When is it acceptable to have a drink?

CruelCoin · 02-04-2014 02:40PM

CK73 wrote: »

So... in your mind, when is it okay to drink?

It's a lingering stigma from the "craic" based social structure here in Ireland.

The idea that you must be out with others in order to have a drink, and even then it's only as a social lubricant.
This carries over to the home where you're seen to be a sad bastard if you drink alone.

All bull**** really. I enjoy beer. I mean really enjoy it. I go out of my way to try new beers (500+ at this stage). Not something i can do in any local pubs which all serve nothing but the regular 5 different versions of horse piss.

In answer to your question, and to pose a question to you: Whenever you want is fine, and why does it bother you what people think about your drinking patterns?

BrokenArrows · 02-04-2014 02:42PM

Drinking by yourself it totally acceptable.
Getting drunk by yourself isn't.

ScumLord · 02-04-2014 03:17PM

BrokenArrows wrote: »

Drinking by yourself it totally acceptable.
Getting drunk by yourself isn't.

So you're only allowed enough alcohol to wet the palate but if the alcohol affects you in any way you're an alco?

anncoates · 02-04-2014 03:31PM

BrokenArrows wrote: »

Drinking by yourself it totally acceptable.
Getting drunk by yourself isn't.

This sums up Ireland.

Falling down drunk in the pub: The Craic

Tipsy at home: alcoholic

It's actually like people's opinions are scripted by the Vintners Association

WilyCoyote · 02-04-2014 03:51PM

If you're still breathing.

Santa Cruz · 02-04-2014 03:53PM

I usually don't start until after the 8 o clock "it says in the papers " feature. I find I operate better if I wait till then.

FizzleSticks · 02-04-2014 04:37PM

This post has been deleted.

bnt · 02-04-2014 05:12PM

I used to be kind-of scared to drink on my own, or to even have alcohol in the house (apart from bringing in the occasional beer). But I got over that, and it seems I'm quite safe from alcoholic tendencies. I have a bottle of Scotch in at the moment, but had forgotten about it until I saw this thread.

I think we're being unduly influenced by American TV in particular, which tends to portray any drinking during the day as "bad". It's something done by "baddies" or by alcoholics, never normal people.

ScumLord · 02-04-2014 05:26PM

CruelCoin wrote: »

Not something i can do in any local pubs which all serve nothing but the regular 5 different versions of horse piss.

I'd be the same, when I go buying beer I'd buy one or two of each rather than a six pack, whenever I'm out of the country there always seems to be a great selection of beers available in pubs, even Irish beers I'd never heard off, of course back in Ireland they're the most expensive drinks on the shelf so most Irish supermarket won't even bother stocking them. Irish pubs at this stage are no better than vending machines with a bit of seating. Many other countries do a better version of the Irish pub than we do at this stage.

Daveysil15 · 02-04-2014 05:35PM

ScumLord wrote: »

Irish pubs at this stage are no better than vending machines with a bit of seating. Many other countries do a better version of the Irish pub than we do at this stage.

Yeah the selection here is pretty bad alright. Plus there doesn't seem to be as much stigma associated with drinking alone in bars abroad as there is here. A lot of bars here can be quite clannish.

sopretty · 02-04-2014 05:36PM

Daveysil15 wrote: »

Yeah the selection here is pretty bad alright. Plus there doesn't seem to be as much stigma associated with drinking alone in bars abroad as there is here. A lot of bars here can be quite clannish.

Try drinking alone in a bar abroad if you're a woman! :eek:

Daveysil15 · 02-04-2014 05:40PM

sopretty wrote: »

Try drinking alone in a bar abroad if you're a woman! :eek:

OK I'll go get a sex change tomorrow.

sopretty · 02-04-2014 05:41PM

Daveysil15 wrote: »

OK I'll go get a sex change tomorrow.

Ah, ya can't be at that craic. :pac:

chrissb8 · 02-04-2014 05:51PM

whirlpool wrote: »

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.

If the thought of giving up chocolate for a month is daunting you have a problem. If the thought of giving up takeaways for a month is daunting you have a problem. Put it into that context.

Oh what bullcrap rhetoric. I love beer and would drink many different types. I like drinking to unwind and think it caps off a week very well. You types telling me I have an issue if I can't do it for a month is stupid. People do give up stuff for an extended period it's called LENT! and most people I know binge themselves on whatever it is they've given up after it. So please do not make it out as if it's an issue if you can't give up drink for a month. All you're doing is being an a$$.

Pug160 · 02-04-2014 06:12PM

The advice you were given was not only patronising, but I don't think it's even based on any good evidence either. Lots of people have a few drinks on their own without stepping over the line - it's called self control. Some people can only have a drink socially - they don't enjoy drinking on their own - so they probably can't relate to it. With some people, the whole world revolves around them and they can only think in their own narrow terms.

Zed Bank · 02-04-2014 06:14PM

A better question would be when is it never not acceptable to have a drink.

CK73 · 02-04-2014 07:19PM

animaal wrote: »

Yes OP, you have a problem. The good news is that it's easy to fix.

