Hodd

I had to laugh this morning as I drove past my local alcohol and drugs counselling place. That’s not the funny bit obviously. I had to go there just under three years ago to tick a few boxes and collect a batch of Campral, a drug that helps reduce alcohol cravings. I only took this for 6 weeks as my mind was made up to quit by then. Whilst waiting my turn, I got talking to a really nice guy who was getting over a drug addiction. He’d had a big battle, and I really hope he stayed off the drugs. That could’ve been me or any of us.

I realised afterwards that whilst I saw him as a recovering drug addict, he would’ve seen me in the same light albeit with alcohol. I’m glad to truthfully say I didn’t see him as any worse than me, and what sort of hypocrite would I have been to think that anyway?

What made me laugh earlier today was recalling a post on another forum from someone who was presumably well off financially and only drank “good” stuff, buckets of it. When they sought help, they were appalled to see people there with drug problems too. I’m sure this absurd situation gets played out again and again. The stereotype alcoholic is a tramp drinking 16 cans of strong lager on a park bench, but most alcoholics are probably quite rich. As a very part-time science teacher, I can tell you the alcohol aka ethanol C2H5OH is the same in a £150 bottle of VSOP as it is in cheapest gut rot lager.
Ironically, I could’ve afforded £20 bottles of wine, but as I’d finish a bottle in 30 minutes, I just bought cheap stuff. I was never a posh alcoholic 🙂

Free2bme888

Exactly!

My daughter was homeless, whoring her body for bumps of meth and cheap whiskey, whoring her body for a warm bed and food.

There is NO DIFFERENCE between her and the lady in a mansion who stays in an abusive relationship for the alcohol, —or any other drug of choice be it pills coke—, posh surroundings, warm bed, and gourmet meals.

An addict is an addict. ⏸

Hodd

My image of the posh drinker was more a lady in her 40s or 50s with a rich husband, decent respectable sort. There’s no unpleasantness involved, but such a person is as much as addict as me with my cheap plonk and my drug troubled mate.

My maternal grandmother (born in 1900 or so) was a out and out alcoholic. There were bottles of gin in every orifice of the house. Her husband (my grandfather) was a respected GP. I certainly haven’t lived up to his level of respectability and never will 😀 My grandmother never really worked and was blatantly agoraphobic. I never saw her leave the house! Anyway, she died in her 80s, and I’m pretty sure my grandad made sure the death cert didn’t say alcoholism. She would’ve been horrified to have met anyone who did any sort of drugs. The double standards would be amusing, but I wouldn’t wish ill health from alcohol on anyone no matter how posh or condescending they may be.

Free2bme888

Same. Really nice opening post Hodd

Patcha

Wow. If my parent referred to me as a ***** I might do meth and booze too. I'm truly astonished that you would call her that and I ache for your poor daughter.

calmself

Same thoughts. Was appalled to read that. Saying truth is one thing, degrading our own ones or any one else like this in such a big public forum is another.

Mysteryman

I identify with this.
Im someone who likes good quality food and drink, and fortunately can afford it.
But you're right. Its all the same at the end of the day. It's funny how the mind wants to almost forgive problematic drinking when its the expensive stuff rather than tramp juice. Like it makes any difference.
I almost pride myself on my knowledge of premium/artisanal beverages, and turn my nose up at the cheap mass produced stuff, even though Id drink anything if it was there and I was desperate.

dustyfox

I am so sorry your daughter had such a rough time FREE, it sounds terrible. I hope she is out of danger now?

I really feel for young people who get caught up in addiction, their naivete sets them up as easy prey for older unscrupulous adults. There is something about seeing a very young person on the streets that is heart breaking, there never seems to be enough, or good enough, mental health support. Don't want to go too off topic but posh addict or not seeing young lives destroyed by drugs and alcohol makes me feel frustrated that I can't tell them to stop!
Funny really as when I was young I would not have listened to me either.

least

When I first started drinking, just a glass of wine before the kids got home from high school, I only bought the good stuff, but as I sank deeper into the madness of addiction, I started buying cheap stuff so I could buy more. So glad those days are far behind me....

RecklessDrunk

Some of my worse days of drinking in terms of alcohol consumption were late teens. Only a few years into drinking. My philosophy was vodka is 80 proof and taste like crap so just buy the cheapest. I also figured go into the poorest neighborhoods and they probably won't card. I couldn't imagine putting an entire liter of vodka down in my 30s or 40s. Of all the drugs I did in my life I think large quantities of vodka was the most dangerous as far as state of mind/completely out of control/what i might do.

By the end of my drinking in my early 40s I drank mostly craft beer. I didn't mean to be a snob or anything I just got so use to them. Regular beer was no longer acceptable. Many times the evening would begin with the most expensive beer and end with crack cocaine and heroin. Never planned on the drugs. In the later days I never said I'm going to drink and drug tonight. It was only after drinking that i craved drugs. Nothing says class like crawling on the floor looking for tiny pieces of rock cocaine that may be stuck in the carpet.

With people like us money can make things worse. Even in recovery they have all these fancy rehabs and what not. No amount of money can buy recovery. In some ways people with nothing have an advantage if they are completely humble.

I was middle class and had managed to hold the roof up for a long time. My situation in the end left a lot up in the air and didn't know what I was going to lose. Much was in jeopardy. I use to live so angry at myself for not accomplishing more. Angry at myself, angry at life, jealous of others. I suddenly realized the world doesn't owe me poop and every single thing. The food I just ate, the roof over my head and the air I breath is a gift from God. The things I didn't have didn't matter. I found hope. I didn't have to drink.

justinmyroom

Haha as someone who definitely does not fit that stereotypical image of an alcoholic, I like this post a lot. My Grandad was an alcoholic too who also happened to be well-off, respected in the community and an all-around nice guy. I think it's because of this that people were more reluctant to question his drinking, and, guess what? My Grandad's social status didn't help him out in the end because it killed him early. Still, at his celebration of life, my family were joking about how they found whisky bottles hidden all around the house after he died and jovially mentioned how he always used to keep a bottle of whisky at his desk at work. I was horrified. They never properly saw him as an addict, even though that is what he was. Rest in peace Grandad.

MissPerfumado

I spent a lot of money on my alcohol.

My thing was to be the big-spending party girl when it came to drinking with friends. Mostly I drank alone. But if I was drinking and socialising, I showed off. The last couple of years of my drinking, my drinking buddies knew that my drink of choice was champagne. There was a bar at a glitzy hotel where we used to hang out, and the waiter would bring the bottle of my 'usual' to the table when he saw me. One time he informed us our party had drunk them dry of that particular brand of champagne.

I don't think it was posh, I think it was ostentatious and tasteless.

In that same time period, a luxury wine store opened up a minute's walk from my place. I used to go there and buy an outrageously expensive bottle for special occasions, like my birthday or getting a promotion, and take it home and drink it myself. I'd post about it on social media, again to show off.

More tackiness. Yuck.

When I got sober and those memories would surface on Facebook, I'd cringe and delete them.

Alcoholism often covers up a lot of the personality issues. When an alcoholic makes a big deal about drinking expensive alcohol, it is a feeble attempt to cover up insecurity and shame. I had a lot to work on when I got sober.

Hodd

I think I had champagne once in my life on a very rare business class flight (as well as various bottles of wine and beer). I’m sure the cabin crew were increasingly concerned by my intake.

Champagne didn’t really have a flavour for me. I’m glad I never got a taste for it. Glad you’re hopefully spending your money on more interesting things now, Miss P.