Is Drinking Alone A Bad Thing?

[~attrACTION~]

I am used to only drinking around other people. In fact, I think right now, this evening is the first time ever that I am drinking by myself. (I mixed an 8oz glass of cranberry juice with about 1/4 of a shot of Everclear). I am just a little bit tired (not really down), but tired of the **** I have been going through the past few days.

When I drank in the past, I never understood when people said they "need a drink" after stuff went wrong for them. Now, I understand how it feels to want to resort to some alcohol after a long day.

Maybe I'm getting old? I think it is a little weird drinking by myself, but what the hell, I don't feel energized enough to go out anyway tonight. Besides I have school work to do.

I was wondering how many of you also have this habit, shall I say, of drinking after a long day, or alone?

 

[Soupar]

There's nothing wrong with drinking alone, personally I love it. It's a nice way to kick back and enjoy yourself without all the **** that can go on when you're with other people.

 

[The Forms]

Its just a matter of making sure you don't get SLOSHED alone often. My brother is an alcoholic, and all he does when he gets home is drink until he passes out. Its really sad, so watch out for that.

 

[sparky0000]

i prefer a nice glass of wine all alone. easier to concentrate on its qualities that way.

 

[Garamin]

Its just a matter of making sure you don't get SLOSHED alone often.

Thats about the only thing that you really need to watch out for.Its fine to drink alone once or twice a week,but not get hammered,just enough to help with sleep.I work at a steel mill 3 nights a week,and don't get off shift until 3:00 am,and by the time i get home,take a shower,and eat dinner(breakfast) its almost 4:30 am,and I am wide awake.So i run down to the 24 hour gas station in town,help out the old WWII vet that runs the place,and he doesn't mind selling me a 12 pack every week.1 or 2 beers later,i am out like a light at 6:00 and nobody but my girl gives a hoot,and she only gets mad that i work so freaking late.

 

[OzyBoy]

I occassionally buy a six pack and drink the whole lot in one night by myself and get partly trashed but thats it. I don't have a problem with alcohol though, i sometimes go by for weeks without drinking. I think if you drink responsibly theres nothing wrong with drinking by yourself.

 

[PRMoon]

Having a drink alone from time to time is okay. A drink to relax and unwind at your house while watching tv or listening to the radio after a 10 hour work day is certainly warrented

Getting drunk alone, every night, is one of the signs of alcoholism. There's probobly something very wrong in your life if you can't think of anything else other then going home and getting wasted alone because you can't stand the rest of the world.

 

[A-Unit]

Re:

Depends what your definition of a "drink" is.

For some, to get a buzz, or drunk.

For other's, just the taste.

I for one will have a Bass Ale in my Pilsner glass whenever I want. I keep the glass cold and the beer cold. Love it. I can't have more than 2, generally, b/c it ruins the taste. I do enjoy ALOT of cold beer from a keg, but under very specific circumstances...at parties, and watching football, and it must be cold, plentiful beer. Being near 27, I've woken up enough times to *hate* the hangover, OR, even a slight headache. For me, that just negates even wanting to drink.

A gf I had in an LDR...needed the drinks when she got home, and would drink til buzzed, sometimes drunk. Don't mistake 1 drink or 2 for those you drink til you get buzzed. It isn't the "having a drink" that is bad...it's the attachment to needing ESCAPE or BEING buzzed, for a variety of reasons.

1) NOT facing something forces it to grow in power.

2) Escaping weakens the human spirit.

3) Leads to greater need for attachments later.

I read a good quote...we all have problems, those with more responsibility tend to have more problems, but they HANDLE them better than those who have less responsibility. It's relative to your set point in life. A young college kid will struggle with:

[] self image
[] grades
[] opposite sex
[] money
[] maybe drugs
[] his future
[] his parents
etc...

Whereas an older, married man will...

