Alcohol - when/why should it be consumed and so forth.

[Jiggerjaw]

I have seen too many news stories about drunk drivers killing innocent people to warrant the consumption of alcohol. By...well, anyone, really. I understand that it is an enjoyable thing to do, and I also can see it being used in a time of celebration or something of that nature. I should hope that everyone here who drinks drinks "responsibly." But my take on that is that if I were to have enough alcohol in my system, I would lose sight of just what -is- responsible behavior. Personally, I have no plans of drinking, ever. The only possible exception may be champagne or wine, on my wedding night...a pretty big event. I just see no point of messing up your mind and body for that feeling of euphoria, or whatever it is exactly that you feel when you have had a few drinks. I am the same way about smoking, and pretty much any other mind-altering substance. I just do not see the point, because you can be happy without it, and there are no long-term positive effects to speak of. That said, I would like to hear the opinions of other people in the community. So, take it and run with it, gentlemen.

[Pixon]

Hear hear.

[t̷s͢uk̕a͡t͜ư]

Haha. In other words, you're me two years ago. Well, except that I'm going to assume I was much more vociferous about it.
In my (college) experience, I've discovered that it's not nearly as big a deal as I thought it was, primarily because social ("responsible") drinking doesn't give you enough of a detriment over its benefits that it should be considered something to unconditionally avoid. Unless the mildly intoxicated people I've observed were phenomenally good at acting sober and/or consistently made rational choices by some freakish coincidence, I haven't seen anything to affirm my once zealous aversion to drinking socially. And for that reason, I look forward to my hypothetically first drink with my friends of hypothetically legal age on my 21st birthday.

[blue_tetris]

Jiggerjaw! Ha! What a loser. I don't think I need to begin highlighting his lack of credibility in this matter.



I am drunk right now, and I consistently make better decisions than Jiggerjaw. In fact, I'm probably among the drunkest people at Metanet and despite this--maybe because of this--I am in control of every facet of the Internet. Clearly, alcohol must be doing something right.

Additionally, I don't feel as though I lose rationale when I drink. I notice shifts in my behavior, certainly, but I retain every ounce of logic and can understand when I'm making reasonable or unreasonable moves. I think you can only predict your behavior when you've drunk a few times before, in relatively sane situations. I think it's important to know your limits.

But I don't think drinking is inherently bad because it makes people do stupid things. Because that means TV, sports, and money are inherently bad, just because we can link some poor decisions to their existence. People need to do stupid and reckless things sometimes. It's the spice of life. So if you go all sXe and you wonder why you're in a rut, you'll know it's because you've tamed yourself. You've given up fun for function.

You've opted for survival over life.

I don't think I could make that same choice.

[yahoozy]

I'm not drunk right now, and loving it!
You're underage, Hooz. No illegal content.

- Demonz

[epigone]

I know a lot of people who get belligerently drunk every weekend, and frankly, I really dislike those people. As cliche as it is, the best type of drinking is responsible and moderated drinking. If you do choose to drink, don't overdo it. Social drinking (aka a few drinks every once in a while) is really the way to go. I hate the general party life that many people choose. I don't feel like you can develop real relationships with people when you're drunk every time you see them. Hey, some people are fine with that. They don't want lasting relationships and they don't want to get emotionally involved with people of the other gender. Fine, but I do. I think everyone should. If you can't have a fun time with friends without drinking, you've already ruined yourself.

[Twistkill]

Having never been drunk yet in my lifetime, I don't find the act of being drunk as fun or attractive as it is sometimes portrayed. It can potentially permanently damage your liver or prove fatal, you can become dependent on it and fall into alcoholism through building a tolerance, and it makes your breath smell.

I do enjoy beer with my pizza, though. Some wine with dinner is good too. I just don't see how consuming such a copious amount of it in a short amount of time is considered fun or cool to take part in when the ramifications, both short-term and long-term, can be devastating.

[lord_day]

Having never been drunk yet in my lifetime, I don't find the act of being drunk as fun or attractive as it is sometimes portrayed.

That doesn't make sense... Even though you've never been drunk you don't find being drunk as fun as some people say it is?

My view on this, is that getting drunk can be fun, and I've noticed how a lot of the people who condone alcohol and/or getting drunk (not just from this thread) have never been drunk before. While this isn't necessary to join in with this debate, it is necessary in order to validate claims that getting drunk is not worth the 'damage' it causes.

[Twistkill]

Having never been drunk yet in my lifetime, I don't find the act of being drunk as fun or attractive as it is sometimes portrayed.

