to think that if you enjoy a drink, you're enjoying a drug?(alcohol)

[curlygiraffe]

Please tell me if iabu and settle a debate with a friend.

I rarely drink, I have had health issues and regular drink is not recommended. I know lots of people who 'like a glass of wine' in the evening to relax. Whilst I'm not suggesting that they necessarily have a drinking problem, I have said that the reason that people enjoy alcoholic drinks is due to the physical reaction from the alcohol (brain and body relaxes etc) and they like the taste due to past experience telling them that the relaxed feeling is coming.

If the alcohol wasn't the main 'benefit' of the drink, then why wouldn't people save money and drink grape juice or water? My friends and I are divided on this.

Surely the reason people drink alcohol is due to the physical reaction from the erugi

Obviously alcohol is a drug but that doesn't mean that people also don't enjoy the taste of a glass of wine for example. When I was able to drink, I only ever liked good white wine. If I was just drinking for the "drug" effect of alcohol I would have enjoyed any alcoholic drink e.g. whiskey, gin, beer, cheap wine etc etc.

By the way, wine is not just grapefruit juice with added alcohol. The fermentation process changes the taste.

Of course alcohol is a drug. But many people have been socialised to believe that it's ok. Big Alcohol has a complete stranglehold on society, through politicans etc. My own MP was one of the leaders of the anti minimum pricing campaign. I was ashamed of him. It was a purely cynical thing too - he doesn't drink.

Are not tea and coffee drugs, withdrawal effects, addiction, probably chocolate as well. I hope you are a viceless size 6.

Yes they are - and also to a certain extent socialised as 'acceptable' (but maybe not to the extent alcohol is - people aren't regarded as weird and wrong if they don't eat chocolate. They aren't called a name like 'Tea Total' which has mocking connotations these days).

I'm sure I have many vices, but yes I am as it happens a size 6 although I don't know what that has to do with anything.

But you proved my point really - attacking someone who doesn't buy into Big Alcohol's narrative.

I'm 100% with the OP.

Alcohol is a mind altering drug and that is basically why people enjoy drinking! One small glass with food = drinking for the taste. Any more than that and you're drinking because you like the drug effects. Feeling mildly pissed is enjoying the drug.

Caffine is also a pretty strong drug.

As it happens, I like both caffine and alcohol - and that first glass of wine after a busy week is a wonderful feeling :-)

Mmmmm coffee. Now I really want a coffee!

No different to caffeine IMO, I like strong coffee and get awful headaches from withdrawal.

A glass of wine or beer in the evening (usually only 1 drink once a week for me) is nice and relaxing after a stressful day and a glass of non alcoholic juice doesn't do the same thing.

I am really not sure what your point is.

I like the taste and don't much like the effects. I would love it if someone invented a way to replicate the taste of my favourite single malts and posh gins without the alcohol. That way I could have them at work!

Of course alcohol's a drug - what's your point?

Yes they are - and also to a certain extent socialised as 'acceptable' (but maybe not to the extent alcohol is - people aren't regarded as weird and wrong if they don't eat chocolate. They aren't called a name like 'Tea Total' which has mocking connotations these days).

We must move in very different circles!

People I know would be considered unusual (not weird though) for not eating chocolate - it would be presumed they were dieting rather than concerned about the chemical content.

And I know plenty of people who don't drink for a wide variety of reasons, not one of whom is treated as weird. I have literally never heard "teetotal" used in a disparaging way.

Exactly as other posters say, of course alcohol is a drug and we enjoy the effect, exactly the same as caffeine and sugar, which also have a powerful effect on our bodies. Doesn't mean you can't/don't enjoy the taste though.

I haven't heard anyone speaking of someone who is teetotal in a negative way since I was about 18. People tend to move on a bit as they get older don't they?

Cinnabar - I'm guessing you drink. If you didn't drink, then you might well have heard it used in a disparaging way. Especially in a work context.

I know plenty of adults who don't eat chocolate, not because they are dieting but more because of their teeth AND the message it gives to their kids. I don't eat chocolate because I'm allergic to dairy and never got the taste (non dairy chocolate is widely available but I suspect there's a window when you either get into it, or not, and I missed that window).

Guitar girl not in my experience. In fact, some people seem to be more affronted by those who don't drink, or don't eat the same thing as them, as they get older - not less. It's also a major thing in some other cultures - I frequently get 'ribbed' (not entirely pleasantly either) at meetings and events in other parts of Europe because I don't drink. The assumption is, everyone will. I'm in Amsterdam for a thing right now and I'm ducking the dinner tonight because I am so bloody tired of having to justify myself to people I don't even know just because they have bought big alcohol's line hook line and sinker.

When I questioned my MP's stance in the minimum alcohol pricing thing, I got loads of abuse. I was shocked, to be honest. :(

I enjoy both

I don't need alcohol to relax. I like the taste. I don't like feeling drunk or tipsy & I am able to have a few drinks before this happens.

I would drink what I drink if it wasn't alcoholic, as long as the taste was similar.

Herc that's sad. I would hate it if people did that to me on occasions when I didn't drink - and these are frequent, because I am the only driver in our family and I have a 0 alcohol is the only safe limit driving policy.

I just wish I could have a completely alcohol-free replica of Hendricks gin - that subtle rose-and-cucumber flavour with a hint of juniper - I mean, why haven't we got soft drinks with real sophisticated and adult flavour? Everything is sugary crap.

Even water is crap in most places, ours is so hard you have to filter it and then it tastes musty. When we're in Devon on holiday, my favourite drink is chilled tap water with a squeeze of lemon.

I really wouldn't drink the tap water in Devon. Seriously. :( (I live in Devon)

All food and drink is a "drug". It all has a biochemical effect. If you feel happy and sleepy after a Sunday roast then you are enjoying drugs in the same way as someone likes a glass of wine or a cup of tea.

The trick is to keep everything in moderation, and legal.

What is the point of your post?

In fact, some people seem to be more affronted by those who don't drink, or don't eat the same thing as them, as they get older - not less.

I know loads of people who don't drink either for medical reasons (me) or more often because they just don't like it. I've never heard anyone make disparaging remarks about it since I was about 25. Maybe you invite comment by being disapproving of those who enjoy alcohol (I'm sure you will say that you don't but your comments on here suggest otherwise).

I hate sweet drinks so if I am not drinking then I have grapefruit juice mixed with tonic water, nice and bitter, but other than that the choice is lemonade, coke, oj etc and they are all too sweet. Not to mention more expensive per pint than lager!

And reading back, I am very concerned about the health and safety of all these halos, be sure they dont choke you wont you?!

Whatever I'm not disapproving at all. I have to attend a lot of functions in connection with my work and a significant number of people are completely vile to people who don't drink. Now that, I disapprove of.

But actually - your post is another example. You assume that I disapprove because I don't drink. I haven't said anything about drinking other than that I don't and some people are vile about that. Some people just can't BEAR others to live their lives differently and have to attack them instead of accepting difference. I'm perfectly happy to sit in a pub with friends, I don't have a problem with the company of people who are drinking, but some people can't abide the thought that someone doesn't agree with them about something that's obviously HUGELY a important to them, so they attack them and label them disapproving.

I occasionally like the feeling of alcohol but also love the taste. I wish it were possible to get non alcoholic wine that tasted like the real thing.