[] provide for and support family
[] marrige, connection
[] career
[] external economic factors (effect a supportive husband more)
[] political factors (taxes, local gov)
[] kids lives (have to watch their's as well your's)
[] legal (if you own a business, personal vs. corporate liability)
[] health (more prevalent here, as you're again, being inactive can literally kill you)

I'm not meaning to BELITTE people's problems, BUT, the only solution, ONLY, is to be BIGGER as a person THAN your problems. AND, to reframe them, not as problems, BUT AS CHALLENGES of your human spirit. And since I frame them that way, when I see people get so upset about "problems", I have little compassion b/c whether you believe in God or not, each being on this planet faces problems commensurate with their setpoint in life, and as they grow to handle THOSE, will encounter more, and then look and say "Whoa, those were easy." And then life gives you more. Not to mention, some people take on problems because they feel they have to...

[] friends (childhood friends, for some reason guys keep crappy friends too long)
[] women, just b/c she's your gf, doesn't mean you have to be a doormat and be there for your pscyho gf/xgf, regardless of age
[] match society's view of them, rather than be their own



A-Unit

 

[Rollo Tomassi]

You know, I was just having this converstaion with a couple of freinds of mine, Jack Daniels and Jimmy Beam, the other night. I said "Hey Jack, do you think there's anything wrong with drinking alone?" He said, "When do you really drink alone? Just the other night we had Johnnie Walker and his brothers Blackie and Red here." So I said "yeah, but is there anything wrong with it?" Then Jimmy says, "Well, Bud Weiser might not be the best fellah to ask. Maybe you oughta talk to your Ole Grandad." So I think about it and say "Nah, he's too busy shooting Wild Turkey with my uncle Hennesy."

That's when Jose Cuervo popped in for a bit to say hi.

sorry couldn't resist.

 

[Vulpine]

You know, I was just having this converstaion with a couple of freinds of mine, Jack Daniels and Jimmy Beam, the other night. I said "Hey Jack, do you think there's anything wrong with drinking alone?" He said, "When do you really drink alone? Just the other night we had Johnnie Walker and his brothers Blackie and Red here." So I said "yeah, but is there anything wrong with it?" Then Jimmy says, "Well, Bud Weiser might not be the best fellah to ask. Maybe you oughta talk to your Ole Grandad." So I think about it and say "Nah, he's too busy shooting Wild Turkey with my uncle Hennesy."

That's when Jose Cuervo popped in for a bit to say hi.

sorry couldn't resist.

So you aren't speaking to Van Gough anymore? DoH! I heard him and Godiva get together and enjoy chocolate martinis. Captain Morgan called and wanted me to let you know that him and Sam Adams can't wait for next weekend.

 

[CLOONEY]

I actually disagree with drinking alone.

I think drinking is a very social thing to do, and if you are drinking alone, its usually because you are lonely and cant find people to drink with. Use the time to join some groups and meet people or get some more hobbies so you can do something else you enjoy instead of drinking if all your friends are busy that particular day/nite.

Though, if you are simply having a couple to unwind after work, then thats fair.

Good post also A-Unit.

 

[insanity]

if i pick up a 12 pack of beer and i sit on the couch and fire up xboxlive and play gears of war against people from all over the world yet i'm sitting on the couch alone. is that considered drinking alone?

i like the fact that after i'm done drinking i don't have a friend puking on my floor and crashing on my couch. i just press the power button.

 

[CLOONEY]

if i pick up a 12 pack of beer and i sit on the couch and fire up xboxlive and play gears of war against people from all over the world yet i'm sitting on the couch alone. is that considered drinking alone?

i like the fact that after i'm done drinking i don't have a friend puking on my floor and crashing on my couch. i just press the power button.

Yep, thats drinking alone.

If you like the game, and xboxlive, then why do you need to drink while doing it? It makes the experience cost more money, is taxing on your body and your mind, and then there are the hangovers, but if you think its worth it, then go for it. Its all a personal opinion.

For me at least, its not worth it. Drinking is only something to do socially. But then, for people like me, who cannot stop once they start, its something better left alone altogether.

 

[Oxide]

Clooney, You know i like you man but this one I gotta disagree with.

You can drink and chat on the internet - that is socializing. You can even be on a fast paced forum and drink (but within an hour or so you will want to socialize with real people...at least I do)

I drink alone (1-3 drinks.. I never actually get trashed alone) because:

1. I am sore or in pain after workouts or an injury
2. I just want to mellow out and get that Other perspective on what I am doing
3. I want to feel cool. Same thing goes for smoking cigars of blunts (when I used to). I just wanted to feel cool and the buzz gave me an interesting perspective. I tried to write when buzzed - sometimes it turned out good.


