Alcohol and the person inside

everdead.ie

Hey AH,

I was just wondering what peoples view of the drastic change some people experience after a few drinks?

Case in point a neighbour was home this christmas and went out with a group including a girl who used to live in our area. He ended up spending the night looking after her as she spent the night trying to start fights for what appeared like no reason.

Now I have seen this so many times people who get very aggressive and abusive after a few drinks and to be fair I also know a load of people who become totally passive and relaxed where they would normally be a lot more uptight or conservative.

So AH whats your experience and which is the real personality?

The Backwards Man

What's in sober comes out drunk. It's as simple as that.

Anyone that says alcohol changes them is talking balls.

I Heart Internet

If your neighbour was a woman then obviously "her drink was spiked."

In general, I think people who are assholes when drunk are just managing to contain it better when sober. Most people are sound sober or drunk.

caustic 1

What you mean the falling about all over the place, spilling drinks, looking dishevelled, mascara down about the chin, (that's just the fellas), starting fights, before puking over everyone and everything on your path?


No think it's a myth really.

Mr. Incognito

People are just chemical bags and alcohol is a chemical.

Different types of alcohol affect people in different ways as we all react differently depending on how tired we are or what we have eaten or how well our metabolism is functioning.

There is no mystery, just science

Maximus Alexander

My life from the ages of 10 to about 22 revolved around dealing with a mother who has this affliction. When she drinks she turns into a monster who somehow doesn't look like the same person, so distorted with venom and hate does it become. The things she does and says to the people closest to her, not to mention herself, when in this state don't even bear repeating.

It certainly isn't a reflection on the person that she is when sober, though in my experience it does reflect on some deep-seated and unresolved issues - an inner turmoil - that has never been (and most likely will never be) dealt with.

A horrible and unnerving thing to have to cope with for all involved.

caustic 1

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

My life from the ages of 10 to about 22 revolved around dealing with a mother who has this affliction. When she drinks she turns into a monster who somehow doesn't look like the same person, so distorted with venom and hate does it become. The things she does and says to the people closest to her, not to mention herself, when in this state don't even bear repeating.

It certainly isn't a reflection on the person that she is when sober, though in my experience it does reflect on some deep-seated and unresolved issues - an inner turmoil - that has never been (and most likely will never be) dealt with.

A horrible and unnerving thing to have to cope with for all involved.

awful to watch and have to deal with

Penny Tration

I just stop being shy and inhibited when I'm drunk. My friends and bf say I'm more 'myself' after a few drinks.

One of my friends is a very moody, aggressive drunk. She's moody and aggressive sober, but can rein it in more while sober.

J_E

Hard to hold in repressed feelings/thoughts when you're not entirely in control of them. Some people are masterful at projecting an image of themselves to others but lose it when they get drunk (and usually chronically drunk at that)

Alcoholism is one of the worst things to have to deal with in a family...

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

My life from the ages of 10 to about 22 revolved around dealing with a mother who has this affliction. When she drinks she turns into a monster who somehow doesn't look like the same person, so distorted with venom and hate does it become. The things she does and says to the people closest to her, not to mention herself, when in this state don't even bear repeating.

It certainly isn't a reflection on the person that she is when sober, though in my experience it does reflect on some deep-seated and unresolved issues - an inner turmoil - that has never been (and most likely will never be) dealt with.

A horrible and unnerving thing to have to cope with for all involved.

It really is, and especially confusing and upsetting when you're younger and don't understand how someone you love and trust can turn on you so easily.

hedgehog2

Alcohol takes hold of people and gets progressively worse the more people abuse it.
I have seen the nicest/caring people turn into demons on the crap.
If alcohol was invented today it would have a class A substance abuse ban on it.
Its a poison on our society in my opinion and it ruins lives.

hedgehog2

Alcohol takes hold of people and gets progressively worse the more people abuse it.
I have seen the nicest/caring people turn into demons on the crap.
If alcohol was invented today it would have a class A substance abuse ban on it.
Its a poison on our society in my opinion and it ruins lives.

mathie

green_screen wrote: »

I just stop being shy and inhibited when I'm drunk. My friends and bf say I'm more 'myself' after a few drinks.

Fun Bobby?

nelly17

hedgehog2 wrote: »

Alcohol takes hold of people and gets progressively worse the more people abuse it.
I have seen the nicest/caring people turn into demons on the crap.
If alcohol was invented today it would have a class A substance abuse ban on it.
Its a poison on our society in my opinion and it ruins lives.

+1

The man in red and black

I Heart Internet wrote: »

If your neighbour was a woman then obviously "her drink was spiked."

In general, I think people who are assholes when drunk are just managing to contain it better when sober. Most people are sound sober or drunk.

This one can be really annoying at times. Yes there surely are nut jobs out there who spike drinks but the amount of times you hear girls say their drink or their friends drink was spiked because they ended up passed out and don't remember anything is ridiculous. It might have had something to do with the half litre of vodka they knowingly drank before going out?!

There are times people do get spiked but it's often used as a handy excuse for being hammered due to irresponsible drinking!

Wibbs

I dunno, I've found it depends on the individual. Sometimes the inner world comes out, other times it's just random noise. IMHO in vino veritas is far too brute an instrument to explain human behaviour under the influence.

Pumpkinseeds

Some alcoholic drinks definitely affect peoples personalities. It was about 20 years ago now, but I bought a bottle of rosé wine, I'd never had it before, and I just got insanely angry for no reason. I've no idea what the Hell happened, I wasn't drunk but my personality just completely changed and I threw a glass ashtray at my brothers head. It was a big heavy ashtray and if it had hit him in the head it really would have done him serious harm.

