Alcohol Drinking Habits Amongst Peers: Reflections on High School

[Permanence]

As I reflect back on my four awkward years of high school I still cringe at all the awkward times I had to turn down a drink. Among youths, choosing to abstain from alcohol was an easy way to put a target on your back and slowly alienate yourself. The pressure did get to a lot of kids. Even the religious ones. I never really had an interest to drink, not that I cared if others were doing it. Now I am honestly the only non-drinker among my group of peers, so I was curious how the rest of you were.
1. Do you drink alcohol?
2. At what age did you begin?
3. Do you believe drinking interferes with your work or research?

Thanks.

 

[StrayCatalyst]

It takes very little to be ostracized from other kids - "us vs. them" is deeply entrenched.

I drink, but rarely, as I lost two grandparents to alcohol. I started drinking in my late teens, much more during my time in the Air Force in my early 20's. It doesn't interfere with work or research, as I don't drink before or during work.

 

[EricVT]

Interesting, I never felt any pressure to drink alcohol during high school. I graduated almost 10 years ago, though. Not that people weren't drinking, but I never felt like I was being coerced into drinking or that my choice not to drink was causing social issues.

I will very rarely (1 - 2 times per year) have a glass of wine with a nice meal, but other than that I do not drink at all. I've simply never acquired a taste for alcohol.

 

[HayleySarg]

1. Do you drink alcohol?
2. At what age did you begin?
3. Do you believe drinking interferes with your work or research?
_____________

1. At times, yes. I've cut back my consumption for personal reasons. I now drink a beer or two maybe once or twice a year. I used to drink a few fifths of whiskey a week.
2. Around 10. It was always in the house. I don't mean wine at the dinner table either.
3. Only if I'm drinking before/on the job. I don't ever tamper with my ability to think when I need it.

I edited this to show what "once in a while" is. If people can't handle me not drinking, they're not worth hanging around. I have plenty of friends that don't mind it.

 

[Sentin3l]

I abstain completely, and I found a group of friends that don't care. Everyone asks why I don't drink, and I just tell them its cause I have no interest in it (which I don't).

Unfortunately you're right, people who don't drink for one reason or another are often ostracized and I saw this particularly through high school. However, once I got into college the pressure seemed to go away, this was sort of surprising to me, as I had expected it to be worse than high school.

 

[Ryan_m_b]

I started drinking about 12, and probably drink every other day. I don't find it interferes with anything to be honest. It's not that hard to divide up work and leisure time. I do understand why it is difficult for people who don't drink, much of western society has a big focus on socialising with alcohol and to not do so seems like one isn't taking part in the socialising aspect (stupid yes but so are most stigmas).

 

[dipole]

I know people who drink during their research. In Europe, drinking is not seen as something taboo or immoral like it is in America. It's just a normal part of culture, and not uncommon for guys to have beer at lunch during their work day.

It's equally obnoxious to assume that drinking interferes with people's ability to be productive and intelligent researchers as it is for people to look down on you for not drinking.

 

[Ryan_m_b]

I know people who drink during their research. In Europe, drinking is not seen as something taboo or immoral like it is in America. It's just a normal part of culture, and not uncommon for guys to have beer at lunch during their work day.

True. It only interferes if you aren't sensible enough to confine it to one or two drinks.

It's equally obnoxious to assume that drinking interferes with people's ability to be productive and intelligent researchers as it is for people to look down on you for not drinking.

I don't think the OP was assuming that at all, just asking the question.

 

[HayleySarg]

I know it makes me a bit of a pain in the butt. My father smokes a lot of... stuff and drinks heavily and he's fine working from home and solving complex IT issues. So I know it's not true throughout. For me personally, I become very focused but not on work. I'll find every non-work related detail and chase after it.

Does the book case need re-arranging? Okay! And I'll meticulously sit and do that instead of work. Without regard to deadlines or people watching me.

