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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

What's the fun in getting smashed?

101 replies

Icimoi · 06/04/2015 09:45

I have absolutely nothing against alcohol and social drinking, I like the odd glass of wine or G&T at home and will drink a bit more if I go out socially. I also completely understand that sometimes people will go over the top and drink too much and do things they may regret later. But I do find it difficult to understand people who talk about how they specifically plan to go out and get totally rat-arsed, and how they do it every weekend.

So could someone explain it to me? I just don't understand what is the point in planning to go out and spending a fortune on drink, getting so drunk that you throw up and can't remember anything about it the next day but have a horrendous hangover? I could understand it if you remember feeling that you were having a good time, but frequently people can't. And is it really a good time if you are totally embarrassed by what you remember about your behaviour?

OP posts:

Maliceaforethought · 06/04/2015 12:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NotNob · 06/04/2015 12:49

I'm an alcoholic although recovering and have not drunk for 10 years. I cannot understand having just one drink and have never been able to. Hope DCs don't inherit my warped thinking

Smarterthantheaveragebeaver · 06/04/2015 13:29

Ive never set out with the intention of getting paralytic, it just sort of happened. Only once or twice, thankfully. Oddly enough when I was in my 30s and generally a lot more sensible than I was between 18-30. Both times it was during my period, which I thought was a coincidence.

Im fairly sure that on one of those occasions, a works Christmas 'do' at a local city centre hotel, my drink had been spiked. I went from being merry one minute after about 1/2 bottle of red wine to totally out of it the next - unable to stand, walk or speak, vomiting uncontrollably - far more came out than had gone in that night (and after red wine thankfully it was in the toilets) and unable to give my poor colleague who was driving that night really simple directions to my home, or even phone my husband for help. Absolutely no sign of a hangover the following day, either.

Smarterthantheaveragebeaver · 06/04/2015 13:30

And Ive since heard of 2 different people (1 male, 1 female, both sensible types) where the same thing has happened at this hotel!

MadgeFinn · 06/04/2015 14:06

I love that nice happy relaxed state that having a few drinks can do for me, if I could just stay like that for the entire evening it would be wonderful. However that nice happy state doesn't last that long when you continue to drink. When it gets to the point where you can't remember the last few hours of the night, it means I've had too much. I now like to alternate my drinks with a glass of water. Much more enjoyable night.

ClumsyNinja · 06/04/2015 14:25

YANBU OP. I rarely drink these days and even when much younger, have never got so drunk I'd black out. After a few drinks, I get sleepy. I'd be the one dozing in a corner of the nightclub.

To be honest, these days I just see it as an awful waste of money so I even struggle to buy booze for parties. I always make sure there's a decent selection of non alcoholic drinks available though.

stardusty5 · 06/04/2015 14:33

I've always wondered if being "drunk" feels different to some people. I love going out and having a few drinks, but after a certain tipping point i just start to feel dizzy and queasy and have to stop. Outwardly, i appear fairly sober and so people will try and encourage me to keep going!

Some of my friends, especially the male ones, love to get absolutely hanmered but say they don't feel ill until the next morning, andsometimes not even then!

AnnieMoor · 06/04/2015 14:39

It's fun to get pissed.

I haven't drunk to the point of being sick since I was a teenager, but if we're at or having a party, pretty much everyone will get very drunk. No way would I get falling over, forgetting everything the next day, feeling sick drunk though.

ResurrectAndEatShitChoc · 06/04/2015 14:44

Ive never blacked out and get flashbacks from the night which I had forgotten

Mum does it every few months. Let's of steam and gets out of the house to be with mates and have a laugh

Getting a McDs at 4am while pissed is a fab feeling. McDs never tastes so good til then

ResurrectAndEatShitChoc · 06/04/2015 14:45

And usually I don't know I'm drunk til it's too late.

You realise you are drunk when you either go to the toilet and sit there with head lent against wall or when you go outside and the air hits you

Gralick · 06/04/2015 14:47

It's not uncommon for people to get blasted because they can't stand themselves and/or their lives. It's a relief to literally forget about all the constraints for a few hours. I wish people were more compassionate than judgemental.

I like getting drunk: my character doesn't change and I've never done anything horrid while pissed - just talked a load of rubbish very loudly, laughed inappropriately and fallen over a lot. Alcohol makes everything seem more fun and funny, and suffuses me with goodwill to the world :) Can't do it much these days; I quite miss it!

Fifis25StottieCakes · 06/04/2015 14:48

I rarely drink or go out but notice when i do i binge drink, want to stay out, don't want to come home. Last time i went out i let the ex watch the kids in my house so i could go out for a boozy Sunday Lunch with my friend, i ended up strolling in mortal at 7.50am to a fuming ex getting the kids ready for school. I ended up going for Lunch staying out, hitting the local high street, seeing some old friends and going to a house party. The time before that i went for a few drinks down the local, ended up staying out and clubbing in Newcastle till 4am.

I used to be a party animal before i had the kids so when i do get out which is maybe twice a year i must just think IM OUT IM OUT YEAH IM STILL YOUNG PAAARRRTTYYYY and chuck drink down my neck, binge drinking for England. The hangovers were horrendous though.

