Ask Lemmy

Opinions? You do you. No amount of alcohol is apparently "safe" in terms of health effects, according to newer research. For a ton of people that doesn't matter that much.

I only drink beer, no wine or hard alcohol. Maybe like two bottles on a weekend max. Most of the time it is an alcohol free beer.

From 30 on my hangovers go really brutal so it was not worth it anymore. Also alcohol is extra calories, and try to keep my current weight.

But a nice beer after a long hike is the best.

I only have a drink at the weekend now, and usually only a couple of pints of beer or a couple of glasses of wine.

I very very rarely drink enough to get drunk, maybe once or twice a year.

I enjoy the taste and the light buzz.

I drink maybe a few times a month and even then not much. The older I get, the harder it is on me. I have definitely taken it too far a few times in life, both in a session and a few times where the habit became everyday for some months. Neither are good. But periodic drink while breaking bread with companions is a great thing I think.

And I make mead and love it. So that goes down the hatch too. We are fortunate not to have formed habits that hurt our lives. Everything in moderation. Not good to overdo it but no sense in teetotaling either.

Alcohol provides practically zero benefits to the human body and countless damages.

People who drink regularly, even if they aren't actually alcoholics, are causing really bad long-term damage to their organs (all of them, not just the liver). Alcohol is also a carcinogen that newer studies are saying is comparable to tobacco.

That being said it isn't necessarily an issue solved with judgement. Most alcoholics know they're killing their bodies but can't quit due to the chemical and psychological addicting properties of alcohol. Many who become alcoholics do so as a form of self medication for major problems, psychological or otherwise. Others are literally groomed into it by friends, family and the nearly global culture of drinking.

Thank fuck the newer generations are drinking less than ever.

Where I live, it's like everything is centered around drinking. My foreign friends were kind of shocked my office always has a fridge fully stocked with beer.

I got sick and can't drink anymore and it's honestly quite lonely. I was hoping to at least see some health benefits after quitting but haven't noticed any yet.

Bitter. Too bitter for my liking.

Plus, I'm quite happy with having full mental faculties. Never understood why people would enjoy diminishing it.

It's very important, as without drinking, you die of thirst within a few days. /s

It depends on how it affects you. What you described matches more what I get from coffee (I don't drink coffee). I drink fairly regularly I guess. It gives a social boost, to the point of a semi-social sober person, in exchange for some clumsiness. Hangovers are rare and I've never forgotten something because of alcohol, so it feels more like a short-term enhancement. Obviously it's bad long-term but, as with everything, if you don't hurt anyone, you do you.

I don't drink at all. Might have a taste (which is quite literally a taste) of my partner's drink if it's something new, but that's it. Otherwise, I have what looks and feels like an allergic reaction if I even have a mouthful.

My view on it is that as long as you're responsible about it and aren't causing anyone else discomfort or putting them at risk (being creepy, violent, making a mess, driving, etc.), then I'm okay with it. What you put in your body isn't my decision and you shouldn't let your alcohol-fueled self decide the fate of others.

As for me getting around people asking me if I want a drink, they've all been pretty respectful when I decline. If they pushed, they wouldn't likely be people I surround myself with. I'm also always happy to be designated driver, so I get offered mocktails instead. 😎

Regular’s drinking habits are none of my business

I never liked beer. It just tastes like shit to me. I'm also not a fan of dry wine, so I don't usually go for that. I do like mixed drinks.

I very rarely drink. My wife's older brother was killed by a drunk driver. I met her after that, but I got to see the impact it had on their lives. So, if I'm driving I won't touch any alcohol.

When my kids were young, and I was still in the on call rotation at work, I was always either driving the kids around or I was on call, so I couldn't drink.

Now the kids are grown, and I don't take call anymore, but it just never occurs to me. Very rarely, my wife and I will go to a restaurant within walking distance of our house. If we go there, I'll have a couple long island iced teas. To give you an idea of the frequency, we've gone there three times in the last seven years. We might also open a bottle of wine at holidays.

I never was part of the drinking culture. My wife and I started dating when we were in high school. We've never been the sort to go to a bar or a nightclub.

