# why do people like getting drunk? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 9, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283 "2014-03-09T18:58:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/61 "2014-03-11T04:50:21Z")
The OP’s question is one I’ve wondered about as well. I guess it boils down to the fact that people are different. On this thread and elsewhere, I’ve heard that alcohol gives some people a feeling of fun or glee, or that it loosens their inhibitions. For me the primary feeling I get after imbibing is one of nausea. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/62 "2014-03-11T05:43:16Z")
Nobody’s ever said, “Here, hold my salad,” while grabbing for the hangy-down thing to see if they can swing to the other side. It makes you do things you might not otherwise try, like talk to people, or…dance. It can give a candle light glow to a black-and-white existence. It can make you like yourself. It makes you like other people. It can let you have fun, forge friendships and form memories where you’re all like, “Can you believe we did that shit?” It’s like a lubricant for the let-go. ---
**Author:** ![Arabella\_Flynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Arabella\_Flynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arabella_Flynn)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/63 "2014-03-11T06:04:02Z")
Remember when you were a kid, and could do things like bounce on a trampoline for hours without caring if you looked like a total dork? The first thing that goes when you drink is that little voice in the back of your brain that’s always going, “Yes, but if I did that, what would people think?” Drinking generally just makes you more what you were when you started, so if you were in a good mood, this lessened awareness of (or anxiety about) social consequences makes you into an over-excited ten-year-old. It follows that a smart strategy for drinking is never to do it around people who would never let you live it down if they found out you still loved cartoons. 😃 As for why people get completely obliterated, I did it a few times out of curiosity. I like poking at my own brain to see what it does, and having a lot of daiquiris seemed like a reasonably safe thing to do, if I didn’t massively overdo it. I don’t like being at the point where I can’t finish thoughts, so I haven’t done it in years. If you do like being at the point where you can’t finish thoughts… then there you go. ---
**Author:** ![Whitney\_Harper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@Whitney\_Harper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whitney_Harper)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/64 "2014-03-11T08:16:03Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > My advice is you don’t drink, since you’re the one who can’t keep her shit together. My advice to everyone who can drink like a normal person is “Cheers!” What is a “normal person”? My point is that most folks who drink moderately, will drink moderately 99% of the time, but there is going to be that one time, when they have had an especially bad day or received a distressing telephone call, where they may indeed have too much to drink, and regret it deeply. We cannot be too confident in life, thinking it can’t happen to us. ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_Merton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Frank\_Merton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_Merton)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/65 "2014-03-11T08:18:09Z")
I have no idea why people like getting drunk. It’s terrible, and bad for you liver anyway. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/66 "2014-03-11T11:49:53Z")
> [@Becky2844](#): > > Nobody’s ever said, “Here, hold my salad,” while grabbing for the hangy-down thing to see if they can swing to the other side. > > It makes you do things you might not otherwise try, like talk to people, or…dance. It can give a candle light glow to a black-and-white existence. It can make you like yourself. It makes you like other people. It can let you have fun, forge friendships and form memories where you’re all like, “Can you believe we did that shit?” > > It’s like a lubricant for the let-go. Yeah, see that never happens to me when I drink, which is why I don’t get the appeal. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/67 "2014-03-11T12:29:20Z")
“I don’t understand people who have one drink. I don’t understand people who leave half a glass of wine on the table. I don’t understand people who say they’ve had enough. How can you have enough of feeling like this? How can you not want to feel like this longer? My brain works differently.” ~~Leo McGarry, _The West Wing_ ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/68 "2014-03-11T12:44:08Z")
> [@Frank\_Merton](#): > > I have no idea why people like getting drunk. It’s terrible, and bad for you liver anyway. Really? No idea? Someone should start a thread asking people why they like getting drunk, you might get a few reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_Merton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Frank\_Merton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_Merton)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/69 "2014-03-11T12:53:30Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > Really? No idea? Someone should start a thread asking people why they like getting drunk, you might get a few reasons. I don’t think there are many who “like” getting drunk. Getting a little high is pleasant enough now and then, but being drunk is unpleasant. I suspect the reason some get drunk anyway is the “more is better” mind of thinking if one likes some of something then one is bound to like more of it, even when experience teaches otherwise. Of course if one is an alcoholic, one has no choice, and may as well invent excuses such as one likes it. Those sorts of things are pretty transparent. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/70 "2014-03-11T12:57:35Z")
