with some dire consequences to the kids and later to the Parent who bought it.

A big change in attitude is way overdue out here on alcohol.

Never cared for it. My cousin and I used to steal a sip of beer from our fathers when we were kids and that's about all the alcohol I've really had. I have maybe a shots worth of Kahlua at Christmas with my mother and that's it these days. Never been drunk and never will. I've been around it enough to hate what it does to people and I have no desire to put myself through that.

quote:

Originally posted by FN in MT:
Drank when I was in the Military...as there was little else to do at those times. But Thankfully I can take it or leave it. And I chose to "leave it" 20 or more years back.

I did thirty two years on the Police job and THAT certainly tainted my opinion on drinking and drinkers. SO MANY people who should NOT consume, yet they do. Alcohol has ruined so many lives.

Many of us used to joke that if it wasn't for alcohol, we would be out of a job.

I love being a near forty year Montana resident. It's a wonderful place to live, but unfortunately alcohol is FAR too ingrained in every day life here.

There can't be any sort of a social function here without a beer tent or beer at least available. Teenagers get killed here in car accidents and other mishaps, because of alcohol, at a terrible rate.

We are unfortunately always near the top of the list for worst DUI/worst alcohol related death , rates.

Sadly the attitude here is that it's OK for HS kids to go to keggers, to get an older kid to supply beer on a Saturday night, etc. Sad state of affairs that is thankfully changing, but changing ever so slowly.

I flew up to Missoula last February to purchase a vehicle, and to pass the time after arriving at my hotel the night before, I walked over to the dealer to see if I could see my vehicle. While there, I saw a new Toyota Tundra sitting at the front of their lot along the main road with its lights on and idling. I checked the door and it was open.

I called my salesman, and he didn't have a concern about it like it was normal to have an unsecured new truck idling through the night. Instead, he told me to come to a casino close by to have a few drinks with him. I declined, and he seemed to be offended when I did.

That next morning while at the dealer, I told another salesman or manager about the vehicle idling, and they didn't seem happy at all, especially since it had run out of gas and the battery was dead. (I didn't want to rat out my salesman.)

I drank a lot in the military, but I slowed way down after that. I'd probably drink one or two beers a month over the last few years, but now I don't drink at all since I have kidney disease.

Also, I ESPECIALLY don't like drunks after being in LEO for 26 1/2 years and seeing the crap I had to deal with. I'm not against drinking, but I'm against the crap people do when it is abused.

I enjoy a good beer every now and then, but I rarely even finish the bottle. If they came in 8 ounce versions, that would probably be perfect for me. I just don't drink that much, for several reasons, but I have no problem with it in moderation.

I had fun drinking, until it wasn't fun anymore. Gave up drinking in 1989.

I grew up in the hill country a long time ago. The people were a mix of teetotaling churchgoers and the descendants of German and Czech immigrants who liked their beer and had it as a regular part of life.

I started playing in dance bands while in high school so, despite my upbringing in a teetotaling family, I was exposed to the lure, the plusses and minuses, of strong drink. Like many, I experimented some.

When I went to Austin to go to college, I noticed something I didn’t expect. Many of the kids from teetotalers families went nuts with it, constantly looking for opportunities to get beer or other alcohol, regular partying to excess with disastrous consequences to their scholastic standing, and occasionally police records. The kids who came from families of the beer drinking mostly German/Czech then, where it was no big deal, were fine, unaffected, and suffered few if any problems.

"Forbidden fruit" syndrome. Take away the mystery by having controlled access and the urge to overindulge does not happen.

My own parents did not drink when I was a child, and there was never any alcohol in the house. I think some of my close uncles had a bottle at home, but I never saw them drink it--it was for non-family guests. I did have a grandfather and a couple of uncles who occasionally drank a beer. Alcohol was not a regular part of my life and I never had a desire to indulge. I tell my friends that I'm silly enough without drinking alcohol.

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by FN in MT:
A big change in attitude is way overdue out here on alcohol.

Funny you mention it. I had a conversation (over a few drinks oddly enough ) with a buddy who is an addiction counselor about this not too long ago.

As you say, alcohol is a way of life here. Always has been. High rates of DWIs, fatalities and injuries, minors drinking like crazy when they can, keggars in high school, etc....

My question to him was, why is that if so many people are driving drunk, and it is such a big problem, the cops, deputies, and/or highway patrolman, don't just sit outside of the bars at 0200 and nail everyone leaving? Better than 90% of them are going to be over the limit. You know it and I know it.

His response? The Tavern Association won't have it. Too much money into the state coffers. That may or may not be true, but I've always wondered why it doesn't happen.

I could walk into one of the bars here in about eight hours and I can guarantee that I'd find no less than half a dozen people over the limit who walk out and drive home.

If MT (or anywhere else) was serious about stopping this problem, it wouldn't be too difficult. But, you start taking money away from the Tavern Association and hence the State, heads are going to roll.

So...we live it.

I like having the occasional drink and I really like beer. It's like having a soda for me, I just like the taste. I just have a few beers on the weekend and I'll usually make margaritas in the summertime. Some people just can't drink without thinking that it's a means to a buzz or more but I've never had that problem.

I enjoy it all beer wine champagne port liquor etc and luckily have not ever had a hangover

Alcohol is like guns, its the person not the product that makes it dangerous or unenjoyable

My experience is a bit different than some. I note a considerable "awareness" re: alchohol among the 20 Somethings that my group did not have. My 20 Something sons (both college grads) consistently order UBER, schedule designated drivers, and occassionaaly tap Mom & Dad for a ride if they choose to imbibe while out with their friends dinking.

On the other hand, when we were younger we would just drive home. Now, while I don't drink much today, I never consider UBER, etc. when we go out to dinner and I have a couple drinks. Hmm...maybe I should.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
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.

Me, as well. Concentrating on quality over quantity, because the hangovers come too easy.

Alcohol? Fooey. Nothing is as sweet as nitromethane.

As for that other kind. I drink. Not much these days, because of the meds I take. But I do like an occasional single malt or a nice bodied ale.

quote:

Originally posted by DaBigBR:

quote:

Originally posted by SevenPlusOne:
I've never drank, and never intend to. You'd be surprised how people react to this.

Same. You certainly get some odd reactions.

Same here

I still drink occasionally but I keep it light. I have not been “tanked” in about a decade. I sure don’t miss the hangovers. I do not have the luxory of being incapcitated after a night of imbibing.

Now as a father, My fear of drunk drivers and the threat to safety they represent continues to grow each year.