The careful planning of a drinker
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Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 622
I scanned this thread and for some reason the word “sneaky” jumps out at me. I thought I was “sneaky” but I now believe more people knew then what I realized. I was just fooling myself. YMMV
I was also constantly planning from when I woke up [even swearing I wasn't going to drink that night] and so it's nice not to spend any energy on it.
I was also constantly planning from when I woke up [even swearing I wasn't going to drink that night] and so it's nice not to spend any energy on it.
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Join Date: May 2019
Location: UK
Posts: 3,944
I remember flying from Europe to Asia and having a long stopover at Dubai airport. I knew the alcohol prices at that airport were astronomical, and I even I wasn’t stupid enough to pay £12 for a beer.
But sure enough, a plan was made. I stockpiled the miniature bottles of wine from the first flight. My wife doesn’t drink so I had hers too, and I even saw another passenger had left a bottle so I had it. We’re “only” talking five one-glass bottles, so not a massive amount, but the planning couldn’t have been better.
And there was Ramadan in a Muslim country where I knew the bars would shut as would the alcohol section of the supermarket. Again, not a problem. I secured a stash of beers and even found some shops who’d sell me beer.
But sure enough, a plan was made. I stockpiled the miniature bottles of wine from the first flight. My wife doesn’t drink so I had hers too, and I even saw another passenger had left a bottle so I had it. We’re “only” talking five one-glass bottles, so not a massive amount, but the planning couldn’t have been better.
And there was Ramadan in a Muslim country where I knew the bars would shut as would the alcohol section of the supermarket. Again, not a problem. I secured a stash of beers and even found some shops who’d sell me beer.
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Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 3,597
so much useless planning and counting.
How many hours before I have to be at work? How many drinks can I have before then?
Is there alcohol where I'm going? Can I get alcohol there? If not, can I sneak alcohol with me?
When I was really in trouble, I remember going to a casino with vodka hidden in travel size mouthwash bottles and also carrying marijuana edibles. I would go into the bathroom and drink some vodka and then go back and have a drink of beer to cover it, and I would be off on the crazy train.
How many hours before I have to be at work? How many drinks can I have before then?
Is there alcohol where I'm going? Can I get alcohol there? If not, can I sneak alcohol with me?
When I was really in trouble, I remember going to a casino with vodka hidden in travel size mouthwash bottles and also carrying marijuana edibles. I would go into the bathroom and drink some vodka and then go back and have a drink of beer to cover it, and I would be off on the crazy train.
Giving up is NOT an option.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 7,809
I didn't need to have a steady supply on me at all times, but I definitely had to make sure I had my plan for an evening of drinking. If I was going to the bar, great, no problem, plenty there. But if I was going somewhere else, or staying home, I had to plan out how much to have on hand. If I was going to someone else's house, I never arrived without a bottle of wine (which I would try to hoard). If I knew the other guests or the hosts were heavy drinkers, I'd bring 2. If I was staying home, I had to have at least a bottle of wine in the house, if not 2. I didn't usually drink more than a bottle, but I liked to have an extra on hand, just in case I was having so much "fun" that night and wanted more. I usually drank at the bar, though. And drove drunk hundreds (thousands) of times, sometimes with kids in the car. I got 3 DUI's over the years (none of them with kids in the car). I had to plan my hangovers, too. When I knew I had something really important the next day, I'd try to keep it under control so that I would only have a mild hangover (and I failed on many occasions). I did not drink every single day, but usually if I didn't it was only because I was so terribly hungover or because I couldn't for some other reason. Rarely did I actually choose not to drink for a day.
UGH. When I think back to all the insane things I did... and how physically and mentally awful I felt 90% of the time... Never again.
UGH. When I think back to all the insane things I did... and how physically and mentally awful I felt 90% of the time... Never again.
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 782
So much time, effort, money, planning and sneaky behaviour... Sometimes it was clever, often risky but towards the end it was mostly just shambolic. I could certainly tell a tale or two. Boy am I glad those days are over!
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Join Date: May 2021
Location: Montana
Posts: 12
Wow Hodd that is so right on the mark. When I think about all the time energy and thought I used every day to make sure I had alcohol. Then there was the hiding it, hiding the empty bottles. 7 Months later I still found an empty vodka bottle behind my couch when moving it.
When I saw the Dr. for the first time after getting out of the hospital because of alcohol. He asked how I was feeling ( 2 weeks sober). The first thing I thought of was free. I felt free, still very ill but it was such a relief to not worry so much the how, when and where to drink. It was all consuming for me.
Sobriety is freedom for me.
When I saw the Dr. for the first time after getting out of the hospital because of alcohol. He asked how I was feeling ( 2 weeks sober). The first thing I thought of was free. I felt free, still very ill but it was such a relief to not worry so much the how, when and where to drink. It was all consuming for me.
Sobriety is freedom for me.
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Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: The Midwest
Posts: 649
Originally Posted by Hodd 
Speaking to my brother at the weekend about an old friend of his who’s a long-term smoker. They used to go on skiing or similar holidays which involved a lot of driving, and my brother realised his friend planned such trips in a lot of detail to fit in with his 40+ a day cigarette habit. My brother said smoking controls his friend’s life. The friend freely admits he has a problem and it’s unhealthy, but as we all know, quitting is the hardest thing a human can do. It’s a real shame as the friend is a great guy as I recall.
The conversation struck a nerve for obvious reasons. No way would I have gone on holiday without a sizeable amount of research into where to get alcohol. A lot of places I lived in or visited didn’t have alcohol, but that’s not a problem for the drinker as I brought my own along. If I’d ever be dragged away from my comfort zone and invited along to a place without alcohol, I’d be miserable and negative towards others. It’s not easy being a drinker. They have better planning skills than the best project managers out there.
I remember being on long bus journeys in Asia and any rest stop would involve scouring stalls and shops for cans of beer. If only the locals knew how much I’d have paid, they’d have made a fortune from mugs like me. Likewise at airports although they already know there’ll be mugs like me and charge hideous prices for alcohol.
I notice it with conversations with people who go to an event and complain about the price of beer or the queue to buy it. Heaven forbid if such events had no beer!
The above must apply to any addiction. I’d probably miss WiFi/internet if I went to the back of beyond, but I doubt I’d have the withdrawal symptoms of a drinker. The amount of planning it all takes is exhausting. We’re best shot if it, folks.
The conversation struck a nerve for obvious reasons. No way would I have gone on holiday without a sizeable amount of research into where to get alcohol. A lot of places I lived in or visited didn’t have alcohol, but that’s not a problem for the drinker as I brought my own along. If I’d ever be dragged away from my comfort zone and invited along to a place without alcohol, I’d be miserable and negative towards others. It’s not easy being a drinker. They have better planning skills than the best project managers out there.
I remember being on long bus journeys in Asia and any rest stop would involve scouring stalls and shops for cans of beer. If only the locals knew how much I’d have paid, they’d have made a fortune from mugs like me. Likewise at airports although they already know there’ll be mugs like me and charge hideous prices for alcohol.
I notice it with conversations with people who go to an event and complain about the price of beer or the queue to buy it. Heaven forbid if such events had no beer!
The above must apply to any addiction. I’d probably miss WiFi/internet if I went to the back of beyond, but I doubt I’d have the withdrawal symptoms of a drinker. The amount of planning it all takes is exhausting. We’re best shot if it, folks.
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