ReadyAndAble

Oh, now I see you already posted a follow-up, figments. Good—another happy ending!

Stang

Over ten years ago I had a friend who was an obvious alcoholic. This was before I woke up to my own drinking problems. Well he finally quit...for about 6 weeks. I went to his house and could smell alcohol on him. He said "it's ok I'm just drinking beer now". He got his fourth DUI about a week later. Last time I saw him he was living on the street.
I to have tried drinking things other than my drink of choice, Budweiser, and sooner or later I was stumbling ass drunk again.

sugarbear1

It's barely been 24 hours since you drank.

Ever read about the kindling effect?

LaVallette

Someone on this board has this as their sig. It's a quote from Caroline Knapp in her book "Drinking, a love story": "People who aren't alcoholics don't lie in bed at two-thirty in the morning wondering if they're alcoholics."

fini

so why bother?

instant

Tried it- I can do it - but I can't sustain it. It never ended good in the long term.

I loved the buzz and over time for whatever "reason" I had more............then at some point.................................

figments

Actually no, but I'll look it up.

Good question. On this occasion I only bothered because it was given to me before I realised what was happening, I wasn't asked if I even wanted it. I guess I didn't want to make a fuss so I just drank it.

Now I admit that's a pretty feeble excuse, but at the time it seemed the most reasonable thing to do.

I guess it's also a matter of trying to fit in. I find it hard to fit in as it is, alcohol or no alcohol.

ru12

Most of us here have tried moderation. If you can do it, then do it. If you find that you can't consistently moderate then you should probably stop drinking all together. I know that my life is better now that I am sober.

Xune

Someone surprises me by offering me a line of cocaine, I will say no.

Someone surprises me by offering me a cigarette, I will say no.

So it is with alcohol.

For me, the reasonable thing to do is to never drink alcohol again and be damned how I fit or don't fit in.

( Hint - normal drinkers ( those without a problem) do not care who is or is not drinking.)

LatteLady

I, being an obnoxious wench, have to ask how others of you would react should someone pour you a drink?
Say "no thanks" and hand it back, turn the glass upside down prior to it happening and avoiding the situation, what would YOU do?
In the past I have attended meals with a recovering alcoholic friend, where there were wine glasses lined up for each course. She calmly turned each and every one of them upside down. Didn't say a word.
At the time I couldn't, now I can (and pray earnestly I will continue to do so).
If the person pushed the drink on you, what do you do? With my diabetes I shut down food pushers hard and fast. Haven't had it happen yet with alcohol. Believe me, my numbers are better without the alcohol. Amazing, isn't it.

Stang

I have turned down beer since I sobered up. I'm mid forties so people in my age group generally accept a "no thank you". When you're young you may have the idiot at the party who wants to damn near pour it down your throat. In that case you must turn into the A$$HOLE! I don't preach sobiety to people who want to drink and I expect the same courtesy back.

ForMyGirls

No one on my Wife's side of the family has a drinking problem, and no one on her side suspects that I do (except her of course)... That being said, my brother in law and I were BSing in his "man cave" (shed) last night, and he naturally pulled out two beers for us, just like he always has in the past (I am fairly new at being sober). I told him, "nah, I'm good", and he simply put it away. In fact, he put both of them away without even questioning/thinking about it... Weird....

Xune

No thanks, works 95% of the time.

In the other times, I just add ' I don't drink.'