 

[reenmachine]

1.Yes , I do drink alcohol.
2.Not sure , around 13-15 years old at the beginning of high school.
3.Yes and no.Depends how much I drink in the relevant period.When I'm really stressed out I can drink to self-medicate so that can become a problem but normally I drink from 2 to 6 light beers at the end of the day and I wake up in top shape so I don't think it hurts me that much , what I'm worried about is if I can keep this pace into my 30s and 40s.

In the end , I think it's best not to drink so I guess that's what I should be aiming for , but I really enjoy drinking some beers , particularly in the summer , so it will be hard to completely give it up.

 

[Lavabug]

No, I do not drink at all. Might explain in part why I've felt pretty alienated for most of my adult life.

 

[MarneMath]

1) Not really
2) 13
3) When I was younger, I would drink until 2 a.m. wake up at 5:30 and run 6 miles at a 6 minute pace. I never thought drinking hurt me, but as I grew older, I realized that I had a tendency to drink heavily on days that I got depressed. After my second time in Iraq, I figured that I needed to stop drinking after a good friend committed suicide and face my problems instead of hiding from them. Now, i'll only drink at dinner or a formal party and even then I'll can probably nurse a single glass wine or bottle of beer the entire night.

 

[StrayCatalyst]

You might also want to consider the difference between "drinking" and "getting drunk". I've been beermeister at several Mensa events - and while a lot of beer is consumed, I rarely see anybody actually drunk, it's more the social lubricant than anything. Some of the people wouldn't be safe to drive, but you don't get a lot of staggering, puking drunks passed out in the halls, unlike college parties or my time in the Air Force.

 

[Ken Natton]

My paternal grandparents were Salvation Army ministers. That meant tee total in the very strictest terms. My father, actually as rebellion against strictures other than alcohol use, left home at 15 to join the Royal Marines as a bandsman. I am not sure how it is in the US but in the UK Royal Marines generally, and bandsmen in particular have something of a strong reputation for their relationship with alcohol.

My maternal grandfather was not an alcoholic but did have a troubled relationship with alcohol and my mother recounts incidents of great embarrassment to her in her teenage years relating to her father’s drunkenness. Very much as a consequence, she has been tee total all her life.

My brother-in-law’s father was – is – an alcoholic and many familiar stories apply to his experiences. My brother-in-law is not tee total but does drink only in moderation and has no patience with those who don’t.

There cannot be much doubt that alcohol is a problem, but there are plenty – the majority(?) who use it responsibly and can enjoy its simple pleasures without even significant detriment to their health. But there are also a broad range of serious social problems that have their root in alcohol misuse and many who severely damage their health with their inability to moderate their use of it.

I had occasion once, some time ago, to observe the proceedings in a British Magistrates Court. Proceedings began in the morning with a series of publicans coming into apply for extensions to their license to allow them to open after hours. (This was in the days before the more relaxed licensing laws that apply now.) Then the cases started to come up and one after another was, in one way or another, alcohol related – a young man who had vandalised cars on a car showroom forecourt while in a drunken state; drink-driving cases; that kind of thing. I was left wondering if anyone else spotted the connection.

 

[OmCheeto]

As I reflect back on my four awkward years of high school I still cringe at all the awkward times I had to turn down a drink. Among youths, choosing to abstain from alcohol was an easy way to put a target on your back and slowly alienate yourself. The pressure did get to a lot of kids. Even the religious ones. I never really had an interest to drink, not that I cared if others were doing it. Now I am honestly the only non-drinker among my group of peers, so I was curious how the rest of you were.

Everyone is wired differently. Some people are mean drunks, some people are nice drunks. Some people get smarter after a beer or two^*, and some people get stupider. Some people like booze, some people don't.

The above, in my opinion, is true of any drug.

1. Do you drink alcohol?

yes

2. At what age did you begin?

11: binge: My mom took me to Germany and my relatives got me drunk. We all had fun.
14: binge: My sister bought me a bottle of Boones Farm Apple wine. I split it with a friend at the local skinny dipping pond. We had fun.
16: high school: stoner/drunk best friend of mine was always trying to get me stoned or drunk every freakin' weekend.

