Originally Posted by
MeSoSober 
I seem to be far less likely to drink out of stress, sadness, anger, etc., than out of happy emotions. I think part of it is that for me an elevated mood equals lowered inhibitions, but there's also this admittedly nonsensical feeling of "wasting" a good mood by not making it even better with alcohol.
Anyone else? Just curious.
Yes, I often find myself in a good mood and my thoughts turn to having a few beers, yucking it up with friends, meeting new friends at a bar (I'm a happy, talkative drinker).
Of course, the problem is it's never a few beers, it's 9, 10, 12 or more. And I then end up stinking drunk, or black out or simply pass out. So when I have those thoughts I try very hard to think it through to the inevitable conclusion of deciding to have a few beers. I try to see in my mind where "a few beers" will take me. And where they will take me is to an ugly, unhappy place.
So, now I'll try to just enjoy the good mood without any alcohol or other mood altering substance.