That doesn't make sense... Even though you've never been drunk you don't find being drunk as fun as some people say it is?

Oh... what I mean is that when I've been around drunk people before, I haven't seen it as something I want to try.

[Geti]

mmn. i drink very little, and never enough to addle me severely.
the two times ive been wasted werent very fun, to say the least. drinking can be fine, but you dont want to overdo it. people get unattractive when theyre too drunk. i dont disagree with drinking, just drinking too much. after all, it is a poison.

though, some people (dave especially) do quite well even when saturated in booze. individual biology and all that.
pff, drink if you like, just not too much.

[Lenny]

It is my personal opinion that alcohol can be bad, but it OK in small amounts. Not that I drink, or ever really plan to, but at celebratory events a bottle would be fine.

Don't drink and drive... that most often equals death, or injury of some form.

Hmm. Yeah, don't drink to get over problems, because it won't help; merely dull the pain for a bit.

[Atilla]

I'm okay with people drinking, but I think setting out to get completely smashed is pretty stupid. It's that kind of behaviour which results in many of the problems associated with drinking.

[taaveti]

It's the same as guns, violent video games, and all that: it's all about personal responsibility. People like to blame alcohol for bad decisions, but in my experience it doesn't work that way. You're still you when you're drunk- just not quite so good at walking. The people who get drunk and make bad decisions are also the people who make bad decisions when they're sober. On the other hand, a person who is responsible sober will still be responsible while they watch the ceiling spin around.

But it's not just that drinking lacks the bad elements that some people attribute to it; it also has good elements. Personally, I'm not terribly comfortable in large groups of people, but I find that a drink or two over the course of an evening can help with that. There have also been studies which showed that a daily beer or glass of wine can improve heart health (wine, red wine especially, is also a good source of antioxidants). And it tastes and feels good, in a way which can't really be explained.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go lament the fact that it's too late for me to pour myself a glass of port...

[bluenin]

I have seen too many news stories about drunk drivers killing innocent people to warrant the consumption of alcohol.

Usually, the drunk drivers who kill or injure others are people who make poor decisions to begin with. Albeit, driving after drinking is a pretty stupid thing to do, I think it's fair to say that most offenders don't know that they're in an illegal state.
I also think it would be interesting to see the statistics on DWI arrests vs DWI related injuries in my state. I'll have to look that up.

But aside from the DWI factor, I have no problem with alcohol. It is arguably the worlds fist drug, for many reasons. It could be called the first anesthetic, the first antidepressant, the first antianxiety cure, it sterilizes. I think that the positive effects far outweight the negatives.

I like alcohol, there is nothing like a couple of beers after a hard days work, or some good wine paired with a dinner.
And it has been proven to be healthy too. Separate studies have been done on beer and wine, showing their respective benefits when consumed in moderation.

[ska]

hmmm.. interesting I just wrote a report on a opinion piece on this matter.
I love drinking since I turned 18. I think this age is an appropriate limit. I know my limits which is good. I never go so far as to piss, puke and pass out like my mate on new years.. just have a good time and feel good :)

[Luminaflare]

It's the same as guns, violent video games, and all that: it's all about personal responsibility.

What the hell does that have to do with responsibility? I mean guns are kinda obvious but violent video games?

[runningninja]

Jiggerjaw! Ha! What a loser. I don't think I need to begin highlighting his lack of credibility in this matter.



I am drunk right now, and I consistently make better decisions than Jiggerjaw. In fact, I'm probably among the drunkest people at Metanet and despite this--maybe because of this--I am in control of every facet of the Internet. Clearly, alcohol must be doing something right.

Additionally, I don't feel as though I lose rationale when I drink. I notice shifts in my behavior, certainly, but I retain every ounce of logic and can understand when I'm making reasonable or unreasonable moves. I think you can only predict your behavior when you've drunk a few times before, in relatively sane situations. I think it's important to know your limits.

But I don't think drinking is inherently bad because it makes people do stupid things. Because that means TV, sports, and money are inherently bad, just because we can link some poor decisions to their existence. People need to do stupid and reckless things sometimes. It's the spice of life. So if you go all sXe and you wonder why you're in a rut, you'll know it's because you've tamed yourself. You've given up fun for function.

You've opted for survival over life.

I don't think I could make that same choice.

Dave is a being known as a "functional alcholic". Little does he know that he is slowly destroying his insides.
I never plan to drink or take any drugs whatsoever. I don't feel like when I am in college, drinking will be a big part of social life. Also, when anyone drinks, even if they are a functional drinker, they do lose some of their better judgement, regardless of if they realize it or not.