However, drinking past buzzed alone more than 2-3 times a week would be a problem in my book.


I remember I had an eye injury last Xmas. I drank a lot of vodka to feel better...only now I felt sick. It was the best Xmas break ever.

 

[Oxide]

Uhhh... I've just discovered two things.

Either the hell has frozen over, or this cold has completely ****ed me up, because:


Miller Lite tastes like ****. I used to like it, just now I poured half the bottle down the drain. I am talking WORSE than watered down ****.

I am buzzed...from half a beer. Oh boy. I guess now I can drink cheaply

 

[MVPlaya]

I can't answer this question with any authority. But I only ever drink socially. I might be a heavy drinker when we're out on long trips or doing ridiculous stuff, but I don't ever, and I do mean ever, drink when I'm alone or by myself. Same goes for weed / hookah. If you do something for your self-enjoyment, do it in moderation. Especially with enjoyable substances (weed, liquor, cigars) there's a tendency to use them to fill your time and become addicted to them. Always watch out for that.

There's nothing right or wrong in any behavior, only in how it affects you. Make sure it won't affect you negatively.

 

[Create Reality]

I just took 4 shots of some good stuff. Does that mean Im an alcoholic? I AM all by myself on friday night unfortunately

 

[~attrACTION~]

Well tonight I went out and drank at the clubs/bars. You know, to be honest, I had a sucky night. I'm at home now, and it's like 2:10am. I decided to go right home after closing time because I just got tired of it. It was one of those nights where it seemed like no matter how many shots I took, I just could not get drunk. I still only am feeling the "buzz" and I've had so many shots I don't even remember (I'd say at least 8). But I can still type alright (and drove home fine).

A couple women gave me very solid eye contact and could not help staring, but my follow-through was not good. It was as if I was the "conversation-starter" but once I got them going I was ignored and other guys would take my place, even though they didn't have the balls to initiate, weird eh? Then for the first time tonight, a girl asked me to buy her a drink. I'd never gotten this before; she told me she spilled her drink and wanted me to buy for her apparently. I said I'd get her my favorite drink - a surprise - and got her a water. She started yacking off like no tomorrow, so I paid another guy a dollar to "take this ***** off my hands, because she was so annoying." I just left the place because it was too much.

I'm seriously just buzzed now. After tonight, I actually think drinking alone is better. I spent the last 3 hours trying to vibe tipsy with a bunch of strangers and it really sucked. From now on, I would actually rather drink alone or with close friends.

Anyhow, cool to see you guys have such opinions about drinking alone, etc., and great post A-Unit, nice point about the problem thing. I understand what you mean about not taking it to extremes as some of you say, or using it as an escape. I think last night, when I drank alone, it was nice for some introspection (as Oxide stated also).

 

[Oxide]

Here:

If the place you are at sucks, and/or you are not feeling it, don't force anything. Just leave. Nothing good is going to come out of it unless you suddenly change your perspective and decide to have a kick ass night. (Which is possible). So if it sucks- just cut your losses and leave.

Another thing that's been stewing in my head- Leave before closing time. Closing time at a college bar/club is like one big sale- everyone is running around trying to get a piece of ass. This got pathetic quick. Ever wonder why the hottest/best girls leave 1-2 hours prior to eveyone else?

I can't see you so I don't know what you did wrong, but my guess is you ****ed up the conversation once u started talking.. were there a lot of lulls and dumb questions?

Stop drinking for 2 weeks. When you go out, drink 2-3 shots quickly and you will be drunk again.

 

[insanity]

does anybody ever get more creative when they start to get a good buzz on. this may sound lame but i find most of the songs i write come from the creative buzz that booze gives me. my dad just says it's because i become less shy and more confident when i get buzzed up. he says it's like a guy who is shy and doesn't talk to people but when he gets a few drinks into himself he opens up and has a great time. then he pointed out i never see you with you prancing around with your guitar when your sober.

i guess each to their own.