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Why do people get drunk?

23 Comments

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Because their livers cannot process the alcohol at the same speed it is consumed. That and because it lowers inhibitions and makes people feel good. And taste good.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

To blot out the daily crap around us.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

They're so uptight that they can't relax without something that actively robs them of their self-control... and it provides a convenient excuse the day after, e.g. "Sorry I ralphed in your car, I was drunk", or "Sorry I flirted with your wife, I was drunk", or "Sorry I felt up that girl in the train, I was drunk".

I have no problem with people drinking, I enjoy the occassional glass of red wine, but people who drink to excess are abusing alcohol and they're just evading dealing with their real issues. Don't like your job? Don't drink until you can't stand up, just get a new job! Can't talk to girls without getting so drunk that you ralph all over them... this isn't helping, get over your lack of confidence without alcohol and you'll have a better success rate with the ladies.

Overuse and inappropriate use is abuse, clear and simple.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Wow Frungy, talk about holier than thou! I remember as a young man how a couple of beers would help in chatting up the women. It's not called Dutch Courage for nothing. Have you never been to a BBQ or outside lunch at a friends place where 4 of you get through 3 (or even 4) bottles of wine? Nobody's puking up or misbehaving - quite the opposite, we all have a good time. I hope you continue to enjoy your "occasional" glass of wine. For me, I'll continue to occasionaly "abuse" myself as you put it.

7 ( +7 / -1 )

Because it feels good (unless you overdo it). Humans have been getting high in one way or another since as far back as we can tell. Monkeys and elephants (to name 2 that I know of) will actively seek out rotting fruit for the fermented alcohol it contains. Same reason people will take drugs no matter how harshly their possession is penalised.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Because the beer, wine and scotch tastes good... The getting drunk part is not so important to me.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

In a nut shell ethanol stimulates the production of dopamine and endorphins which are the chemicals that produces the feeling of pleasure. However if you really care about your body and health why would you want to get drunk? Alcohol can cause permanent damage to the connection between the nerve cells, lead to chronic high blood pressure, heart irregularities, liver disease, kills the red blood cells, and can increase the risk of some forms of cancer. Unfortunately adolescents and young people will probably get drunk because of peer and social pressure and to experience what it feels like to get wasted. But others may choose to get drunk because their terribly, terribly unhappy and want to forget their problems, responsibilities or just remove inhibitions, stresses and enjoy the pleasure it produces. Hence choosing not to drink may not be such a bad idea after all, for people who never drink never have alcohol related consequences to regret.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

For "medicinal" purposes. ;)

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Why not?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

So that they can "sing" at karaoke.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

SimondBNov. 28, 2012 - 12:06PM JST Wow Frungy, talk about holier than thou! I remember as a young man how a couple of beers would help in chatting up the women. It's not called Dutch Courage for nothing.

If you're so afraid of women that you need a drink before you talk to one then you're not much of a man.

Have you never been to a BBQ or outside lunch at a friends place where 4 of you get through 3 (or even 4) bottles of wine? Nobody's puking up or misbehaving - quite the opposite, we all have a good time. I hope you continue to enjoy your "occasional" glass of wine. For me, I'll continue to occasionaly "abuse" myself as you put it.

If people aren't drinking too much and they're drinking socially then that's okay, but if you're drinking (1) for "courage", (2) to sleep, (3) to forget your problems, etc, then you're using alcohol inappropriately, and there's a strong risk of alcohol becoming your primary coping strategy, which is a recipe for puking and misbehaving.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Because they can't control their drinking... that's the how, the why? Who knows - never been drunk.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It feels good and tastes good.

The part about "forgetting problems" is really a relieving of stress, and is as likely to be a healthy thing as unhealthy.

It also makes me sleepy so I can relax and sleep if I'm all wound up.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

And the other reason is because pot is illegal.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Whether used as a social lubricant as a crutch as a distraction or as a stress reliever..."I'll drink to that"

1 ( +1 / -0 )

LowlyNov. 29, 2012 - 01:00AM JST The part about "forgetting problems" is really a relieving of stress, and is as likely to be a healthy thing as unhealthy.

Okay, let's take some hypothetical problems and see how successful this "drinking until I forget" strategy really is:

Money troubles - Drinking is expensive, especially in Japan. Now you're poorer and have a hangover. Did it help solve your problem? No. Did it add to your problem? Yes.

Relationship troubles - Add a 2am "drunk call" to your significant others' list of reasons you're a jerk. Did it help solve your problem? No. Did it add to your problem? Yes.