# of times I enjoyed getting stoned: zero (Honestly)
# of times I enjoyed getting drunk: maybe once or twice​

18: legal age: Joined the Navy. Woo Hoo! Never stopped. Still having fun with it. Everything in moderation.

3. Do you believe drinking interferes with your work or research?

No. Work interferes with my research. That's why I'm retiring early.

Oh, and drunk and/or stoned friends frequently interfere with my research.
Bored people also interfere with my research.

Thanks.

You are welcome.

* There was research done on this. I read it in my encyclopedia years ago.

 

[DiracPool]

There was a thread up yesterday with the exact same title asking how much was too much that I spent 10 minutes preparing a witty response to, only to find out that the thread had been deleted while I was composing my masterpiece.

Now the thread is back, albeit disguised with different context. What was wrong with the other one?

 

[jim hardy]

OMCheeto said it - people are wired differently.
Very true - not everybody metabolizes alcohol the same way. There is a genetic quirk that predisposes some people to alcoholism . There's a famous book called "Under The Influence" whose first few chapters go into some detail on this and explain the biochemistry.

1. Do you drink alcohol?

not any more

2. At what age did you begin?

started at 16, stopped at 42

3. Do you believe drinking interferes with your work or research?

Yes it did.

Look at some old movies - everybody has a drink and cigarette in his hand . My generation was conditioned to think continuous drinking was 'normal' . I am saddened to hear it still persists.

My advice - find friends who do something other than drinking for recreation.

 

[Choppy]

1. Do you drink alcohol?

No. Not since 1994 anyway.

2. At what age did you begin?

Probably around 17, when I joined the army. Earlier, when I was around 15 or 16, my father said he would buy beer for me if my friends and I wanted it. His philosophy was that he'd rather I be drinking where he could keep an eye on me. I never really took him up on it though.

I drank occassionally from 17 through 19, mostly because I felt it was expected and my parents were bigtime social drinkers. I never really developed a taste for beer or liquor though and I didn't like being around drunk people. When I got to university I remember mixing Purple Jesus in garbage cans in dorm parties. I still didn't like being around drunk people. And I found that alcohol tended to make me more depressed than anything. Eventually I began to wonder what the point was and I decided a few months into my first year that I didn't need to drink. So I stopped and haven't had any since.

3. Do you believe drinking interferes with your work or research?

I know lots of good prolific researchers who drink on a regular basis. Alcoholic beverages are common at conference social events. (Because I don't drink I frequently have friends approach me for drink tickets). So I don't believe that occasional/social drinking has a significant effect on research. That said, objectively speaking, alcohol consumption has measurable effects on cognitive performance both short term and long term and there is a dose effect. So what's really important I think is the amount of and pattern of consumption. The occasional glass of wine with dinner is a lot different than getting sh**faced every night after work.

 

[leroyjenkens]

I never drank. I've been offered pot and alcohol, but I just respectfully declined every time.
I was never ostracized or teased because of it. I was actually sort of praised for being an individual and not being one of those kids who desperately tries to be one of the group. Although, I don't think I would have been treated that way if I was fat or short or uncool in some other way. So you do kinda got to already be cool to get away with it.

 

[Mark44]

1. Do you drink alcohol?
2. At what age did you begin?
3. Do you believe drinking interferes with your work or research?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Pretty rarely, say a few times a year.
2. When I was not quite 10. My Dad, younger brother (not quite 8), and I visited my Mom's uncle in Florida. After he asked us in, he offered all of us a cold beer. This guy (my great-uncle) was a confirmed bachelor who probably didn't know any better, and my theory is that my Dad was so surprised, that he didn't think to say no. On the other hand, my dad had spent a couple of years in Europe during WW II, and everyone, kids included, drank wine or beer.