I disagree. When I was in college and grad school I hated drinking but I loved being drunk. Not a little tipsy but full on drunk. It was fun, everyone was fun. Of course after a few years I’d had my fun and I no longer seek out getting drunk. I still don’t like to drink and since I’m not interested in getting drunk, I rarely have alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/71 "2014-03-11T13:08:04Z")
> [@Frank\_Merton](#): > > I don’t think there are many who “like” getting drunk. Not everyone feels the same as you when drunk. For some of us, there is nothing better than getting knee-walking drunk. It has consequences, which is why I can’t do it anymore, but it feels awesome at the time, ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/72 "2014-03-11T13:08:24Z")
> [@Frank\_Merton](#): > > I don’t think there are many who “like” getting drunk. Getting a little high is pleasant enough now and then, but being drunk is unpleasant. I suspect the reason some get drunk anyway is the “more is better” mind of thinking if one likes some of something then one is bound to like more of it, even when experience teaches otherwise. > > Of course if one is an alcoholic, one has no choice, and may as well invent excuses such as one likes it. Those sorts of things are pretty transparent. So despite people telling you they like it and it’s not unpleasant, you’re going to assume that everyone has the same experience with alcohol as you, and they are all mistaken or alcoholics. Got it. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/73 "2014-03-11T13:13:39Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > So despite people telling you they like it and it’s not unpleasant, you’re going to assume that everyone has the same experience with alcohol as you, and they are all mistaken or alcoholics. Got it. If you notice this guy’s posts on other topics, that seems to be his MO. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/74 "2014-03-11T13:27:45Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Couldn’t they also be happy as can be, but able to appreciate an upward tweak in glee? Some people could certainly enjoy the fun, as I wasn’t talking about everyone. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/75 "2014-03-11T13:28:51Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > If you notice this guy’s posts on other topics, that seems to be his MO. Sorry, I didn’t notice. I’m kinda shit-faced. Thanks…hey, you kinda bootiful, lemme buy you a drink. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/76 "2014-03-11T13:30:04Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > Sorry, I didn’t notice. I’m kinda shit-faced. Thanks…hey, you kinda bootiful, lemme buy you a drink. Well clearly you’re hating every minute of it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/77 "2014-03-11T14:27:32Z")
A couple of drinks (not to the point of drunkenness) makes everything more pleasant. The trouble is, as the old saying goes, two martinis is too many; three is not enough. Once you’ve had a bit to drink, having more to drink suddenly seems like _the best idea in the world_. It really isn’t. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/78 "2014-03-11T14:56:34Z")
Alcohol is like cheerfulness in a glass. I cheer myself up every night. On occasion, I overdo it and basically lose the entire next day karmically balancing my great cheerfulness with a great misery, but mostly I know just how happy I’m allowed to get. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/79 "2014-03-11T15:54:58Z")
> [@Whitney\_Harper](#): > > What is a “normal person”? My point is that most folks who drink moderately, will drink moderately 99% of the time, but there is going to be that one time, when they have had an especially bad day or received a distressing telephone call, where they may indeed have too much to drink, and regret it deeply. We cannot be too confident in life, thinking it can’t happen to us. Well yes, and we might get hit by a bus. If you know you have a drinking problem, don’t drink. And yes, otherwise the “normal” sometimes overdo it. And out of those times they overdo it, occasionally they do something regret. But really, it’s mostly just _wince_ “what did I do that for?” and we get on with it. I think there’s too much “reefer madness” style hysteria, where you have one drink and the next think you’re falling out of a window pregnant or something. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/80 "2014-03-11T17:12:23Z")
> [@Whitney\_Harper](#): > > What is a “normal person”? My point is that most folks who drink moderately, will drink moderately 99% of the time, but there is going to be that one time, when they have had an especially bad day or received a distressing telephone call, where they may indeed have too much to drink, and regret it deeply. We cannot be too confident in life, thinking it can’t happen to us. I’m very sorry for whatever mental issues you’re going through that make you afraid to drink. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283.md?page=5)