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Everyone is dependent on alcohol to some extent?

Old 10-04-2013, 07:16 AM
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Everyone is dependent on alcohol to some extent?

It appears to me that everyone I know who drinks is dependent on alcohol to some extent, although many are not 'alcoholics' in the way I was... I say this due to my observations in the last week of being back at university and being the only one teetotal. A lot of my friends, who are far from being addicted to booze still seem to be unable to go out to clubs etc and have a dance, meet women/men etc without being intoxicated to some degree. I've heard comments such as "I'm not drunk enough to hit the dance floor yet" and when we have been to clubs it seems the first thing everyone does is go to the bar to order a drink. My friends appear to be in awe of me somewhat and confused at my ability to go out and let myself go when all I've consumed is a red bull before we go out and a Pepsi in the club. It made me realise that although I have a far more worrisome relationship with alcohol when I do drink than they do, that actually I am far less dependent on alcohol than they are in the sense that I no longer need it to have fun/dance etc.

I once asked the question to my mother, someone who never drinks more than two glasses of wine in a sitting and that is rare, how she would cope if someone said she had to go a month without it but yet go to all the same places and socialise with all the same people, minus the alcohol. She said she would in all honesty find it very difficult. I pressed her for an explanation for this and she couldn't give me one.

I've come to the conclusion that once we reach adulthood it seems we are brainwashed to think that alcohol is the only way to truly release ones inhibitions and have fun and having been sober for 5 months now, I find it really depressing to see. I therefore believe that everyone who drinks is to some extent dependent on it as if someone were to say 'tomorrow the worlds alcohol supply will run out for ever' a lot of people would find this to be a devastating thought...
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Old 10-04-2013, 07:47 AM
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I can say with true certainty that my parents drink and are completely not dependent on alcohol. I can't say that I can say that with certainty about anyone else I know who drinks in a somewhat regular fashion, but they aren't. They always have beer in the fridge and wine in the wine rack, but do not depend on it. We can go to dinner at a restaurant where they would usually order a drink and then sometimes they don't. When we have family dinners, wine or beer is offered about 50% of the time. They are some of the only people I know who really only drink ONE beer in an evening or split one and be done. It's possible. It's just rare. I somewhat agree with your OP
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Old 10-04-2013, 07:57 AM
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I'm convinced just about everyone has a crutch, booze, drugs, prescription drugs, exercise, ice cream etc.. I guess hopefully your crutch is one of the healthier options.

I never found clubs fun at all. I always had to stay sober enough to drive and honestly a club stone cold sober is the pitts. I dont see how tis fun at all. I also dont dance and despise the crowds of the clubs and when i do drink the last thin gi wanna do is get up and move I'd much prefer to sit like a lump on a log and hammer em back. That being said I know theres a lot of folks in the club culture who will mix a stimulate with booze so they can keep on partying I think thats not exactly the best idea either.

But yeah not everyones depending on booze but i'd say a good portion of folks are dependant on something.

I blame the society we live in I dont think we where created to endure so much stress and societal pressure etc.. we tend to need a release somehow becuase it all just too much. In my mind if i could reduce all the outside stresses to a bearable level I'm not sure I'd need even exercise short of my daily chores or exercise simply for fun rather then to get a that release. But I can only reduce the outside pressures so much currently.

we end up with too much stress and worry etc.. some sure we could talk ourselvse out of but then we land ourselves at the doctor getting some pill or on a bar stool or binging on ice cream while watching boring tv. sad but true.
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Old 10-04-2013, 08:04 AM
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Allen Carr's book makes this assumption, too. I especially find the chapter in which he pokes fun of the wine. 'conissuers' particularly amusing.e
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Old 10-04-2013, 08:37 AM
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Originally Posted by DoubleDragons View Post
Allen Carr's book makes this assumption, too. I especially find the chapter in which he pokes fun of the wine. 'conissuers' particularly amusing.e
I was going to bring up the same thing. I didn't agree 100% with the book but, it really did make me wonder where a few people I know really are at in terms of drinking. Although, I suppose it doesn't really matter.
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Old 10-04-2013, 09:14 AM
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Start hanging out in the library and the study halls, you will see where the sober, non-alcohol dependent students are.
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Old 10-05-2013, 10:32 PM
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I actually do think a majority of people who drink are dependent to some extent, but not everyone. They depend on it in social situations and as a stress reliever but it's nothing like our type of dependence so it's hard to see it as that.
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Old 10-05-2013, 10:46 PM
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I have a friend who is Mormon, and I always thought it was so weird. Dancing, partying, acting SO silly, and alcohol is never part of their gatherings.
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