I've met a lot of people who have told me they didn't like beer when they first tasted, but I thought it tasted very good, and I'm sure I finished the whole can.
3. It doesn't interfere with my work or research, because I don't drink very often, and when I do, I don't drink very much. In my wilder days, I can remember some horrendous hangovers, which is the big reason I don't like to drink that much.

 

[ProgressNation]

Hello, I'm 16 years old and I never drank alcohol and never will be. Alcohol is not good:
- If you drank alcohol while driving you will most likely cause a car accident.
- causes obesity.
- makes you do bad things that you never did before.
- makes you lazy, and MAYBE you will have future health problems.
Thank God for not drinking alcohol and may God keep me on this path! I advise you not to drink alcohol not even one time in your life; and don't try to smoke either. Good Luck!

 

[reenmachine]

Some people get smarter after a beer or two^*,

Extremely interesting point , it's hard to compare your intelligence from one moment to another (except in cases where you REALLY feel good versus when you have a headache and can't think) , but I can definitely face a hard intellectual challenge after a beer or two.

It's also hard to say whether or not the "boost" in intelligence is related to the stress reduction.The problem I have is that after two beers it's tempting to continue to drink a little bit more , especially in the summer after a great BBQ.

In my personal experience , I could be smarter after the 2nd beer than I was before the 1st one , but I'm invariably stupider after the 3rd one than before the 1st one.I'm talking about 4,9% alcohol beers here.

 

[Bandarigoda]

No i dont.
But some friends of mine do. And the thing is they can study well. They seem to be very sharp when they studying while they use some drugs. And they can remember well.
So i was thinking it helps you to clever?.

But as i heard it only weaken your brain and your little thing :p
So dont

 

[OmCheeto]

Hello, I'm 16 years old and I never drank alcohol and never will be. Alcohol is not good:
- If you drank alcohol while driving you will most likely cause a car accident.

Texting and driving causes 6 times more accidents. Are we all going to stop texting? (ref: just google it)

- causes obesity.

No. Eating a poor diet and and not exercising makes you obese. Genetic factors may also come into play. I drink like a fish, and am back to the same weight I was at 22. This is all due to my diet, IMHO.

- makes you do bad things that you never did before.

I'm constantly doing new bad things. As long as no one gets hurt, bad things can be fun.

- makes you lazy,

I'm not lazy. I run around the kids at work that are half my age.

and MAYBE you will have future health problems.

At my last checkup, my blood pressure had returned to normal, my cholesterol was back to normal... The only future health problem I'm worried about, is death, by old age.

Thank God for not drinking alcohol and may God keep me on this path! I advise you not to drink alcohol not even one time in your life; and don't try to smoke either. Good Luck!

Actually, based on my 10 minutes of studying the effects of alcohol about 20 years ago, and my experience with tobacco over the last 40 years, I agree. It's best not ever to start either.

BUT!

I just did some wiki research, and discovered the following:

It makes a difference, what type of booze you drink.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_alcohol_consumption
Of the top 23 beer drinking countries(USA is #23), where are the best cars made?
(Think Porsche, Audi, and Mercedes)

Top wine drinking countries?
Ok, maybe Lamborghini...
But look at who's #2.
(Think socialist, aka lazy!)

Top spirits drinking countries?
Japan is way down there.

And reverse the order. Look at the countries that consume no alcohol at all:
Bangladesh, Kuwait, Libya, Somalia, Pakistan, and Yemen.

What do they produce, besides oil, babies, terrorists, and pirates?

hmmmmm?

IMHO, everyone should have a brew. At least once in awhile.

(hic!)

 

[davenn]

1. Do you drink alcohol?

between 16 and 20, like a fish

these days a few times a year when I go to a resturant for dinner

2. At what age did you begin?

~ 16

3. Do you believe drinking interferes with your work or research?

never did and doesn't now

and something for a bit of fun ... the beer effect...

cheers
Dave

 

[Evo]

1. Do you drink alcohol? - Yes

2. At what age did you begin? - Do you mean at what age did I first sample or take sips at parties or what age did I actually start drinking? Age 14 for the first, age 24 before I actually started drinking, not just an occasional bit at a party. This means ordering drinks at a bar or restaurant and having drinks at home with dinner.