[Jiggerjaw]

Dave is a guy who can hold his liquor, and I have no problem with Dave's opinion on this matter. I know that -he- can make good decisions when he's drunk. It's the people that can't that I am worried about. And I didn't make this topic to be insulted. I am aware that there are numerous different opinions that exist for this particular topic, and wanted to see how other members of the community weighed in with respect to my thoughts on the subject. By the by, I was expecting a post like that from Dave, so it wasn't that big a deal. But 'Debate' is not about insulting others for their views. It's about asserting your own views, and whether that leads to any sort of resolution or not (it usually doesn't), it is nice to gauge the opinions of people from different backgrounds, cultures, etc. As Dave didn't dedicate more than a small portion of his post to bashing me, I don't really have a problem with it. But, ya know. Stick to the topic.

[blue_tetris]

Dave is a being known as a "functional alcholic". Little does he know that he is slowly destroying his insides.

Little does he--LITTLE DOES HE KNOW? I PISS BROWN, CHILD. Like I didn't know the medical issues involved.



Anyhow, part of any Debate is the instillation of credibility on the subject matter. I don't believe Jig had enough of that coming into the topic. I didn't say anything about Jig which I didn't think directly related to the worth of his opinion in this issue. See what runningninja said about me? Related to my lack of knowledge in the health effects of alcohol? He was entitled to say that and I was entitled to rebut. Instead of a rebuttal from Jig, I got his opinion of what is and is not fair game in Debate.

If you can't stand the spoons, Jig, get out of the spoon factory.

[wedgie]

I have seen too many news stories about drunk drivers killing innocent people to warrant the consumption of alcohol. By...well, anyone, really.

So some dude gets wasted and kills someone as a result of drink driving, and this means that I (A responsible, legal drinker), should not be allowed to enjoy the sauce? wtf good sir.

I just see no point of messing up your mind and body for that feeling of euphoria, or whatever it is exactly that you feel when you have had a few drinks.

The time I enjoy drinking the most is quiet social drinking. I drink because I enjoy the taste. I drink because it's good for me*. I drink because it alters my consciousness and slightly blurs the sobering reality of living an unfulfilled life.

I just do not see the point, because you can be happy without it...

Or happier with it. :P

... and there are no long-term positive effects to speak of.

Have you researched this matter at all? Many studies have shown that people who consume around 2 units of alcohol per day generally live longer than those who never drink. Just one study > http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/34/1/199 Going back to my earlier point (*), I drink Guinness, and studies have shown it can be beneficial to your heart.

Damn, all this talk has made me thirsty.

[t̷s͢uk̕a͡t͜ư]

Dave is a being known as a "functional alcholic". Little does he know that he is slowly destroying his insides.

Fun Fact:
Before the age of 30 (on average), if you lose 90% of your liver, you will grow it all back.
It's one thing to cause trivial amounts of damage to something that can't repair it quickly, but the liver regenerates itself like a goddamned troll.

I never plan to drink or take any drugs whatsoever. I don't feel like when I am in college, drinking will be a big part of social life.

Mmhmm. Of course.

Also, when anyone drinks, even if they are a functional drinker, they do lose some of their better judgement, regardless of if they realize it or not.

Does anyone else get a kick out of the fact that RN can say this completely without any experience in the matter?
If you've never been drunk, how do you know that a significant portion of your reasoning ability is unconditionally lost? That matches up with neither my experience around drunk people nor the field of medicine as a whole.

[Evil_Sire]

I like a little bit of wine with lemonade on special occasions.

But beer...

it tastes horrible, makes me feel sick.

Yes, my Dad let me try his lager, I hate him for it.

[epigone]

I like a little bit of wine with lemonade on special occasions.

But beer...

it tastes horrible, makes me feel sick.

Yes, my Dad let me try his lager, I hate him for it.

Lagers are generally much stronger. If you want to drink those, you really need to start with light beer and acquire the taste for those first.

[wedgie]

Your taste buds change as you mature. Give it a few years and you'll be having a straight scotch with your cheerios.

[t̷s͢uk̕a͡t͜ư]

Your taste buds change as you mature. Give it a few years and you'll be having a straight scotch with your cheerios.

Haha, oh wow. Can you imagine wandering out of your room in the morning, pouring a bowl full of Cheerios while scratching your ass and yawning, walking over to the liquor cabinet, grabbing some Gentleman Jack, filling the bowl with the Cheerios to the rim, and then sitting down to watch the news with that bowl?
Sounds like it should be in a movie.