# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/81 "2014-03-11T17:20:52Z")
‘It’s not easy being drunk all the time. If it were easy, everyone would do it.’ - Tyrion Lannister, _Game of Thrones_ ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/82 "2014-03-11T17:27:14Z")
I love getting drunk, when I am in the familiar surroundings of my house or even a friend’s apartment I can drink large amounts without losing the run of myself. The worst that might happen is I’d fall asleep without intending to. I might get a bit emotional but I am not usually in a state. When I’m out and about in the city and there’s a time constraint on how long you can drink it always feels like I drink worse, not necessarily more, but I drink faster, more frantically and then find I’ve lost the run of myself and I’m not anywhere near home. I like the former, I dislike the latter, but the state I am in doesn’t seem to be entirely up to the amount but the circumstances in which I drink the amount. Sometimes especially in the latter state I just want to keep drinking until I can’t. ---
**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, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/83 "2014-03-11T20:49:22Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > I’m very sorry for whatever mental issues you’re going through that make you afraid to drink. I am not afraid to drink, I just do not want to drink at this stage in my life. I felt very differently about alcohol when I much younger, and I did enjoy drinking then. In addition, drinking causes weight gain, and I don’t want to gain weight. ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/84 "2014-03-11T20:55:45Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > I’m very sorry for whatever mental issues you’re going through that make you afraid to drink. And I’m sorry for whatever issues you have that cause you to react with derision to anyone who doesn’t have the same relationship with alcohol that you do. I’m fine with whatever anyone chooses as far as the place of alcohol in his or her life. I’m bemused, though, by those who seem to put their drinking forth as some sort of badge of honor. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/85 "2014-03-11T21:17:49Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Just went drinking with some of my friends tonight. We had a good time. Joked around, had dinner, caught up. I’m at home now watching TV and will go to bed soon. Glad the Anti Saloon League wasn’t around to tell us our fun was a bad thing. I hear you, mate, and I’ll probably be doing something similar next weekend, but I’d honestly rather do it without the alcohol. I really do have more fun joking around, eating, and sharing stories when I’m sober. Then again, when I get amped up, it’s kind of like being drunk or high - except I can calm down in five minutes instead of taking much longer than that to sober up. I’m not judging, or begrudging anyone their pleasant sensations. I do still drink occasionally, but more to “fit in” or as price of admission than because I actually want to drink alcohol. The truth of the matter is that I enjoy doing things that people do when they’ve been drinking - just not the drinking. In an earlier post, \*\*wheresmymind \*\*asked what folks like me did that was flat-out fun. I’m probably in her category of people who aren’t “sensation-driven” (if that’s the proper term), but I’ll answer anyway. I like to make love, preferrably for hours. I like to play music for a live audience, preferrably one that’s cheering and dancing; along the same lines, I like to sing along with the band on St. Patrick’s Day while putting on a phony accent and trying to fool native Irish people into believing I’m a Son of Erin. I like to hike in the mountains. All of these are things I’d rather not do under the influence. (Granted, the St. Patrick’s thing sounds like something you’d do when you’re fucked up, but I was pretty much sober chemically - though you’d be hard pressed to tell from my behavior.) Anyway, that’s why I’ve largely given up on drinking, and why I don’t think it’s fun for the most part. Take it for what it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/86 "2014-03-11T21:26:58Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > I like to make love, preferrably for hours. I’m with you there, but drinking is something I can do with another person. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/87 "2014-03-11T21:32:43Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’m with you there, but drinking is something I can do with another person. Ouch! Hope you’ve got plenty of lube handy, mate. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/88 "2014-03-11T22:35:58Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > ‘It’s not easy being drunk all the time. If it were easy, everyone would do it.’ > > - Tyrion Lannister, _Game of Thrones_ Anybody can be a non-drunk. It takes a special talent to be a drunk. It takes endurance. Endurance is more important than truth. - Henry, _Barfly_ ---
**Author:** ![Gleena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b3f665/32.png) [@Gleena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gleena)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/89 "2014-03-12T02:18:22Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Just went drinking with some of my friends tonight. We had a good time. Joked around, had dinner, caught up. I’m at home now watching TV and will go to bed soon. Glad the Anti Saloon League wasn’t around to tell us our fun was a bad thing. I want one of those old timey dresses, though. I have a bottle of Glenmoragie waiting on me when I get home. And some whisky rocks. Good times. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/90 "2014-03-12T02:28:26Z")
It’s more fun getting shitfaced when you’re younger than when you’re older. Getting blasted with all your college buddies is practically a rite of passage. Doing the same thing in middle age or older is mostly just pathetic. I find myself overindulging much less the older I get. When you’re older, just drinking enough to maintain a healthy buzz seems more the norm. ---