3. Do you believe drinking interferes with your work or research? - I actually was better after 1-2 drinks, more than that, probably worse. Having a couple of drinks loosened me up and got my creative juices going. Some of my best work was at 2am after a couple of drinks (I worked at home).

 

[OmCheeto]

Extremely interesting point , it's hard to compare your intelligence from one moment to another (except in cases where you REALLY feel good versus when you have a headache and can't think) , but I can definitely face a hard intellectual challenge after a beer or two.

It's also hard to say whether or not the "boost" in intelligence is related to the stress reduction.The problem I have is that after two beers it's tempting to continue to drink a little bit more , especially in the summer after a great BBQ.

In my personal experience , I could be smarter after the 2nd beer than I was before the 1st one , but I'm invariably stupider after the 3rd one than before the 1st one.I'm talking about 4,9% alcohol beers here.

Argh! I have to be going somewhere in the next 12 hours, and didn't want to have to type this in, again...

Effects on mental processes

The most important immediate actions of alcohol are on the highest functions of the brain ---- those of thinking, learning, remembering, and making judgments. The biphasic action of alcohol is evident in its effect on thinking. One group of experiments revealed that at low blood alcohol concentrations, after the equivalent of two drinks (two ounces of spirits), well-trained and highly intelligent young men performed better at solving problems in symbolic logic than they had without alcohol. At medium concentrations, the equivalent of four drains, their performance was about normal. But...

(ref*)

The problem with this study, which I've never further researched, was that probably most of those men had drank most of their post-pubescent lives. It had been my experience, that what was learned while "on a buzz", was not recollectable, unless I was on a similar buzz.

Hence, if you want to drink and study and learn, be prepared to do it for the rest of your life.

Hence, why I don't advocate alcohol (abuse).

-----------------------
* It's sitting right next to me. Yes. I, am, old. I typed that whole gosh darned thing...

ps. I'd really like Greg'sDad's opinion on this...
I mean really. They are from Milwaukee... I think?

 

[ProgressNation]

Texting and driving causes 6 times more accidents. Are we all going to stop texting? (ref: just google it)

No. Eating a poor diet and and not exercising makes you obese. Genetic factors may also come into play. I drink like a fish, and am back to the same weight I was at 22. This is all due to my diet, IMHO.

I'm constantly doing new bad things. As long as no one gets hurt, bad things can be fun.

I'm not lazy. I run around the kids at work that are half my age.

At my last checkup, my blood pressure had returned to normal, my cholesterol was back to normal... The only future health problem I'm worried about, is death, by old age.Actually, based on my 10 minutes of studying the effects of alcohol about 20 years ago, and my experience with tobacco over the last 40 years, I agree. It's best not ever to start either.

BUT!

I just did some wiki research, and discovered the following:

It makes a difference, what type of booze you drink.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_alcohol_consumption
Of the top 23 beer drinking countries(USA is #23), where are the best cars made?
(Think Porsche, Audi, and Mercedes)

Top wine drinking countries?
Ok, maybe Lamborghini...
But look at who's #2.
(Think socialist, aka lazy!)

Top spirits drinking countries?
Japan is way down there.

And reverse the order. Look at the countries that consume no alcohol at all:
Bangladesh, Kuwait, Libya, Somalia, Pakistan, and Yemen.

What do they produce, besides oil, babies, terrorists, and pirates?

hmmmmm?

IMHO, everyone should have a brew. At least once in awhile.

(hic!)

I'm from Kuwait, why don't you show some respect to other countries? Well, I'm neither a terrorist nor a pirate and I don't have a bomb in my pocket too :). That's the problem, there are some people like you show no respect to others...AND maybe you don't hurt others, but others do hurt other people... And I mean by being "lazy" when you drink too much. I was just saying that neither alcohol nor smoking is good for your health. That is all I said.