Get one of those rubber corks, with the pump. It seals the bottle, sucking the air out. Then you'll get more than three days from your bottle, especially if you store it in the fridge.

There is another way I was told of by a very nice man in a wine shop. he said to put the cork back in and put the wine in the fridge (yes even red wine) and then decanter a glass of wine and allow it to get back to room temperature and it should be fine. The problem is, my fridge is always full.

I have got one of those things, but I left it in England. I will have to get it back next time I'm over there.

My Step Dad used to drink 8 pints and drive home on it. I used to think that was disgusting, but my Mum said he was one of the safest drivers she knew, even after a few drinks. His body was so used to it, he never got drunk on 8 pints. I can't imagine drinking so much that my body could tolerate that. I still think he was wrong to drive and I still don't like him

My real Dad drinks too much or used to, but with that and smoking he is housebound with ill health now anyway. I wouldn't want to be like either of them.

For me the moment you start drinking out of habit and for the way it makes you feel, but not for the enjoyment of the taste it becomes a problem. I never forget that alcohol is a poison and this is why it needs to be drank moderately, as the more you drink, the more you poison yourself.

Femme_Fatale · 02-04-2014 07:28PM

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.

Lol, what the actual fuq? :pac:
As someone said, do you apply that to everything you enjoy?
And no it isn't actually fine to drink any time. Work for instance.

GenieOz · 02-04-2014 07:30PM

Who knew it could be so tough to define when it's a problem.
Should make alcohol illegal, then it'd always be a problem.

Femme_Fatale · 02-04-2014 07:48PM

I love my wine alone on a Friday evening after a busy week at work and the fact I can sleep in on Saturday.
It's just an enjoyable ritual - and enjoyable rituals are an important part of life.
Addiction is not enjoyment of something, it's needing something, no matter how damaging it is. And knowing it's damaging, yet continuing to indulge.
If I have to get up early on Saturday morning to mind my niece (I enjoy that even more than the wine... but sometimes I could do with wine after it :pac:) then I don't have the wine. No biggie.

It's hilarious the "advice" some people pull from their holes, based on nothing other than this... "idea" they have. Probably from watching soaps.

CK73 · 02-04-2014 07:49PM

bnt wrote: »

I used to be kind-of scared to drink on my own, or to even have alcohol in the house (apart from bringing in the occasional beer). But I got over that, and it seems I'm quite safe from alcoholic tendencies. I have a bottle of Scotch in at the moment, but had forgotten about it until I saw this thread.

I think we're being unduly influenced by American TV in particular, which tends to portray any drinking during the day as "bad". It's something done by "baddies" or by alcoholics, never normal people.

Not at all, I'm not a huge fan of American TV to be fair. It had never occurred to me until this person slapped me in the face with it, with what seemed like genuine concern.

The fact that the same person was smoking like a trooper during the hols didn't seem to have any impact and as a non smoker I was holding in my opinions on that, out of respect that it is her decision.

Femme_Fatale · 02-04-2014 07:52PM

Up until recent years I never drank alone. Barely frequented the off-licence. My drinking was mostly done in the pub.
But I don't have as much interest in going out anymore (standard life stage) and don't need to be out with "the gang" to drink, with the sole purpose of getting wasted, anymore.

02-04-2014 11:00PM

I'd hate to be so afraid of a alcohol or insecure that I couldn't enjoy a beer in the comfort of my own house. As I type I'm enjoying a cold beer while watching a western beside a blazing fire. Really nothing to beat it.

Femme_Fatale · 02-04-2014 11:02PM

Deleted User wrote: »

As I type I'm enjoying a cold beer while watching a western beside a blazing fire.

Bliss.

CK73 · 02-04-2014 11:04PM

Deleted User wrote: »

I'd hate to be so afraid of a alcohol or insecure that I couldn't enjoy a beer in the comfort of my own house. As I type I'm enjoying a cold beer while watching a western beside a blazing fire. Really nothing to beat it.

I had a cup of tea and one of my teeth has gone all heat sensitive on me and it hurts!!!!

Wish I had a nice glass of red and room temperature in the house. That would be for medicinal reasons of course

LynnGrace · 02-04-2014 11:07PM

CK73 wrote: »

The fact that the same person was smoking like a trooper during the hols didn't seem to have any impact and as a non smoker I was holding in my opinions on that, out of respect that it is her decision.

This was the question I was about to ask, did the person giving the advice have any 'bad habits' at all

I would take their advice with a proverbial pinch of salt, if I were you.

ElvisChrist6 · 03-04-2014 12:11AM

bnt wrote: »

I watched the first episode of "House of Cards" a few days ago: there's a scene in which Kevin Spacey's character uses not drinking as a weapon. He has a congressman in his office who is known to like his drink - he was just bailed out of for DUI and solicitation - and so Spacey offers him a drink. But then the congressman spots that Spacey doesn't take a drink himself, asks why, and is told "oh, it's too early for me".

The Passive-Aggressive - it burns ... :eek:

There's a very similar scene in Horrible Bosses in which Spacey says the same thing to Jason Bateman. That's odd they used it in House of Cards too!

When is it acceptable to have a drink?

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