When is it acceptable to have a drink?

CK73 · 02-04-2014 12:17AM #1

Someone I know recently gave me a little advice and told me that it was not good to drink on my own and if I'm not careful, I may become an alcoholic. I was rather shocked to say the least, but here is the thing. I have been single for over a decade and for most of that time I was home alone looking after my offspring. I never even drank spirits until my late 30s and even now it tends to be the occasional vodka and redbull to keep me awake if I did have the opportunity to go out with friends.

Generally a bottle of wine, once opened will last me 3 days and often the last of it will go down the sink, because it has lost its flavour.

I don't drink every day and if I do at all it tends to be one in the evening, after I have clocked off and chilling watching the box or reading a book etc.

Personally I don't see a problem with that and I hate the sensation of being drunk, which I have not felt for many, many years.

So... in your mind, when is it okay to drink? Should it only be socially? Special occasions, or is it not about when you drink it, but about how much you drink?

The Backwards Man · 02-04-2014 12:19AM

I drink to forget.

What was the question again?

CK73 · 02-04-2014 12:21AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I drink to forget.

What was the question again?

ah you murdered your brain cells!!!! What type of drink murdered them?

02-04-2014 12:21AM

Never seen the problem with drinking alone. Few things more enjoyable than sitting in a quiet pub and having a pint while you read or stare into the distance.

whirlpool · 02-04-2014 12:22AM

It's fine to drink anytime, so long as it's not affecting yourself or other people negatively and most importantly you could go cold turkey at any time.

If the thoughts of giving up drink completely for a month makes you wince then it's no longer okay to drink anymore, full stop.

hairyprincess · 02-04-2014 12:23AM

It's five O clock somewhere :pac:

Vito Corleone · 02-04-2014 12:28AM

I've had the same thing said to me. Sometimes I like to chill at home by myself and watch some shows/movies while enjoying a few glasses of whiskey. I don't see the harm.

ScumLord · 02-04-2014 12:28AM

CK73 wrote: »

Someone I know recently gave me a little advice and told me that it was not good to drink on my own and if I'm not careful, I may become an alcoholic.

People pass out all sorts of stupid advice that they don't really understand. They like to add two and two and end up at catastrophe.

P_1 · 02-04-2014 12:28AM

So long as you're deriving some pleasure from it, aren't harming yourself or others by doing it and not addicted to it then it's acceptable in my eyes.

whirlpool · 02-04-2014 12:28AM

My original answer was going to be weddings and concerts.

CK73 · 02-04-2014 12:30AM

whirlpool wrote: »

It's fine to drink anytime, so long as it's not affecting yourself or other people negatively and most importantly you could go cold turkey at any time.

If the thoughts of giving up drink completely for a month makes you wince then it's no longer okay to drink anymore, full stop.

I find I can't drink lunch time. When I was a young lass I used to have to type stuff and I recall one Friday being taken to the Barbican in London to one of the trendy pubs. I think I had one or two drinks before going back to work and I was good for nothing. It makes me really tired too.

For me if I fancy a drink it is best to wait till the end of the day, when I have nothing that needs doing and I can just relax and let that tired sleepy feeling wash over me. Certainly not a good idea to watch a film that requires using your brain while drinking for me.

In fact I think I am worse if I am drinking socially, because I tend to take a slurp between sentences and I talk a lot

CK73 · 02-04-2014 12:32AM

whirlpool wrote: »

My original answer was going to be weddings and concerts.

You can't drink at concerts, because the queues in the toilets are always too long and you miss all the music.

john the one · 02-04-2014 12:33AM

I can enjoy my own company, plus don't get to go out very often so once every few weeks I will get a six pack and watch netflix. Sometimes I make it a 12 pack

CK73 · 02-04-2014 12:34AM

ScumLord wrote: »

People pass out all sorts of stupid advice that they don't really understand. They like to add two and two and end up at catastrophe.

Tell me about it. I don't think this person drives either, so I don't think she appreciated that the few days we spent together was like a holiday for me and I was not driving, so it was a nice change to have company and not be driving.

I don't drink and drive and even in my more reckless years it would be one at the start of the night and no more.

CK73 · 02-04-2014 12:35AM

john the one wrote: »

I can enjoy my own company, plus don't get to go out very often so once every few weeks I will get a six pack and watch netflix. Sometimes I make it a 12 pack

John the calories!!!!!! You could have a bucket of kfc for that and more!!!! Mmmmm... food!!!!

sopretty · 02-04-2014 12:38AM

CK73 wrote: »

Someone I know recently gave me a little advice and told me that it was not good to drink on my own and if I'm not careful, I may become an alcoholic. I was rather shocked to say the least, but here is the thing. I have been single for over a decade and for most of that time I was home alone looking after my offspring. I never even drank spirits until my late 30s and even now it tends to be the occasional vodka and redbull to keep me awake if I did have the opportunity to go out with friends.

Generally a bottle of wine, once opened will last me 3 days and often the last of it will go down the sink, because it has lost its flavour.

I don't drink every day and if I do at all it tends to be one in the evening, after I have clocked off and chilling watching the box or reading a book etc.

Personally I don't see a problem with that and I hate the sensation of being drunk, which I have not felt for many, many years.

So... in your mind, when is it okay to drink? Should it only be socially? Special occasions, or is it not about when you drink it, but about how much you drink?

The someone you know is slightly demented. Come back to me when you drink 3 bottles of wine per night. Thanks.