 

[Evo]

I would never drink while trying to learn, that would not be productive. However, when having to create something, like designing a data network or writing a compelling proposal based on data previously collected, it was easier to put that data together in a more interesting format if I'd had a couple of drinks.

 

[davenn]

I'm from Kuwait, why don't you show some respect to other countries? Well, I'm neither a terrorist nor a pirate and I don't have a bomb in my pocket too :). That's the problem, there are some people like you show no respect to others... Secondly, you said "bad things can be fun" but God will ask you for your acts, alcohol causes prostitution in the country and is it fun? Anyways I'll not bring religion to this post so... AND maybe you don't hurt others, but others do hurt other people... And I mean by being "lazy" when you drink too much. I was just saying that neither alcohol nor smoking is good for your health. That is all I said.

no, alcohol DOES NOT cause prostitution and in probably 95% of the time has absolutely nothing to do with it. People's needs cause prostitution, porn etc.

there's very little in this life that is good for your health if done to excess
even just breathing the air can be bad for your health in some regions

moderation is the key, drink and eat wisely :)

Dave

 

[reenmachine]

Just drank my second beer.I feel pretty good intellectually.Unfortunately I have this annoying pain on the left side of my neck.The kind of pain that makes it hard not to repeatedly try to "fix it" with some improvised stretching even if that's not recommended.Never works.

Back and neck pain aren't good for concentration.

 

[OmCheeto]

no, alcohol DOES NOT cause prostitution and in probably 95% of the time has absolutely nothing to do with it. People's needs cause prostitution

Are we PF friends yet?

One moment...

done.

My mother was born in the eastern end of Germany back in the 20's. So when the big war came, they drafted her into the German Air force. And when the war was lost, she had nothing.

So my dad shows up, 5 years her junior, and married her.

The only problem is, they are both dead, and my oldest siblings don't quite look like the rest of us!

Was mommy a prostitute? Most people couldn't handle such a question, IMHO.

But I've seen prostitutes, of all kinds.

aaannnnnddd...

I shall stop here, and mention to people of all nations, and all whatevers, that liquor, um.

I've had one too many. I'm going to bed.

 

[jennymathew]

I do but occasionally and I started it in age 16. When I am working I try to avoid drinking but there are times when I have to take it with my mate usually after work..

 

[StatGuy2000]

1. Do you drink alcohol?
2. At what age did you begin?
3. Do you believe drinking interferes with your work or research?

Thanks.

1. Not really -- I might have the odd glass of wine or beer with my meal, but otherwise I do not drink.

2. I did not have my first drink until I was 18, in my first year of university. I tried a mixed drink and enjoyed the taste, but found out (to my great displeasure) that I don't actually get drunk, but instead just get sick, with bloodshot eyes and tomato-red face. This is due to my half-East Asian heritage -- approximately 50% of people of East Asian descent (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, etc.) possesses a genetic mutation which renders them either incapable of producing specific enzymes in the liver involved in the breakdown of alcohol in the bloodstream, or produces them at an insufficient level. Unfortunately, I've inherited this trait. :P

3. Since I don't really drink that much, no, it does not interfere with my work. A number of co-workers drink on a social occasion and as far as I can tell, it does not interfere with their work or research either.

 

[Ryan_m_b]

The thread has been reopened, please keep all conversations civil, sensible and back up any non-personal claims with evidence.

 

[lisab]

1. Not really -- I might have the odd glass of wine or beer with my meal, but otherwise I do not drink.

Did anyone else think to themselves, 'I wonder if StatGuy drinks 1, 3, 5, 7,... glasses?'

 

[Astronuc]

1. Do you drink alcohol?
2. At what age did you begin?
3. Do you believe drinking interferes with your work or research?

1. Yes. I have a preference for Stouts and Porters, Scottish Ales and Belgian Trappiste Ales. My favorites are Deschutes Abyss on nitro, Full Sail Imperial Stout, Goose Island Bourbon County, and Eagle River Raven's Eye - or basically a good Stout aged in a bourbon or whisky barrel.

