To dislike the culture of alcohol worship on MN?

[MumblingRagDoll]

I know it's all lighthearted....but I find it icky. Not people saying ..have a to cheer someone up so much...but all the "Just waiting till' wine o clock statements get to me.
I think it's because a close relative is an acoholic and I have seen the damage.

Alcohol is such a damaging thing...and I'm genuinely surprised (and yes...judgey) about how many parents seem to rely on it every night.

There really is so much defensiveness though...

More people reliant than would like to admit I suspect

Don't care either way,used to drink a lot ...now I don't drink at all!

@ bupcakes

OP, people grumble about smoking and not drinking because you can't very well get passive liver damage. Sorry if that's been pointed out to you a hundred times already...

sorry bupcakes, have to disagree with you - i think far more people are damaged by other peoples drinking than ever passive smoking could do.

YABU!!!

The thing is tongue in cheek. It's imaginary - a metaphor for chilling out, unwinding, relaxing, adult time. So many people have problems with alcohol, most people don't. Pretending to give someone a glass of wine, or associating wine with relaxation, does not equate a 'need' for wine, or people necking a bottle a night and calling it a glass!

It pisses me off that people chuck round accusations of being alcohol dependent, then when people respond with annoyance they are accused of being in denial! Sanctimonious bullshit.

Oh yes, we have a culture of alcohol in this country not only mumsnet. It's completely understandable that most people partake of that. It does not mean that most people have a drinking problem.

hmm fair enough Mary. I may have a shit day with the kids and be waiting for 6pm, to open a bottle (although I do try and limit it now to a Friday), but I get that there's a difference between that and NOT being able to cope without it.

As you were

OP - I understand what you are saying, and to some extent, agree.

A bit of a tangent:

When I lived in the UK, dp and I shared a bottle of wine most nights. It was a habit. Similarly, any meal with friends involved a bottle of wine (or more). It was sociable and enjoyable - we didn't hesitate or question it. Mostly, there was no thought about having a non-alcoholic drink instead - unless pregnant, driving or doing something else that required a completely clear head.

Now that i am no longer in the UK, I am no longer in a culture where many adults drink daily. Sitting outside the UK looking in, I think people in the UK drink an awful lot on a regular basis. And because they drink so much on a regular basis, they can handle alot of drink.

What I can't abide is the people who blame drink for their behaviour. People say 'I did this or that, and know I shouldn't have, but I was a bit drunk/tiddly/fill in the blank' - as if that somehow absolves them from any real responsibility for their actions.

Sorry...didn't dissapear. Had to deal with baths. Anyway...I knew the OP would cause shit....I stand by what I said though. Maryz put it better though.

I wonder though why people have to get abusive in their defence? Odd.

Its making me thirsty reading all these posts

sneaks off for a G&T

Eric shall we have a fag emoticon to signal that it's time for a little break?

I agree! Who wants to join me in a culture of drug worship? Anyone for a spliff? :o

Well I disagree with that, Jesus. If we're talking about the average person sat in their home having a glass or two, who the hell are they damaging? If we're talking about raving alcholics I would agree but that would be assuming that anyone who enjoys a sensible drink is a piss artist. Living in a home with someone sensibly drinking would be less detrimental to your health than sharing a home with a smoker.

I have just used it to cheer someone up,in the way Eric says.
Lots of us can manage a drink, in moderation and do not have a problem. I was rather taken aback by someone saying that children's parties and alcohol don't mix. I think that if you are staying for the party a glass of wine is very civilized and people can still supervise! It is as if an adult is shown wine and will immediately become lost to all restraint and incapable!!
YABU

Baaaa humbug

After a day with 2 toddlers I looked forward to a glass of wine!

Sanctimony tends to rile people, OP. That's probably why.

Adding to my post at the start of the thread. Though I struggle with alcohol for various reasons I understand people's use of it to wind down. I now do this with coffee. What's the difference?

I don't think th OP sounds sanctimonious at all

but I get to have many coffees and all through the day :o and I DO NEED my coffee :o

well after my 6pm mahoosive spliff I have chilled out a LOT and have decided that, instead of tarring the whole of MN with the alcoholics brush, the OP simply meant something along the lines of:

some people sometimes find that they need a drink rather than want one and that could be damaging.

Wouldn't really have got you all this attention though OP, would it?

I'm a recovering alcoholic.

There is a huge huge difference between enjoying a drink and relaxing with a glass of wine in the evening (the vast majority of people on here fall into that category I guess) and being a drunk like me. I kidded myself that I didn't rely on it but in my darkest moments I realised very early on that I did.

The other issue for me is that I couldn't stop. One drink was never enough. Or 2 or 3 or 4, and don't even get me started on the self loathing I used to feel the next day when I'd swear that I wouldn't do it again . . .

I reckon that most people on here who look forward to wine o'clock do so anticipating 1 or 2 glasses of wine and that's it. Nothing at all wrong with looking forward to and relishing that.

Yeah I quite agree OP. Alcohol schmalcohol - there so should be a Class A Drugs emoticon!

Well I do and so do a few others.

Ah fuck it - can't even have an imaginary drink on here now without someone moaning about it - isn't there a 'nuns net' somewhere?
If not, there damn well should be