Mountainmanbob

I agree
Sure there are normal drinkers
My wife is one
Proxy 1/2 to one glass of wine a day
As we know for the non alcoholic this is healthy
Just don't work for me
MM

SoberHoopsFan

Surely you are mistaken if you believe I made those comments, and if you will pull up the only weed-based thread I can ever recall commenting in, you'll see exactly the opposite: I strongly disagreed with the poster who thought that maybe it would be ok or a good idea for him to smoke weed.

As I'm sure you were just being lazy, confusing me for another poster, and/or wanting to attack my position for reasons unknown (probably all of the above), I'll accept your apology in advance.

I will say that I found your comparison of alcohol to soda to be odd, a better comparison in terms of harm and addictive nature would probably be heroin. As you mentioned, legal status of substances change. Soda just seems an odd comparison.

SoberHoopsFan

h Why do you find it troublesome? Other drugs that cause far less harm than alcohol are illegal. The government at one point tried to make alcohol illegal. Regardless, I'm not calling for prohibition, merely pointing out that there are no advantages/benefits to drinking despite what people who still use the drug might think.

My main point was simply that "normal" drinking is still technically drug addiction, maybe at a lower level for many people, but that's what it is, just with a healthy dose of societal conditioning sugarcoating it. I know the preferred route is for us to consider ourselves "abnormal" and wonder why we can't be "normal" but why is consumption of a harmful poison even considered to be normal in the first place?

Also, I stand by my statement that those who continue to regularly drink are not making a choice, the drug is always making the choice for them. It's addiction. That is why almost nobody except those who have suffered significantly from the drug ever stop their consumption. You don't have to agree with me, that's fine, but I guess I look at things differently. Why not concern ourselves with it though? 50 years ago cigarette smoking was very normal and everyone did it, some even thought it to be healthy for you. Look at how much societal attitudes have changed toward that now. It takes many individuals slowly over time for change to slowly come about. It isn't overnight. But why not be part of the solution going forward?

I'll probably keep these sentiments confined to the secular forum going forward. I know that certain attitudes and opinions simply do not fly on SR outside of that sub-forum.

Carry on....

FeenixxRising

There is no need to be part of the solution because there is no problem. Adults who responsibly enjoy a few drinks every week don't have a problem.

VikingGF

I don't even leave my seltzer half-full. If it's in the glass, it is going down the hatch.

FeenixxRising

Sober, you're attempting to redefine the meaning of addiction. You don't get to do that without opening yourself up for well-deserved criticism. No credible medical or addiction source would back up your assertions that having a few drinks each week is an "addiction", or that those drinks are controlling the drinker.

IMO, you've read Jason Vale's book and let some of his more dubious ideas get into your head, so you're not quite thinking rationally about this issue. While Vale may make some valid points, he is not a doctor, a researcher or an addiction specialist. So readers should take all his pronouncements with a large grain of salt.

As for confining your comments to the Secular forum, why would you think your ideas would be less controversial there? After all, you're basically stating that almost the entire body of medical science and research on addiction is wrong, and that you, SoberHoopsFan, are right. Surely you can see there's something wrong with that picture?

On a personal note, you said in another post that my relatives who drink in moderation are in fact, addicts. Really, that takes some gumption, considering you don't know them, have never met them and have never been witness to their drinking habits. Seriously, you're attempting to diagnose people you've never met or interacted with in any way--I'd say that some feat. So, it's fair to say, I took those comments personally, hence my push-back on some of your comments and beliefs.

Nocturnal

Great concept where can I subscribe with no dues payed?

jdooner

I did confuse you with another member who has a picture of a Celtics player (Rhondo) as his Avatar. For that I am sorry. However, your response speaks to your mindset, which is anything from recovered.

Best of luck I will use the ignore feature.

ChiefBromden

Same here. Whatever the reasons that I became an alcoholic, I somehow decided that ultimately it is my problem to solve. I have no reason or right to ask her not to drink her daily glass of wine. Obviously, in the beginning I asked her to be discrete, and to not drink whisky (which was my weapon of choice). Not to put myself in danger, not to prove anything, but because I would feel incredibly uncomfortable if she would not do it because of me. Maybe it's not the best choice for many, but for me it was. Same for my few close friends who are all "normies".

I didn't focus on it, focussed on myself, and refused to feel bad about it. (Refused is the wrong word, I just didn't see the point in wondering "why can they, why not me?").

These days I honestly don't even notice the glass of wine, and I can not convey how glad and even secretly proud I am of having gotten this far.

Mind you: if tomorrow I start to feel that it would endanger my sobriety (which I highly doubt at this stage) I would ask her to abstain for a while. Pride is OK unless it starts to work against me.

Anyway, just telling how it is for me, and in no way "advice", nor an argument really. I do think despite the similarities we see in many alcoholics that we may also be different, and diverse. Whatever works for you and keeps you sober. But having known my wife for 23 years now I would be insincere if I denied that she is 100% normie.

housecat09

the only time a half finished drink is left to be itself, is when i know im gunna wake up in the morning/afternoon and put it out of its misery.

As for the 1-2 drink limit, there have been many times after a period of soberiety when i would slip out for a quick and quiet pint at the pub, no problem. but the next day id have have the same and the day after that id go out and get drunk, i can handle it but not for very long, or maybe that means i cant really handle it ?