Worried about alcohol tolerance

LegacyUser

Regular Boardsie here but choosing to go Unreg for this, would really welcome some input/suggestions. I have an issue at present, and while not a life or death situation, it is causing me some concern and anxiety.

I was a regular enough party animal for years, maybe drink three times a week and have quite a high tolerance for alcohol but was well able to hold it, never misbehaved or made an idiot of myself, so while a moderately heavy drinker, I could handle it. In the last three or four months however I have no tolerance whatsoever. I’ve looked at patterns of behaviour/lifestyle changes and the only thing I can attribute to is increasing my exercise and fitness levels to a level I never achieved before and to cutting down on my drinking drastically (maybe once a week).

Now while I have made positive steps in improving my lifestyle etc, I would still like to be able to go out once a week and have a good time. Over the last few months though I have a few drinks, a volume before that might not have even given me a warm fuzzy feeling, and now I can no longer remember the latter part of an evening I am out drinking. Thankfully my friends know this and make sure I get home safely. It’s not like I’m falling about the place or acting life an ar$ehole, it’s just a few drinks goes to my head way quicker than ever before and it is a worry as I have memory gaps.

Before anyone suggests I give up alcohol altogether that is NOT the reason I have come on here as I am sociable and I would like to go out once a week and enjoy myself. I guess the reason I am on here is to establish if increased fitness levels mean a person metabolizes drink quicker? Has anyone had this experience? And also to look for advice on what I can drink when I go out so that I won’t end up so sh1t-faced! (When I go out I normally drink bottles of Coors Light or white wine).

Thanks so much in advance.

tenchi-fan

I'm the same.. used to be able to drink anything and be fit for work in the morning. last week i drank 6 corona and 4 stella and spent the next day in the absolute horrors - couldn't even keep food down.

I think if you are fit you will be able to handle your drink better. But mainly you should just consider drinking less. Most drinks manufacturers started doing low alcohol versions including guinness, bulmers, and you'll probably find a low alcohol lager too. You don't really get the same buzz from them but it's better than sitting in the pub sipping a 7-up and tearing up beer mats.

cafecolour

Yeah. That's how alcohol (and most drugs) works. The more you drink it, the more your tolerance increases. Someone who has been drinking everyday for years can drink a good bit. That exact same person takes a month off of drink, and they'll be flying after two pints. Only drinking once a week will keep your alcohol tolerance quite low (a good thing IMHO).

The solution is basically to drink less/slower when you're out. You've got to consciously slow down your rate of drinking and not try and match your mates.

Also, having a big meal b4 going out drinking also helps slow down your metabolizing of the alcohol.

LegacyUser

Ditto to everything you said.

Its called getting older I'm afraid. I was also a party animal and could drink most men under the table. These days 4 or 5 drinks (beers) and its blackout and I want to go home.

I've long since given up drink wine/spirits any more and I never drink in public as I just can't process it like I used to. Few beers, thats me done.

I also excersise in the last year (because now I HAVE to) and take supplements and eat healthier. None of it makes me back to how I was.

I think it just comes with the territory sadly.

iceman777

The fitter you get, the faster you get drunk, but in your case, it's just hitting your tolerance level.

However, the good thing is, the fitter you are, the faster you get over the previous drinking session!!

davmol

Exactly the same as myself,i exercise a good bit now.moreso than previously and i notice im the same.I can drink beer all night but as soon as i do a shot or drink spirits thats it i black out and its a right painin the arse TBH.its happened me alot and caused me to get quite upset about it.Having to be told what you did towards the end of the night and having people fill in your last hours is embarrassing and down right pathetic if u ask me so im taking measures now to avoid this.

S23

Yep I'm afraid what everyone here has said is accurate.

Getting fitter will NOT increase your tolerance for alcohol it will, in most cases, lower it. However, you do bounce back better the next day. As a point of reference one of my friends is a professional footballer and trains most every day of the year and he's absolutely rubbish at drinking. Hes twisted after a handful of pints but he's always brand new the next day

Also, not drinking 4-5 days a week and containing yourself to 1-2 nights out a week (a very wise move IMO!) will lower you tolerance for it too. A progression in your age is a factor. You don't even have to be out of your twenties for that to start.

Unfortunately you don't stay bulletproof forever and you have to start looking after your health and your body sooner rather than later. I won't say it happens everyone, because we all know people who never seem to suffer the same effects as the rest of us, but theres nothing unusual about happening to you.

I've lost weight and started to exercise more in the last while. I just needed to start to look after myself and I found the same kind of things occuring. You just have to realise you cann't drink like you used to anymore.

I had 8 cans over the course of a houseparty yesterday (like the wild man that I am ) and that did me grand. However, in years gone by 8 cans wouldn't have lasted me the whole evening/night, I'd have drank double that with ease. However, 8 staggered out over the course of the night is all I can manage now and even that was more than I'd usually drink.

The main difference is that i was able to get up and do a 5k run to knock the cobwebs off myself this morning and I am generally just in much better phyiscal condition.

If you're blacking out after a few drinks then I'm afraid you are going to have to a) really slow yourself down or b) investigate drinking something aside from what you are used to.

Taltos

Not going to suggest dropping the drink. Provided that you enjoy it and are not dependent or are doing any harm to yourself or others then...

Would you consider splitting your drinks?
Introduce maybe a water here or there or a coke, just something to help you pace yourself. Or try drinking a bit slower.

However when you call out blackouts - that is normally a warning sign. Take a step back and really look at what you are doing and the risk you are placing yourself in.
Take it from someone who has been there - when it does all go wrong and it generally does - you really have no leg to stand on - and have to take responsibility for whatever happens - even if you cannot remember.

I have seen similar posts to this and there is someone out there with a link to some questions that basically indicates if you have a problem or not. I know you will want to ignore it - but try to keep an open mind and go thru it anyway.

Age though has a lot to play - the good thing about pacing yourself though - is you should enjoy yourself more and the great thing is your recovery the next day should be much much less.

OP it seems simple enough that if you need less alcohol to get fuzzy then you should drink less. Drink more slowly or have other drinks during the evening.

On the plus side needing to drink less should be healthy for your wallet too?
Surely you would be happier about this situation.

vicecreamsundae

i used to be well able to drink so much without feeling hungover and without blacking out, but over the past year there have been way too many time [maybe 5] that i've woken up the next day and been unable to remember huge chunks of the night. sometimes to no consequences, but sometimes to making out with a friend who i did NOT plan to make out with or something. i mean nothing awful that i regretted, but still scary to know i made decisions i wouldnt have made had i been less drunk etc.

as well as simply drinking less, you might want to figure out which drinks work for you and which don't. for example, morgans spiced run is one of my favourite drinks, but i'm pretty sure it has something to do with my blackouts if i have much. so now if im just going out for one or two, i'll have it, but if im going to a houseparty or know im out drinking all night, i'll stay away from it.

meditraitor

This is going to sound a bit weird but I have a sort of cure for this, I cut my drinking downa a few years back and found if I only went out on a friday night I would get blotto, as you know its brutal when this happens.

My cure for this

---

If you only go out one night a week to socialise then try to have a drink the night before, 4 cans of beer or a few glasses of wine while watching a movie or a match (I know some people dont like drinking at home but...)
Your tolerance will increase dramatically the following night.

it works for me anyway.....

Overheal

It sounds like getting in shape has greatly altered the rate at which you metabolize alchohol.

All you can do is learn how to ride the bike again, if thats what you want. Your physiology has changed, your tolerance has changed and now you have to learn all new drinking habits as well, as well as re-learn which variety of drinks will now affect you in which ways (spirits, lager, vodka, brandy, etc).