I've never touched rosé since and I never will.

jimgoose

A lot of people go nuts after whiskey. I've seen cider bring out aggression in plenty otherwise gentle folk as well. Personally, I'm a happy drunk. Aside from sitting on the roof at four in the morning playing the banjo with no trousers on. Damn you, Jim Beam!! :mad:

4zn76tysfajdxp

Wibbs wrote: »

IMHO in vino veritas is far too brute an instrument to explain human behaviour under the influence.

+1 It's a nonsense, in my opinion.

Gustavo Kuerten

It can bring it demons that lie within.

There was a friend in college who was the nicest individual you would ever meet sober. Even when he was drinking normally, he would be still pretty nice. However if he went near Buckfast, he would turn into an absolute monster.

I always have the impression that if alcohol doesn't suit you, then you just shouldn't drink it. Unfortunately not many people hold this viewpoint.

Kerrydude1981

Deleted User wrote: »

There was a friend in college who was the nicest individual you would ever meet sober. Even when he was drinking normally, he would be still pretty nice. However if he went near Buckfast, he would turn into an absolute monster.

I always have the impression that if alcohol doesn't suit you, then you just shouldn't drink it. Unfortunately not many people hold this viewpoint.

I would have the same view,if a person acts like that after drinking alcohol then that person is better off not drinking at all.

mathie

Gustavo Kuerten wrote: »

It can bring it demons that lie within.

Why do I have a feeling this post will be used as evidence in the near future?

SPS1

Alcohol affects certain parts of the brain, more specifically the cereberal cortex & hypothalmus/pituarity, making people more lax in rational behaviour.

Couple that with general stress & individual response to environmental stimuli, you get a calm person or an aggressive person.

Muise...

Thread got all serious. Whereas I've often had good times with alcohol and people inside.

Ray Palmer

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

People are just chemical bags and alcohol is a chemical.

Different types of alcohol affect people in different ways as we all react differently depending on how tired we are or what we have eaten or how well our metabolism is functioning.

There is no mystery, just science

Well there appears to be a mystery to you. Alcohol is alcohol and the form it gets into your body makes no difference. They only possible difference is the speed you drink it in. So "Tequila makes me crazy" isn't because of the alcohol is different in tequila but the fact people consume it rapidly. 40% vodka vs 40% whiskey is no different.

Alcohol lower inhibitions and somebody who appear quite calm may in fact be seething rage that their sober brain prevents from reacting. Remove the inhibition and they are now aggressive. All it shows you is how close they are to rage in everyday life and have to keep tabs on it.

http://io9.com/do-different-kinds-of-alcohol-get-you-different-kinds-o-482710477

smurgen

For me it's a mood amplifier. If I'm in a bad mood and i'm drinking it'll come to the surface and I get worse. If I'm in great humour and I go drinking I'll feel even better.that's why I try and avoid it if I'm pissed off

george_lucas

alcohol makes me more mellow - sleepy

Holsten

I've seen it all my life through both personal and professional experiences.

It brings to the surface any underlying problems/feelings/emotions be they good or bad. I've seen feeble women turned into pitbulls after a few glasses of wine, and hard men turned into child like states from a few beers.

It's an insane drug.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

It's far easier to lie and project a certain 'image' of yourself when drinking as it decreases your inhibitions. I don't really buy it's a type of 'truth serum' substance.

Factor in situation, mood, how much/often a person drinks and a whole range of internal and environmental factors and it's really not an exact science.

IrishSkyBoxer

Possibly one of the worst inventions to ever grace society, the damage it does is gargantuan, almost immeasurable. I honestly don't know how anybody drinks, it is insane. Total herd mentality too, especially in this country.

Smithwicks Man

Ray Palmer wrote: »

Well there appears to be a mystery to you. Alcohol is alcohol and the form it gets into your body makes no difference. They only possible difference is the speed you drink it in. So "Tequila makes me crazy" isn't because of the alcohol is different in tequila but the fact people consume it rapidly. 40% vodka vs 40% whiskey is no different.

Alcohol lower inhibitions and somebody who appear quite calm may in fact be seething rage that their sober brain prevents from reacting. Remove the inhibition and they are now aggressive. All it shows you is how close they are to rage in everyday life and have to keep tabs on it.

http://io9.com/do-different-kinds-of-alcohol-get-you-different-kinds-o-482710477

Speaking from experience it is different completely both in how drunk you get and what type of drunk.

Whiskey makes me much more aggressive than Vodka. Brandy makes me much incoherent than Beer etc.

That chart you've shown is measured in oz but I'll change it to our measures for handiness. The above chart states that 1 Brandy here (35.5ml) is the equivalent of 1 half-pint of 5% Beer (284ml). That is very much off the mark for me, and so many others I know.

Wibbs

Wibbs wrote: »

I dunno, I've found it depends on the individual. Sometimes the inner world comes out, other times it's just random noise. IMHO in vino veritas is far too brute an instrument to explain human behaviour under the influence.

When I was younger I used to think it was simple but the last few years and some things I've said and been told have shown me otherwise :P There are other things that act like truth serum with me but drink really isn't one of them.

Smithwicks Man

Smithwicks Man wrote: »

Speaking from experience it is different completely both in how drunk you get and what type of drunk.

Whiskey makes me much more aggressive than Vodka. Brandy makes me much incoherent than Beer etc.

That chart you've shown is measured in oz but I'll change it to our measures for handiness. The above chart states that 1 Brandy here (35.5ml) is the equivalent of 1 half-pint of 5% Beer (284ml). That is very much off the mark for me, and so many others I know.

I honestly think that that's all psychosomatic. Similar to how in different places drunks are perceived in different ways and the behaviours then follow.

SamAK

But shur it's legal shur, so tis grand.

"Hoi gard, that fella is shmokin a joint, arrest him!"