Pros and Cons: Is alcohol a waste of money?

RepublicanEagle

Why do people drink alcohol, I am thinking about giving it up for a month or two to see if alcohol is really a waste of money, do you believe that you can have the craic without it?

The way I am looking at it now is that when you consumer alcohol it:

Has no nutritional benefit
You will either piss it all out our throw it all up; (literally pissing all your money spent away)
The hangovers
More than likely to do something you will regret.

I am sure there are other reasons, these were just at the top of my mind. Do the cons outweigh whatever pros there are?

ejmaztec

It's a waste of money if you don't brew your own.

Spunge

Pro

mikemac

RepublicanEagle wrote: »

Has no nutritional benefit

Guinness has iron
Or is that an urban myth?

Millicent

No

In Ireland, definitely. Paying 50 quid in a night to die all the next day? No thanks.

RepublicanEagle

No

mikemac wrote: »

Guinness has iron
Or is that an urban myth?

Urban myth.

RichieC

No

i've severly cut down on my drinking lately and it's great having an extra few bob there and I'm feeling a lot better in my skin too.. yea, it is a waste tbf.

mikom

mikemac wrote: »

Guinness has iron
Or is that an urban myth?

That's Iron-bru you're thinking of.

Peyton Manning

Not at all. It keeps gardai, take-aways and ugly women in business.

paddyandy

No

If it ONLY took my money i'd still be drinking......

RichieC

No

There is iron in guinness, just not loads as the story goes.

veryangryman

Alcohol kills germs, why do you think they drop it in Listerine.

Socially it removes social inhibitions that people have these days, which extent to answering the door in some cases. It helps one express themselves (for better or worse) and makes people who you'd normally not have much to say to, bearable.

It also gives people the social outlet to get to know new people which you dont really get elsewhere (maybe the office i guess) without seeming odd. In this way, it also helps people come out of their shell where society is constantly stopping them from expressing themselves.

So no, not a waste of money. Combined with social activity, alcohol is a decent investment.

I add the health warning of "in moderation" to all of the above of course!

Where To

No

Cam Newton wrote: »

Not at all. It keeps gardai, take-aways and ugly women in business.

I think pubs do ok out of it too :pac:

Spunge

veryangryman wrote: »

Socially it removes social inhibitions that people have these days, which extent to answering the door in some cases. It helps one express themselves (for better or worse) and makes people who you'd normally not have much to say to, bearable.

It also gives people the social outlet to get to know new people which you dont really get elsewhere (maybe the office i guess) without seeming odd. In this way, it also helps people come out of their shell where society is constantly stopping them from expressing themselves.

So no, not a waste of money. Combined with social activity, alcohol is a decent investment.

Yeah cocaine is pretty good at that too.

pudzey101

veryangryman wrote: »

Alcohol kills germs, why do you think they drop it in Listerine.

Socially it removes social inhibitions that people have these days, which extent to answering the door in some cases. It helps one express themselves (for better or worse) and makes people who you'd normally not have much to say to, bearable.

It also gives people the social outlet to get to know new people which you dont really get elsewhere (maybe the office i guess) without seeming odd. In this way, it also helps people come out of their shell where society is constantly stopping them from expressing themselves.

So no, not a waste of money. Combined with social activity, alcohol is a decent investment.

I add the health warning of "in moderation" to all of the above of course!

well said, was goona write something like this untill i saw this post!:)

Dotrel

Gives you a nice big beer belly that you can do tricks with and show off proudly to your friends.

4zn76tysfajdxp

mikom wrote: »

That's Iron-bru you're thinking of.

Irn Bru. An early example of text speak.

Captain Limerick

I like to go out and get drunk,
and it can cost a considerable chunk,
But at the end of the day,
Thats how I get laid,
Would you rather I became a monk?

Dotrel

Captain Limerick wrote: »

I like to go out and get drunk,
and it can cost a considerable chunk,
But at the end of the day,
Thats how I get laid,
Would you rather I became a monk?

You're never going to get to 69,212 if you keep this up.

RepublicanEagle

No

veryangryman wrote: »

Socially it removes social inhibitions that people have these days, which extent to answering the door in some cases. It helps one express themselves (for better or worse) and makes people who you'd normally not have much to say to, bearable.

