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-   -   Would you drink if you weren't alcoholic? (https://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/newcomers-recovery/439659-would-you-drink-if-you-werent-alcoholic.html)

BrianK 06-22-2019 06:19 PM

Would you drink if you weren't alcoholic?
 
Looking back, I never felt better the next day for having taken a drink. Even on the rare occasion where I truly only had 1 or 2, I could tell the difference in my sleep and how I felt in the morning, even if it was just waking up one additional time or not getting up quite as quickly or not being hungry for breakfast.

And what did those 1 or 2 really do for me in the moment I was drinking them? As I was cleaning up the yard today (which is something I always "planned" to do when I drank), working at a peaceful pace, enjoying the weather, appreciating things were beginning to look nicer, even if it was just me and God looking at them, I realized this was one of my prime drinking moments. And becoming aware of the present, the Now, I thought, ok, maybe a 1 or 2 drink buzz would be "fun", but it wouldn't necessarily be "better." I wasn't miserable. I was enjoying the work as a combination chore/contemplation/exercise. It didn't need to be more fun. It was good that it was a little boring. It helped me watch my thoughts and seek to toss out the junk.

And I thought, if I could drink like a normal person, I still wouldn't want to. It really doesn't add anything to life. It just changes the way we view the situation. I'm not criticizing normal folks who drink with control, and I can't guarantee that if the "controlled drinking genie" appeared to me tomorrow and offered me to drink like normal that I'd refuse, but at the moment I wouldn't even want one if I could.

Thought I'd share. Anyone else look at it this way? Or not? Seemed like it might spur some interesting discussion.

least 06-22-2019 06:46 PM

Even if I could drink 'normally', I wouldn't want to cause I don't like what it does to me anymore.

kiki26 06-22-2019 09:53 PM

Knowing and experiencing what I have, no I wouldn’t. Im
enjoying being sober, and experiencing life without anything but just me. It’s hard to take my addict brain out of the equation, because one drink was never ever enough. Actually was pure torture to just have one or two for me.

Have you heard the saying about addiction “genetics loads the gun, and circumstance pulls the trigger” I feel like this is so true. So even if you could drink normally, or are a normie, do they ever turn into alcoholics? If the circumstance is right?

dcg 06-22-2019 10:08 PM

99% of people are going to say no because they don't have that perspective. My sister drinks once or twice a year, and she doesn't get blotto - ever. She never drinks because things are ******, had a long week, or whatever reason. She'll never be an alcoholic, and I'll never know what it's like to have that perspective on booze. It is for those such reasons that I never demonize booze; it's my problem.

Dropsie 06-22-2019 11:19 PM

All true.

I will never know, becuase that is not me.

Zombie79 06-22-2019 11:47 PM

I have friends that are tee- total - one of which doesn't drink because they simply don't like the taste. I used to think when we'd all go for a night out 'aww they're missing out'- but now I realize that they weren't. They could remember everything, came home with a clear head, full wallet and didn't wake up with a crushing hangover and a sense of dread.

I also have other friends on the other scale, binge drinkers, only drinking at the weekends but in no way do they drink during the week and they would never give it up.

If I could only have one or two drinks, I'd still not. Like someone else said, my AV is saying "what's the point, let's get blocked".

eve123 06-23-2019 12:08 AM

I don’t know because alcohol has caused me so much pain I can’t relate to how take it or leave it acctually feels like.

brighterday1234 06-23-2019 02:24 AM

Impossible to answer this question for me as I only know alcohol and it’s effects from my experience as an alcoholic. I wouldn’t take a drink for a million £ now as the life I have and my state of mind is truly precious to me.

Hodd 06-23-2019 02:31 AM

Yes.

I wish I could drink “normally” by which I mean have one or maximum two beers once a fortnight or so or on special occasions. People who don’t drink habitually, like I used to, can do this. Their mental or physical health isn’t affected. They’ll have one drink, move on and not drink again for weeks.

I don’t miss drinking every day at all nor do I miss drinking into double figures. Because I used to drink heavily every day, I crossed the line into dependence and have to avoid alcohol totally. The only thing is regret is not being able to be an occasional drinker.

