Why do you drink excessively?

Rarely drink nowadays. I was back in Ireland for a few days at the start of the month. Was pretty happy with myself. I didn't drink every night I was home and when I did it was 3-4 drinks maximum and spaced out. Didn't feel drunk the entire time I was there....just supped away on some Guinness for the taste of it and enjoyed some good live music.

Quite the life!

I dont drink anymore...since i turned 21 i drank less and less ( I never drank much anyway)....at 27 now i just completely avoid alcohol and any events or venues that provide it

I enjoy all my free time but dont socialise anywhere where alcohol is present..simple reason being i cannot tolerate drink/drug induced behaviour

I spend my time studying, training, cooking, travelling, watching movies, reading , or with my family/girlfriend/friends

I think Ireland has a very serious problem with alcohol....A lot of people dont like to admit it...but it is true

pone2012 wrote: »

I dont drink anymore...since i turned 21 i drank less and less ( I never drank much anyway)....at 27 now i just completely avoid alcohol and any events or venues that provide it

I enjoy all my free time but dont socialise anywhere where alcohol is present..simple reason being i cannot tolerate drink/drug induced behaviour

I spend my time studying, training, cooking, travelling, watching movies, reading , or with my family/girlfriend/friends

I think Ireland has a very serious problem with alcohol....A lot of people dont like to admit it...but it is true

Maybe but what solution is there? People know the risks of addiction etc, nobody is forcing them to drink. Its up to people to do it and theyre allowed to if they want .

Tolstoy wrote about this in a piece called 'Why do Men Stupefy Themselves?'. Worth a read if you're looking to while away some time on a Sunday afternoon.

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Why_Do_Men_Stupefy_Themselves%3F

In some ways you could equate our modern preoccupation with the internet and social media as a similar form of stupefaction.

JohnFalstaff wrote: »

In some ways you could equate our modern preoccupation with the internet and social media as a similar form of stupefaction.

We are all stupid

enya kenny wrote: »

In Ireland there is a serious problem with people binge drinking multiple times a week?

Why do you drink excessively? Are you bored? Addicted? Nothing else to do?

Could you go out and not drink for the night? Stay off it for a few months?

Whats your story and are the government to blame for the lack of facilites in Ireland?

There would not be a serious problem if the price in pubs were lower. Nowadays people are used to getting tanked up at home before they even go out

tomwaterford wrote: »

Fair play!!

Wouldn't wish that unemployment on anyone....hope it goes well

Thanks. Started out as a career break but it took longer than I thought to get a job again

valoren wrote: »

Alcohol.

The only psychoactive drug in the world you have to justify not taking

That's very true though. When I realised that I had an unhealthy relationship with alcohol and did something about I also realised that drinking buddies aren't necessarily friends. In fact one or two of them were quite hostile to the idea that I wanted to end the cycle of getting pissed on Saturday, doing nothing on Sunday, feeling depressed on Monday and Tuesday, gooing for a few pints on Wednesday as it leaves your system, hitting the pub on Thursday for a few ones after work, and repeating that process for 15 years. It might be because it shined a light on their own unhealthy relationship with a substance that is incredibly easy to get addicted to.

I didn't and don't classify myself as an alcoholic, but I don't think there is anyone who couldn't fall into the trap of using alcohol as a crutch or to self-medicate if they decided to. Not drinking also shows how wrapped up alcohol is in the cultural fabric of Irish life. It's everywhere. That said, I've found getting out there, meeting new people, and trying new things the most rewarding aspect of the whole thing. There's moments of authentic happiness, contentment and creativity that I used to fool myself into believing could only be achieved by drinking two bottles of wine or sinking a load of pints.