When my kids were young and in karate, we would go to parties with the other karate parents. My wife and I were shocked by the dads who would get absolutely plastered at these parties. When we asked, they said they drink like that every week.

never tried alcohol and never want to either. it ruins your skin and ages you prematurely, honestly, it’s up there with unprotected sun exposure. plus, I’m naturally so unhinged I don’t need any substances to unwind or have fun.

I have a strong fear of using substances that affect my ability to do logical reasoning and make decisions of my own accord, so I don't ever want to drink.

I'm young so I'm still at a reasonable age to not drink, but I did have a shot once among family and friends and it only gave me a massive migraine and a sore throat so it wasn't a very positive experience.

I think regular drinking is not very healthy and hits the body hard. There is no harm in occasionally getting drunk though. It's good for the soul.

Its poison, slow and social poisoning marketed and sold as a product to consume

I like the 'high' alcohol gives, but the price is pretty steep for my body. Hangovers hit me hard, and sleep is much worse after ingesting alcohol. Being more drunk is less fun for me, so it's also a kind of delicate balance.

Since (dry vaping) weed gives a more enjoyable and easily manageable high (shorter, and harder to get too high), similarly priced, without hangovers and with a lot less negative health impacts, I like that a lot more. The 'cost' of alcohol just seems much more obvious when having something like weed to compare to.

I personally don't like alcohol. The only form I like is the heavy cream and sugar ones - and at that point I can just eat some Ice cream or a Milkshake for the same calories.

I believe there is no safe amount of alcohol. It is poison.

But it is not my business what others do unless they decide to drive. F those people.

I don't like the effects either. My addiction currently is to caffeine - and I was told to never ever try coke or Adderall or I would be in deep trouble...

I stopped about 5 years ago. I have depressive tendencies and drinking heightens the negative emotions much more than the positive ones (for me, at least). It wouldn't take much to send me spiralling for the night.

Also, to your point - I couldn't do math well for like a week after drinking, and I need to for my work.

No amount of alcohol is good for you, and considering the things that are 'good' for you can potentially be bad for you (e.g. supply chains making things cheaper for profit without regards to public health), it's not really worth whatever you're getting out of it (imo). Sure, it can be reasonable to think it can be fun or different on occasion, but there's alternatives that are far less destructive to your overall well-being. By less risky I'm not even refering to long-term damage...I mean the potential that someone's light or moderate relationship with alcohol can, in a single night, pivot and destroy their life or the life of another. That can obviously be applied to literally anything, but again, there's no amount of alcohol that's good for you.

Want a head change? Eat a CBD gummy or try some different teas- there's plenty that can mellow you out the are far less impactful or risky to your health- chamomile, peppermint, kava, damiana, etc (though even some of those can damage your liver long-term).

Ultimately, everyone gets to decide what is worth the risk to them - red meat, lunch meats, preservates in literally everything, pickled things, too much sugar, trans fats, too much screen time, etc. Kind of comes down to the individual to decide what's worth it. I'd rather enjoy a yummy treat a few times a week over nuking my body with alcohol every now and again.

even casual drinking is enough to raise the risk of alcohol related diseases. as long as your not doing it everyday, or drinking heavily on occasion it should be fine. i had family member who had gastritis from drinking too much, during his "partying" years.

Alachol: almost fifteen years sober, never another drop.

Water: fuuuuuck, I know I should drink more, but c’mon man.

I think its too expensive and it smells bad

Alcohol increases your risk of cancer and after effects (depression, irritability) can linger for more than a week with some people, like me! So I don't drink, not really worth it to me.

Alcohol is a garbage drug I don't understand why people love it so much

I drank for most of my life but once I met my now wife I didn't see the point of it, since it was entirely related to my horniness and trying to get in a skirt chasing "wolf mode". I also converted to Islam so that definitely pushed me more in that direction, lol, and I haven't drank in almost a decade. I'm not shy and/or self-conscious so it doesn't benefit me in that way (a couple of drinks is more than enough for these kind of folks, or at least should be) and I'm too reckless and easily triggered into aggression (way more so the past but still) so nah, not for me... my substance has always been cannabis anyway. 🫣😅