**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 12, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/91 "2014-03-12T02:33:28Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > And I’m sorry for whatever issues you have that cause you to react with derision to anyone who doesn’t have the same relationship with alcohol that you do. > > I’m fine with whatever anyone chooses as far as the place of alcohol in his or her life. I’m bemused, though, by those who seem to put their drinking forth as some sort of badge of honor. I don’t care if people don’t drink. I do find it a little crazy when people who don’t, because of their experiences, give out blanket “advice” like people shouldn’t drink due to a bunch of cockamamie excuses which boil down to “I can’t so you shouldn’t.” I’ve met people who really need to back away from the pint glass, and that’s all fine, but when they extend that to belief that the rest of us should abstain because oh nos, bad things will happen (!!¡) I can’t help but to think that person has some serious problems that I’m very sorry for, but they should stop projecting them onto the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/92 "2014-03-12T03:50:55Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > It’s more fun getting shitfaced when you’re younger than when you’re older. Getting blasted with all your college buddies is practically a rite of passage. Doing the same thing in middle age or older is mostly just pathetic. I find myself overindulging much less the older I get. When you’re older, just drinking enough to maintain a healthy buzz seems more the norm. Well yeah. I like drinking, but by the time you get into your 30s and 40s and beyond, getting absolutely shitfaced just seems a bit…unseemly. Plus after awhile, you have to start to wonder how “real” those drinking buddy friendships are. Is it you they like, or is it just having someone else around to get shitty with? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/93 "2014-03-12T06:09:40Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > ‘It’s not easy being drunk all the time. If it were easy, everyone would do it.’ > > - Tyrion Lannister, _Game of Thrones_ > [@gazpacho](#): > > Anybody can be a non-drunk. It takes a special talent to be a drunk. It takes endurance. Endurance is more important than truth. > > - Henry, _Barfly_ “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” -Benjamin Franklin ---
**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 12, 2014, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/94 "2014-03-12T10:24:47Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > I don’t care if people don’t drink. I do find it a little crazy when people who don’t, because of their experiences, give out blanket “advice” like people shouldn’t drink due to a bunch of cockamamie excuses which boil down to “I can’t so you shouldn’t.” I’ve met people who really need to back away from the pint glass, and that’s all fine, but when they extend that to belief that the rest of us should abstain because oh nos, bad things will happen (!!¡) I can’t help but to think that person has some serious problems that I’m very sorry for, but they should stop projecting them onto the rest of us. I went through several messages ahead of yours and found nothing like what you say; you are rationalizing your drinking is what one concludes. That means you are an alcoholic but won’t face it. There are plenty of reasons to control one’s drinking, but most of the time people don’t belabor it. If on the other hand you find yourself hearing about it a lot, maybe you should listen. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/95 "2014-03-12T11:05:23Z")
> [@Frank\_Merton](#): > > I went through several messages ahead of yours and found nothing like what you say; you are rationalizing your drinking is what one concludes. That means you are an alcoholic but won’t face it. \*\* MeanOldLady\*\* is the poster child for cool drinkers. I subscribe to her newsletter even! Anyways, I only drink when I’m on the Dope. Which happens to be every day, but that is purely coincidental. Or maybe there’s a causative thing happening…the SDMB is a gateway drug to ALCOHOLISM??? Oh! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/96 "2014-03-12T11:06:13Z")
> [@Frank\_Merton](#): > > That means you are an alcoholic but won’t face it. A huh. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/97 "2014-03-12T11:18:13Z")
> [@Frank\_Merton](#): > > I went through several messages ahead of yours and found nothing like what you say; you are rationalizing your drinking is what one concludes. That means you are an alcoholic but won’t face it. Thank God you were able to internet diagnose her in time, Internet Doctor! ---
**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 12, 2014, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/98 "2014-03-12T11:23:29Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > Thank God you were able to internet diagnose her in time, Internet Doctor! I take it you don’t like it when people point out the obvious. It would seem you know very little about alcoholism. By the way, is there some specific reason you can provide you think I’m wrong or is it just a feeling you have? ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/99 "2014-03-12T11:31:15Z")
> [@Frank\_Merton](#): > > I take it you don’t like it when people point out the obvious. It would seem you know very little about alcoholism. > > By the way, is there some specific reason you can provide you think I’m wrong or is it just a feeling you have? **MOL** is a raging pisshead. She makes no bones about it! Is there some specific reason why you think you need to point out the bleeding obvious? It seems you know very little about drinking or alcoholism. Am I wrong, or are you just a blithering idiot? ---
**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 12, 2014, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283/100 "2014-03-12T11:54:05Z")
> [@Frank\_Merton](#): > > That means you are an alcoholic but won’t face it. That level of absolute confidence in your own correctness is certainly something to behold. On an unrelated note, I really hate this useless new smilie: :rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-like-getting-drunk/683283.md?page=6)