It also gives people the social outlet to get to know new people which you dont really get elsewhere (maybe the office i guess) without seeming odd. In this way, it also helps people come out of their shell where society is constantly stopping them from expressing themselves.

So no, not a waste of money. Combined with social activity, alcohol is a decent investment.

I add the health warning of "in moderation" to all of the above of course!

Tbh, that is a piss poor reason for drinking alcohol, you do not need alcohol to (more or less what you implying) talk to people.

The "social inhibition", and having to drink to talk to people boils down to self-esteem issues and mediocre social skills in my opinion, people do not need alcohol to engage in conversation and social activities with people, strangers and friends alike.

mikom

RepublicanEagle wrote: »

people do not need alcohol to engage in conversation with people, strangers and friends alike.

Tell that to the Dutch.

RepublicanEagle

No

Captain Limerick wrote: »

I like to go out and get drunk,
and it can cost a considerable chunk,
But at the end of the day,
Thats how I get laid,
Would you rather I became a monk?

You need alcohol to get laid?:rolleyes:

risteard7

Millicent wrote: »

In Ireland, definitely. Paying 50 quid in a night to die all the next day? No thanks.

you would be lucky to get away with 50 these days

daddydick

mikom wrote: »

That's Iron-bru you're thinking of.

Shocking effort at a gag

mikom

daddydick wrote: »

Shocking effort at a gag

I thhhank you....

daddydick

RepublicanEagle wrote: »

Tbh, that is a piss poor reason for drinking alcohol, you do not need alcohol to (more or less what you implying) talk to people.

The "social inhibition", and having to drink to talk to people boils down to self-esteem issues and mediocre social skills in my opinion, people do not need alcohol to engage in conversation and social activities with people, strangers and friends alike.

I would like to remind you that you are not the same person as the person you are replying to. Stop lecturing him on why his opinions are so wrong. You come across as a condescending so and so.

My name is URL

RepublicanEagle wrote: »

You need alcohol to get laid?:rolleyes:

No, the people being hit on need alcohol.

Captain Limerick

RepublicanEagle wrote: »

You need alcohol to get laid?:rolleyes:

Sadly like a lot of Irish folk,
I'm quite an ugly bloke.
The girls won't give me a look,
Unless they're drunk as f*ck!
I'm sorry but that ain't a joke!

Caveman1

Definitely a waste of money, every so often I go off the drink for a couple of weeks, I do feel great, have extra money and even my skin does look much better, but I always end up going back on it. I would love to be able to stay off it for a solid year but cant see that ever happening

RepublicanEagle

No

daddydick wrote: »

I would like to remind you that you are not the same person as the person you are replying to. Stop lecturing him on why his opinions are so wrong. You come across as a condescending so and so.

Ooohhhh touchy.........never said his opinions were wrong, I merely stated it was a poor reason........so wash the sand out of your vagina.:L

Icaras

RepublicanEagle wrote: »

More than likely to do something you will regret.

From the quote I imagine you, OP, go out to get hammered, try to keep up/outdrink your buddys and hit something like double vodkas and red bull in a night club - if that is what you do then yes it is a waste of money.

If you drink in moderation and use the pub as a means of socialising then imo it is not a waste of money. Like it or not for the most part Irelands social scene is the pub - people always like to meet in a pub, great for before/after an event e.g. gig, cinema, meal etc. Again my opinion but generally I dont find you meet new/interesting people at other social places e.g. gym, fitness classes, courses, out running in a park, boards.

RepublicanEagle

No

Icaras wrote: »

From the quote I imagine you, OP, go out to get hammered, try to keep up/outdrink your buddys and hit something like double vodkas and red bull in a night club - if that is what you do then yes it is a waste of money.

First, vodka and redbull are disgusting.
Second, I am not a big fan of alcohol (you might have noticed that if you kept reading)

Third, if you get assumptions of a person's charcter on AH from what they say then you clearly are a tool.

SeaFields

Icaras wrote: »

If you drink in moderation and use the pub as a means of socialising then imo it is not a waste of money. Like it or not for the most part Irelands social scene is the pub - people always like to meet in a pub, great for before/after an event e.g. gig, cinema, meal etc.

This is it in nutshell. Leaving aside the going out and getting hammered side of things the pub can be a great place to relax and have a bit of banter with friends whereas you mightn't see them from one end of the week to the other between work/kids/study etc.