02-04-2014 12:41AM

This thread reminds me of the time a friend stayed with me for a few weeks. I'm the kind of person who thinks nothing of drinking a beer at one in the afternoon while playing a PC game. 9 times out of 10 I'll just have the one and on the 1 time in 10 I may have two at most. He saw me having a bottle of Grolsch at 1 on a Friday and went off on a rant about how poor it looked and how it was the first step on the road to alcoholism. The same lad is the kind who can't have one, if he had one beer at 1 on a Friday he'd have to keep going till he was well and truly wasted. I tried to explain this to him but he couldn't understand that having one beer in the afternoon is far better than 10 over an evening.

ArtSmart · 02-04-2014 12:45AM

As Einstein said, 'tis all relative'.

sopretty · 02-04-2014 12:50AM

ArtSmart wrote: »

As Einstein said, 'tis all relative'.

Sopretty went one step further.. 'Tis all psychological.

ArtSmart · 02-04-2014 12:55AM

sopretty wrote: »

Sopretty went one step further.. 'Tis all psychological.

Mine's funnier.

:cool:

:eek:

Sir Arthur Daley · 02-04-2014 12:57AM

Any time after 10 o clock mass.

kerry4sam · 02-04-2014 12:59AM

CK73 wrote: »

Someone I know recently gave me a little advice and told me that it was not good to drink on my own and if I'm not careful, I may become an alcoholic. I was rather shocked to say the least, but here is the thing. I have been single for over a decade and for most of that time I was home alone looking after my offspring. I never even drank spirits until my late 30s and even now it tends to be the occasional vodka and redbull to keep me awake if I did have the opportunity to go out with friends.

Generally a bottle of wine, once opened will last me 3 days and often the last of it will go down the sink, because it has lost its flavour.

I don't drink every day and if I do at all it tends to be one in the evening, after I have clocked off and chilling watching the box or reading a book etc.

Personally I don't see a problem with that and I hate the sensation of being drunk, which I have not felt for many, many years.

So... in your mind, when is it okay to drink? Should it only be socially? Special occasions, or is it not about when you drink it, but about how much you drink?

Oh jeez I seldom drink! Up until tonight the last time I drank was after the burial of my Late Loving Dad.
I went for a cycle tonight as needed to help clear my head, and on return I had a glass of Jameson Whiskey (with water) with my dinner while watching tv. & That's it!

I seldom drink, just every now and again I'll have one or two and that's it for another while again then.
kerry4sam

ArtSmart · 02-04-2014 01:01AM

WikiHow wrote: »

Any time after 10 o clock mass.

I hope you mean 10am?

CK73 · 02-04-2014 01:02AM

kerry4sam wrote: »

Oh jeez I seldom drink! Up until tonight the last time I drank was after the burial of my Late Loving Dad.
I went for a cycle tonight as needed to help clear my head, and on return I had a glass of Jameson Whiskey (with water) with my dinner while watching tv. & That's it!

I seldom drink, just every now and again I'll have one or two and that's it for another while again then.
kerry4sam

Yes but what do you think is acceptable with regards to drinking?

beano345 · 02-04-2014 01:17AM

CK73 wrote: »

Yes but what do you think is acceptable with regards to drinking?

That's your own decision to make ,everybody is different,if drink is causing problems in your life then it is a problem.

CK73 · 02-04-2014 01:20AM

beano345 wrote: »

That's your own decision to make ,everybody is different,if drink is causing problems in your life then it is a problem.

It isn't and never has, which is why I was so surprised that someone I barely know was suggesting that I was on a slippery slope.

I'm one of those annoying people who when trying to get drunk, because I'm angry or unhappy, I can't, so it becomes pointless and I stop drinking. I'm more likely to fall asleep than drink too much.

beano345 · 02-04-2014 01:23AM

CK73 wrote: »

It isn't and never has, which is why I was so surprised that someone I barely know was suggesting that I was on a slippery slope.

I'm one of those annoying people who when trying to get drunk, because I'm angry or unhappy, I can't, so it becomes pointless and I stop drinking. I'm more likely to fall asleep than drink too much.

They say drinking on your own is a sign of alcoholism,I dunno could you do without it for a week?a month? If no then I'd say you have your answer

sopretty · 02-04-2014 01:23AM

CK73 wrote: »

It isn't and never has, which is why I was so surprised that someone I barely know was suggesting that I was on a slippery slope.

I'm one of those annoying people who when trying to get drunk, because I'm angry or unhappy, I can't, so it becomes pointless and I stop drinking. I'm more likely to fall asleep than drink too much.

I can guarantee you, you are in no danger of becoming an alcoholic.

sopretty · 02-04-2014 01:25AM

beano345 wrote: »

They say drinking on your own is a sign of alcoholism,I dunno could you do without it for a week?a month? If no then I'd say you have your answer

If you live on your own, of course you're going to drink on your own!
The guy/girl has a bottle of wine that lasts 3 nights lol.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 02-04-2014 01:28AM

It's nobody else's business what someone drinks. If I'm sitting at home and after a bad day, want to open a bottle of vodka and use wine as my mixer then that's my own business and screw anyone coming along with a label and advice.

beano345 · 02-04-2014 01:29AM

sopretty wrote: »

If you live on your own, of course you're going to drink on your own!
The guy/girl has a bottle of wine that lasts 3 nights lol.

I never bought into that drinking on your own malarky,I will say alcohol is a slippery sneaky slope depends on the person really,some can have one or two every night with others it escalates until they've reached their buzz level!

When is it acceptable to have a drink?

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