Then certain single malt Scotches, rums and tequilas.

These days I drink sparingly, usually late afternoon on the weekends, or with dinner during week nights. Most days, I don't drink.


2. Probably at age 10 or 11 with wine at dinner. My mom didn't appreciate that I gulped the wine.

At age 13, I visited a neighborhood girl whose parents had a well stocked liquor cabinet. We made a concoction of various alcoholic beverages, including Everclear. I became mildly intoxicated.

At 16, I spent a summer at Colorado School of Mines. There was a frat party, and I consumed at least a couple of liters of beer. My head was spinning, but I didn't get sick. About a week later, I overdid it on Vodka (lesson: Don't mix orange Tang or Fanta Root Beer with Vodka. And then don't smoke a cheap cigar. I became violently ill.)

In my early university years - I kind of overdid it. I'm basically stubborn, but I learned moderation.

3. Overdoing it with anything can harm one's ability to perform work or research. As others have stated, moderation is the key.

Certainly alcohol can be abused, and it certainly impairs judgement. Alcohol doesn't necessarily lead to other ills, but it can contribute to misfortune for some.

 

[jim hardy]

Alcohol doesn't necessarily lead to other ills, but it can contribute to misfortune for some.

I would say, based solely on about fifty years of observation, the following:

Two symptoms I would advise everyone to be aware of are -

1. If you experience a "Blackout" , be aware that most people don't get them but it is common among people who develop alcohol related problems.

2. If it becomes unpredictable whether on any night you will drink to oblivion, that too is a symptom.
It's not a certainty that a potential alcoholic will always drink to excess - it's the unpredictability that's the giveaway . REF: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0553274872/?tag=pfamazon01-20

If you are worried go to any library and quietly check out the book "Alcoholics Anonymous" .
Read the last half, which is real people's stories, first.
Also stand back for a few minutes and watch the book shelf - chances are you'll see several people standing nearby trying self consciously to be not noticed perusing that section.

old jim

 

[Choppy]

The one other thing that I wanted to add was that as a non-drinker, I certainly have felt the pressure to drink. Socially it's often expected that you will drink because it's such a common thing and when you refuse you often have to give an explanation as to why. That, often inadvertently, can be a kind of social pressure. People who are drinking and having a good time usually don't want a non-drinker explaining why he has chosen not to drink.

That said, there are a lot of ways to deal with it and still not drink, and not be the guy who brings everyone down. For a while I was quite popular as a designated driver, for example. I find if you're non-judgemental about not drinking, then it's a lot easier to have a good time when you're among those who make different choices.

 

[Emane]

I lost my membership card for excessive use!

 

[inotyce]

1. Do you drink alcohol?
2. At what age did you begin?
3. Do you believe drinking interferes with your work or research?

1. No, I don't. I often sip a little (<300 ml) at special formal parties.
2. I remember I first took can of a Heineken when I was 16.
3. I will fall asleep at once if I take 2 cans of beer. I can't take it when my head seems like exploding or harsh rupture of blood veins is going to happen in my head. I have friends and have seen people with large intake of alcohol but they looks calm and like they can take much more even after 10-12 bottles of tiger. Sorry I don't have scientific knowledge about alcohol susceptibility, induction from our body.

 

[daveyrocket]

Last weekend I was out at a cabin in the woods with some friends. I had earlier received a nice bottle of wine as a gift (about $100 value) and we popped it open and drank it. It was fantastic. Having a bottle of expensive wine with a perfectly cooked steak was a real experience. No one got drunk.

I get together once a week with a group of friends and we go to a local place that has a huge variety of beers on tap, many of them imported. It can be a lot of fun to order different beers and sample different varieties. There's a large range of flavors you don't find in many other beverages. Very rarely during these outings does anyone get more than a little bit tipsy.