RepublicanEagle

No

SeaFields wrote: »

This is it in nutshell. Leaving aside the going out and getting hammered side of things the pub can be a great place to relax and have a bit of banter with friends whereas you mightn't see them from one end of the week to the other between work/kids/study etc.

It is alcohol not the pub I was speaking of, I and most people have no problem with meeting friends or family I don't see often in the pub, that goes without saying.

Stocking Drinks Whiskey

Has no nutritional benefit
Well, it's essentially poison but I doubt it has zero nutritional benefit, even candy has some nutritional benefit.

You will either piss it all out our throw it all up; (literally pissing all your money spent away)
I'm sorry but doesn't the body dispose of everything you consume? I'm pretty sure it does.

The hangovers
If you drink too much.

More than likely to do something you will regret.
True.

However, it's only a waste of money if you don't enjoy it, if you enjoy alcohol then you are not wasting your money by spending it on alcohol.

Alcohol, in moderation is used to enhance social experiences and to be quite honest, happiness is more grounded in your experiences rather than your possessions, basically, if you are enjoying yourself then you are not wasting your money.

-Trek-

Beer keeps me sane.

Icaras

RepublicanEagle wrote: »

First, vodka and redbull are disgusting.
Second, I am not a big fan of alcohol (you might have noticed that if you kept reading)

Your next sentence is "I am sure there are other reasons, these were just at the top of my mind. Do the cons outweigh whatever pros there are?" how from this should I have known from that sentence that you are not a big fan of alcohol?

RepublicanEagle wrote: »

Third, if you get assumptions of a person's charcter on AH from what they say then you clearly are a tool.

I haven't assumed your character I have assumed your behaviour, I am also going to continue to assume I am correct.

Spunge

It also decreases your testosterone, increases your estrogen, makes it more likely food you eat will be turned into bodyfat.

Ulysses Gaze

This may not answer your question OP but...

'Alcohol is a way of life. Alcohol is MY way of life. And I aim to keep it.'

Stocking Drinks Whiskey

Spunge wrote: »

It also decreases your testosterone, increases your estrogen, makes it more likely food you eat will be turned into bodyfat.

From what I have seen of lads fighting outside bars I'm going to have to ask for a source on it decreasing your testosterone.

R.D. aka MR.D

I haven't drank in 2 months mainly because it stopped making the people around me more interesting!!!

Saving so much money!!!!

phoenix833

Pro+Con

Spunge

Stocking Drinks Whiskey wrote: »

From what I have seen of lads fighting outside bars I'm going to have to ask for a source on it decreasing your testosterone.

not the best source.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_and_sex#Alcohol_and_sex_in_men

Stocking Drinks Whiskey

phoenix833 wrote: »

Pro+Con

I have no idea how to upload images, what the hell am I after doing?

Cianos

Regular drinkers have a higher life expectancy than non drinkers.

log22

Ive cut down my drinkin a lot over the past few months and feel better i kinda sick of goin out lookin at drunken ejits makin fools of themselves.I agree with another poster alcohol is there to be enjoyed craft beer are the new thing more people should try them instead of the mass produced crap thats on sale in most pubs around the country.Craft beers taste alot better than others in my opinion and worth the money supporting Irish business.

Jake Rugby Walrus666

daddydick wrote: »

I would like to remind you that you are not the same person as the person you are replying to.

In Eastern Philosophy they take a different slant on this point. That the person replying and being replied to are really ONE. That the false subject-object perception of our consciousness is an illusion and there is only one.

Yeah Buddy

It's purely a personal thing, there's no one definitive answer - for me though, it's not a waste of money

Herb Powell

log22 wrote: »

Ive cut down my drinkin a lot over the past few months and feel better i kinda sick of goin out lookin at drunken ejits makin fools of themselves.I agree with another poster alcohol is there to be enjoyed craft beer are the new thing more people should try them instead of the mass produced crap thats on sale in most pubs around the country.Craft beers taste alot better than others in my opinion and worth the money supporting Irish business.

Yesssssss, decent beer most certainly is not a waste of money

RepublicanEagle

No

Icaras wrote: »

I haven't assumed your character I have assumed your behaviour, I am also going to continue to assume I am correct.

Feel free to do so you big ignoramus.

craggles

Cianos wrote: »

Regular drinkers have a higher life expectancy than non drinkers.

There are several studies which conclusively back this up.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2017200,00.html