Effects of Drinking Alcohol on people who already have a temper

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

OK - People who drink alcohol extensively and cause a fight or bottles someone or just get Leary or aggressive - are they already an aggressive person or a person with a short temper to start off with and the alcohol just accelerates it even further, or is it the drink that lowers barriers and inhibitions and is so mood changing that it can change a placid person to a raving loony monster?

Here is the way I look at it, but i am not an expert. That people who are very laid back and dont have a temper just drink or get drunk and pass out , or act all silly and laugh and fall over things and puke up everywhere - whereas people who get drunk and want to fight someone or starts kicking stuff or get into a rage , they already (before drinking) are volatile people to start off with and that the drinking just accelerates their mood/temper.

What do you reckon? - any truth in what I say or do you not agree?

Don't agree. I myself have short temper, but when I drink I am the total opposite. That's just one case I suppose.

I think a lot of it depends on the actual alcohol involved, know some people who go nuts on beer but are fine on spirits; and vice versa.

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

What do you reckon?

You've way too much time on your hands.

Joeseph Balls wrote: »

Wanna fight?

I was talking to Andy, but you'll do!

I tend to be cranky a lot of the time, but beer makes me merry and then sleepy. If I'm anxious and then get pissed I can be argumentative, but that's the exception rather than the rule. I have a friend who is anxious most of the time and when he takes drink (Heineken) he turns abusive.... His wife gets the brunt of it usually horrible stuff like 'you fat loser, useless c*nt" etc. He turned on me the last time we were all out together at a Pixies gig and I haven't spoken to him since. He'll be all contrite for a few days before it all starts again. This has been happening regularly for the last few years and I have got to the point where I have declined friends' weekends away where he is involved... It just ruins everyone's night.

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Really depends on the person & drink.

A guy could have a few pints toddle off home to bed and be fine. Same guy could have a whisked and turn into Stalin. Same lad could have gin, and be grand, while another be in a state of depression. He could enjoy a jager bomb while missus could be bouncing off the walls on it.

Every person has their Kryponite when it comes to booze, just need to know what it is and stay away from it.

I've found that myself. Different drinks have completely different effects on my mood. Guinness just mellows me out and I can relax whereas Whiskey makes me upset (not in the angry way).

I think booze tends to amplify what you're already feeling.
Anger becomes rage, sadness despair etc etc.

If I'm in a bad place I won't drink, unless I'm by myself.

OldNotWIse wrote: »

That's worse

Only if you choose to see it that way.
Better that I don't put a downer on another persons day because I'm having a bad one.

Story Bud? wrote: »

I'm the opposite.

If I'm in a bad mood, I'll be absolutely grand after a couple of drinks.

Thankfully my personality never changes (and I'm not in the slightest bit aggressive), just that my mood lightens.

A great way to be altogether.

OldNotWIse wrote: »

No I wasn't judging you, I just meant from a mental health perspective, its not good to be drinking alone if you feel down Then again, I'm guilty of it myself at times..

Oh I know I wasn't taking offence I just don't see it that way.
It works for me, I'm not saying I lock myself away on a regular basis.

Just now and again. Whatever works sure.

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

ah no now thats not on at all - anyone else on here feel thats acceptable at all! he should get called for that and nipped in the bud , i'm amazed no-one else on here hasnt commented about that . Drink or no drink its a form of abuse that has to be stamped out in society - i suppose he is all "Im sorry, i wont do it again" about it when he sobers up? ... I dunno, maybe not.

Got it in one... all apologies till the next time.
It's like Jekyll and Hyde. I've come to the end of my rope because I've been on the receiving end a few times myself and he is now persona non grata as far as I'm concerned until I see evidence of attending a medical professional!

His wife is a very good friend and I'm happy to socialise with her as long as he's not around.

Squall Leonhart wrote: »

It's the lucozade

and the dodgy kebab I had earlier

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

I think a lot of it depends on the actual alcohol involved, know some people who go nuts on beer but are fine on spirits; and vice versa.

This notion of different beers having a different effect is all nonsense IMHO. It's all alcohol, and by and large doesn't contain anything else that will have as profound an effect on your state of mind. Unless you're mixing with high-caffeine energy drinks or something.

I would say the biggest difference comes from the way it's drank and the state of mind someone is in when they start drinking.
e.g. Vodka = I'm drinking to get drunk because I've had a ****ty day and I'm drinking way too fast.
Bulmers = it's a nice sunny day and it seems like I should be drinking Bulmers, but fncking hell this beer garden is packed and those college students are way too drunk and annoying and I'm not enjoying myself so all I can do is drink this pint as quickly as possible.

LexieOnRale wrote: »

I think people who get in fights enjoy fights.

I tend to agree with this. A family friend was a notorious brawler in his teens and twenties. Begbie-style, quite guaranteed that he'd end up pinning some guy on the floor and laying into him by the end of the night.
He also has "a look" about him that other brawlers would just walk up to him out of the blue and suggest they go outside and kick lumps out of eachother.

But he had something of an epiphany and worked on his issues. He still drinks as much and gets sloppy drunk but in the 12 years I've been drinking with the guy (my brothers have been drinking with him for 25+ years), I've never seen him once even lose the rag at someone. And I've seen people walk up and ask him for a scrap and he turns them down.

So like you say, it's really not that simple. If alcohol "made" people angry, then this guy wouldn't be the happy, sleepy drunk he is today.

I would say practically everyone who gets in regular scraps while drunk has underlying anger and emotional issues they need to deal with.

One-off disagreements can likely be chalked down to having a really bad day or being really upset or whatever.

OldNotWIse wrote: »

That's worse

You know, I'm not sure it is. I don't necessarily buy into the traditional "ten signs you're an alcoholic" checklist. There's nothing inherently wrong with drinking on your own. Or drinking to get drunk.
In fact, it's become a lovely guilty pleasure for me now when my wife is out for the night and the child tucked up in bed to sit down with a couple of beers and a movie that my wife will never watch. Cathartic.

I've avoided cider for years, I went through one summer of drinking Bulmers because friends drank it but I got turned right off it towards the end.

Tried some Irish craft cider last weekend and it's a completely different ball game. They're ****ing unreal. I'm a convert.

seamus wrote: »

So like you say, it's really not that simple. If alcohol "made" people angry, then this guy wouldn't be the happy, sleepy drunk he is today.

Maybe he just turned 30. That ruined my ability to drink and get drunk. Now if I have more than 4 pints I just feel full and don't want any more.

ScumLord wrote: »

Maybe he just turned 30. That ruined my ability to drink and get drunk. Now if I have more than 4 pints I just feel full and don't want any more.

Nah, it happened well before he turned 30 and believe me he drinks way more than 4 pints

In his case, he was a pretty angry in his early teens and then picked up a psycho girlfriend who not only wrecked his head, but also got a thrill out of winding him up and seeing him beat lumps out of other guys. So he was just a seething ball of stress quite a lot of the time.

In his mid-twenties he called off their engagement and dumped her and within a few months he was a new man.