I think I drink because of boredom. Also because I've never really fit in with people. I'm not the average married/had kids/went to college/etc person. I feel sometimes that it is so unfair that I can be friends with someone who has kids but not as good as that person is friends with other people who have children. There is an automatic bond there because of the shared experience. Don't get me wrong, I do have some great friends and I chose not to have children. And I seem to attract losers, which I am intent on not going with the flow of that anymore. So loneliness plays a factor too. I'm sure it's a combination of many little things.