I think there is a bit of a problem in the US with how we educate our youths with regards to alcohol consumption. The truth is, when used in moderation, there is nothing wrong with alcohol consumption. By not allowing oneself to do that, a person is cutting themselves off from a number of experiences in life that can be quite interesting and pleasurable.

 

[MathematicalPhysicist]

I don't drink much alcohol, at really rare occasions I do drink, I just don't like the taste of alcohol (the same stuff that is used to disinfect wound). Though licker drink is tasty but it's really not because of the alcohol.

But I can do the math also when not sober, it might be funnier... :-)

 

[Darth Frodo]

1. Do you drink alcohol?

I have, and have been pass-out, fall down the stairs and embarrassingly drunk. Although I have recently stopped completely as I found it was much too difficult to stop at one . So I don't anymore. 2. At what age did you begin?
~6-8 I'm Irish ;)

 

[BobG]

1. Do you drink alcohol?
2. At what age did you begin?
3. Do you believe drinking interferes with your work or research?

Thanks.

1. Barely. A six pack in the fridge can last months - especially in the winter. I'll occasionally have wine at dinner/parties - infrequently enough I'd have a hard time figuring out exactly how often.

2. I had one party in my senior year of high school where I drank (and got very drunk). But, for the most part, I started using alcohol after high school.

3. No.

When I was young and went to more parties, I drank more often (and occasionally got drunk - especially early on). When I had my first apartment, I had beer in the fridge all the time and probably drank at least one or two every day, but that kind of dropped off once the coolness of being able to do it wore off.

In other words, I mostly drank because it was the thing to do. In fact, even still, there's a decent chance the only drink I'll have at a party/cook-out/etc is when I first get there and the host offers me one.

Not that I dislike drinking. It is nice to have a beer after mowing the lawn/working in the yard on a hot day or some wine at dinner once in a while. It's just that the urge for a drink just doesn't occur all that often.

 

[fluidistic]

As I reflect back on my four awkward years of high school I still cringe at all the awkward times I had to turn down a drink. Among youths, choosing to abstain from alcohol was an easy way to put a target on your back and slowly alienate yourself. The pressure did get to a lot of kids. Even the religious ones. I never really had an interest to drink, not that I cared if others were doing it. Now I am honestly the only non-drinker among my group of peers, so I was curious how the rest of you were.
1. Do you drink alcohol?
2. At what age did you begin?
3. Do you believe drinking interferes with your work or research?

Thanks.

1. I rarely do. Sometimes when I pass an exam a few glasses of beer are ok.
2. First time I got drunk was at 16 years old.
3. It could or could not but depends on how much you drink. My father is an example of a Ph.D. who was a researcher and a professor in several universities and alcohol ruined/demolished his carreer and personal life.

 

[StatGuy2000]

Did anyone else think to themselves, 'I wonder if StatGuy drinks 1, 3, 5, 7,... glasses?'

LOL! That's a good one!

In truth, the number of glasses are more than likely to be <=3.

 

[Turion]

The thread has been reopened, please keep all conversations civil, sensible and back up any non-personal claims with evidence.

This entire thread is one big anecdotal mess validating peoples' worldviews.

 

[Ryan_m_b]

This entire thread is one big anecdotal mess validating peoples' worldviews.

As the OP was asking for anecdotes I don't see a problem with the sharing of anecdotes (not comment currently on whether or not they validate people's worldviews). My warning was because several posts (now deleted) were making factual claims with no evidence.

 

[Turion]

As the OP was asking for anecdotes I don't see a problem with the sharing of anecdotes (not comment currently on whether or not they validate people's worldviews). My warning was because several posts (now deleted) were making factual claims with no evidence.

I would say that there are still posts described by the bolded.

It is very pointless to have a debate with only anecdotal evidence regardless of what the OP asked. It turns into a "majority agrees with me and so I'm right". For example: look at ProgressNation's, OmCheeto's, and davenn's posts.

The only thing missing is a like button and the circlejerk will be complete.