Stealthsquiggle · 06/04/2015 14:51

I never did get the appeal of drinking until you throw up. Don't get me wrong, I got pissed as a student and occasionally since, but I have only once "lost" a chunk of time and that freaked me out completely. Similarly throwing up and "oh my god I want to die" hangovers. I have had two of those in my life. More than enough.

IHateStampysVoice · 06/04/2015 14:55

I go out and get pissed, I never throw up, black out or have a horrendous hangover the next day.

I have good laughs, maybe a little hazy about some of the details and feel fuzzy in the morning and certainly wouldn't do it nightly, but its fun.

MrsMook · 06/04/2015 14:55

Being drunk was never my objective, but during student days it was often the outcome of a good night out. I did go too far a few times and didn't really like it when you'd gone beyond giggly and there was no way back. Dancing has normally halted my drinking as I get thirsty. I don't need alcohol to get drunk.
Years of pregnancy and breastfeeding mean I struggle to drink more than one drink and two is a major event! I like a taste and that's it. Sadly even on fairly moderate amounts, my digestive system complains long before my head.

I run for a high and escapism.

Gralick · 06/04/2015 14:57

It's worth remembering that individuals have different metabolic capacities for ethanol. Some folks are genetically weak in the necessary enzymes; some have the maximum possible. Your body structure, general health and diet play a part, too. I'm built like a large & sturdy Viking peasant. My capacity for alcohol is awesome. If you're a delicate Asian, you probably don't process booze too well.

Sallystyle · 06/04/2015 14:57

I have always known when to stop drinking. I hate the thought of being so drunk that I am not in full control of myself.

My husband on the other hands doesn't seem to know his limit. He rarely drinks (would love to drink more but he knows he can't) but when he does he doesn't seem to be able to tell he has had too much until it's too late, which is why he rarely drinks now.

A hangover with 5 kids seems like a living nightmare as well.

Now pot? I would enjoy getting stoned again. I seem to be unlucky because a glass of wine never relaxes me like it does most people. But pot did wonderful things to me!

Gralick · 06/04/2015 15:01

I would enjoy getting stoned again. - Heh, proof of different strokes for different folks Even in the olden days of 'normal' weed, I preferred booze to blow. The few times I tried this modern stuff, it made me feel dreadful!

OrlandoWoolf · 06/04/2015 15:02

I haven't got drunk for ages. Even when young, it was rare I would go out with the intention of getting drunk. Really drunk. I know plenty of people whose idea of a night out is to go out and get pissed. That's the aim. I don't get it. I know someone who I think is an alcoholic. This year she has fallen over twice and broken her arm once and her leg once when drunk.

I also know plenty of people who are capable of going out, having some drinks, having a good time and not getting pissed. I hate that feeling in your mouth when you want to be sick.

I've probably had blackouts about 3 times. When I have no idea what happened the night before. That scares me. No recall at all of an evening beyond a certain point.

daisychain01 · 06/04/2015 15:05

I don't think people spend a fortune though, do they. They buy loads of cheap booze in the supermarkets so they don't have to spend so much in pubs or clubs.

I don't understand it either, icimoi. It is an aspect of UK culture that I'm not proud of, especially when football fans are abroad and people think "that's how British people are". It reflects badly on the country.

Sallystyle · 06/04/2015 15:06

I'm lazy so it suits me

I can just lay around on the couch eating and not moving while feeling relaxed.

The last time I had some was the grass stuff (see I know my stuff!) and that wasn't so fun because it was so strong. When I smoked it I had the brown block thing you burn and that was much better.

OrlandoWoolf · 06/04/2015 15:08

On race days, you see a lot of very drunk people in our city. Falling over, being very loud, walking in the road and being sick. All after a day at the races. It's intimidating when you walk with DS down the road.

Same when you see hen and stag nights in the evening. I do think it's a part of our culture that you don't often see in other countries.

SpecificOcean · 06/04/2015 15:25

When I go out I only get merry the real fun for me is watching other people get smashed.

Focusfocus · 06/04/2015 15:38

I'll never get it. I was raised in a strictly non alcoholic culture half the world away and when I came to the west I tried my best to blend in and have "fun" which always seemed to involve going out to drink. It was horrendous, I hated everything from the late nights to the very taste of alcohol in my mouth. Took me 4 years of pretending to enjoy pubs and drinking till I had enough at 27 and gave up my newly formed habit.

When my western DH goes back with me to visit my family he says he had no idea that fun, frolic, dancing, late night bottomless chats, inhibition free banter could all happen with piles of food and absolutely no alcohol :-)

I'm enjoying life in the west much more now that I have stopped forcing myself to drink just to be able to blend in. Nobody asks me why I don't drink anymore, and I never have to taste alcohol again! Win win!

Gottagetmoving · 06/04/2015 15:40

I got drunk yesterday, unintentionally. Had far too much white wine, too quickly, fell over and bashed my nose on the floor. My nose is really really painful. It wasn't clever and wasn't fun. Won't be doing that again.

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