Hope1989 06-23-2019 02:43 AM

I would. It also opens many social events. Regarding, I'm in an environment also of "normal" drinkers. I wouldn't go to ******** clubs or anything like that. Because let's face it, those places are just tolerable if you're in a very questionable condition.

So, if it was an event or a dinner and I could have one or two (I currently will drink the whole bar), sure, I would. But again that's not the case :)

Callas 06-23-2019 02:48 AM

I would have liked to be a normal occasional drinker. That ship has sailed.

Hodd 06-23-2019 03:46 AM


Originally Posted by Hope1989 (Post 7212678)
I would. It also opens many social events.)

I know what you mean, but does not drinking stop you from socialising? If an ex-drinker is unsure about being around alcohol, that’s a very good reason. I’m perfectly happy to go along and say I don’t drink. Everyone is fine with this.

If someone did try and pressurise me into drinking, I might not take it too kindly, which isn’t ideal, but no one will ever get me to drink, so I’m cool with that scenario.

Gettingcloser 06-23-2019 04:02 AM

To be honest I had some very enjoyable times drinking. Before I became an alcoholic I really enjoyed being able to have a few drinks to relax after a week of work or drink at social events. Girls night out, things like that.
That being said, I look around me today and see a lot of people my age (44)missing out on so much because they spend their weekends being buzzed or drunk or are full blown alcoholics.

DriGuy 06-23-2019 04:05 AM

It's possible I might if I was not an alcoholic. But I can't knowing what I now know and thinking like I now think. The question is almost impossible to answer because of the part that qualifies "If I were a non-alcoholic." That's another kind of person altogether, and I've never walked in those shoes. But with the experiences I've had, and who I am now, I can't think of a reason why I would want to drink if I could.

Kid50 06-23-2019 04:18 AM

HELL YES !!!! 100 pc. Why wouldn't I go for a couple of social drinks, if there was no consequences. I spent a big chunk of my life trying to do exactly that. Know and accept that I can t , plus am no longer jealous or envious of those that can.

MyLittleHorsie 06-23-2019 07:08 AM

Of course I would. I didn't know I was an alcoholic way back and I would take a drink. There was a time in my drinking career when I just drank occasionally or just had a couple.
I don't drink now because I am an alcoholic, I also don't care for the taste, but at one time, I was not an alcoholic and would drink a glass of something to be social. Even though I wasn't too crazy about the taste.

HTown 06-23-2019 03:16 PM

No, I would not. The health impact and weight gain alone would keep me sober now. Never mind the $$.

Newbeginning421 06-23-2019 04:09 PM

I think that is what has really changed this time around for me getting sober. I have no desire to drink normally feeling so good and as you said even after 1-2 can feel the effects. Much happier in my new life

MLD51 06-24-2019 11:16 AM

Interesting question. I did enjoy my drinking when I could keep it between the lines. Which I could, for many years. It was fun to go and have a couple of drinks and let loose a little. I'm pretty tightly wound, and tended to be awkward in social settings when I was younger. Back then, alcohol did help to enhance my socializing, and I rarely overindulged to the point where I felt bad the next day or did stupid stuff.

BUT that all changed at some point. It's hard to know what I would do now if someone waved a magic wand and I could be like I was when I was in my early 20's, and I could be assured I'd just stay that way for the rest of my life. It sure would be tempting. But then I'd have to ask myself if I even need that social "help" anymore. And the answer to that is no. I have plenty of fun socializing without booze now. I don't feel as awkward as I used to, because the work I've done on myself in sobriety has given me much better self-esteem and I don't care as much what others think of me. So one of my main reasons for drinking doesn't exist anymore.

Still don't know what my decision would be, but I think it would be no.

Hodd 06-24-2019 11:22 AM


Originally Posted by MLD51 (Post 7213616)

BUT that all changed at some point.

That point we all reached known as alcohol dependency which can’t be reversed unfortunately. I wonder if any studies have been done on this when/over what duration it occurs.

Uni students can knock it back, but as far as I know most of then don’t get dependent. Becoming dependent wasn’t what i signed up for. This happening is what young people should be educated against.


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