Depression (unspecified source) - Alcohol has a destabilising effect on your body's electrolyte balance, which in turn has an effect on your neutrotrasmitter balance (seratonin, etc). Drinking has aggravated your symptoms, and while you're drunk your judgement is impaired, increasing the risk of suicide. Did it solve your problem? No. Did it add to your problem? Yes.

Can't sleep - Alcohol results in lower quality sleep, so while you might sleep for longer you are generally unable to complete full sleep cycles (the light sleep, deep sleep, reboot sequence that is necessary for proper brain functioning). As a result you're even more tired the next day, with a hangover to boot. Did it solve your problem? No. Did it add to your problem? Yes.

Social lubricant/To make you look cool - Wake-up call everyone, no-one looks cool throwing up. Your friends may find you funny if they're also drunk, but your sober friends will be worried about you getting alcohol poisoning, and irritated that you're making them responsible for you like you're some sort of big baby. Did it make you look cool? No. Did it make you look like an irresponsible idiot? Yes.

In almost every case where people drink to excess it ends up aggravating their problems. By all means enjoy a drink or two, but don't for a moment try and fool yourself (or anyone else) into believing that drinking to excess is a good thing. It does not solve problems, whether social, mental, or financial.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Frungy-san,

then you're using alcohol inappropriately

I often see this phrase, but I don't know what it means.

What is the APPROPRIATE use for alcohol?

I'm not being facetious.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

BertieWoosterNov. 29, 2012 - 06:18PM JST Frungy-san,

then you're using alcohol inappropriately I often see this phrase, but I don't know what it means. What is the APPROPRIATE use for alcohol? I'm not being facetious.

Research shows that a drink a day isn't a problem, and depending on what you're drinking may actually produce some beneficial side-effects. For example drinking half a glass of red wine every night has been shown to lower cholesterol and the risk of heart-attacks, and for those at risk of strokes a whiskey before bedtime can reduce the risk of strokes by thinning the blood a little.

Inappropriate uses of alcohol are numerous, and fall into way too many patterns to describe here, but I'll provide some information on the most common:

Binge drinking - Someone who doesn't normally drink, but will drink themselves sick or even unconscious a few times a year. This is especially dangerous since the body (especially the liver) is unaccustomed to processing alcohol, and this sort of drinker can easily die from alcohol poisoning or by asphixiating on their own vomit.

Drinking as a coping strategy - Whether the problem is physical, mental or social this is just a bad idea. For example someone with chronic pain who takes painkillers and then drinks to "improve their effectiveness" risks going to sleep and never waking up. Alcohol does not play nicely with most medications, from anti-depressants to anti-biotics it's just a bad idea. If you have social problems (e.g. can't talk to girls without a drink) then alcohol isn't actually solving the problem, it's just adding beer breath and a lack of balance to the problem. The problem is that these false coping strategies tend to be self-reinforcing, so if you didn't get the girl the alcohol-addled mind concludes that you obviously need more to drink! ... a most illogical conclusion.

Drinking every day - If you can't get through your day/go to sleep without a drink then you have a problem. Try skipping your evening drink every now and again. If you can do it without a problem then you don't have a problem. If you can't sleep/get through your day without a drink then you have a problem.

How many did I have? - If you can't remember the answer to this question... or remember where you were last night... or wake up in some stranger's bed, then you have a problem.

As a rule of thumb I'd say that you should treat alcohol like food. Eating a slice of chocolate cake because you like the taste? Fine. Eating the whole cake and then going out at 2am to find a combini with chocolate cake? You have a chocolate cake problem. One BigMac every now and again? Fine. Eating three BigMacs every day, or eating them until you feel like throwing up... you have a BigMac problem.

it's just common sense really. All things in moderation.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

As a rule of thumb I'd say that you should treat alcohol like food. Eating a slice of chocolate cake because you like the taste? Fine. Eating the whole cake and then going out at 2am to find a combini with chocolate cake? You have a chocolate cake problem. One BigMac every now and again? Fine. Eating three BigMacs every day, or eating them until you feel like throwing up... you have a BigMac problem.

Absolute nonsense Frungy.

The only problem I have is that i only have one mouth.

On a "back on topic" note, I like alcohol alot. Many Japanese are allergic, which explains why they get drunk so easily. I am one of those boring "moderate drinkers" too though, mainly because small kids (my own, not my students) + hangover = no fun ><

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Because they're dumb. Getting drunk means getting a hangover, and that's dumb. Having a few drinks to relax is one thing, getting shit-faced drunk and getting a hangover is dumb. I've done it a few times, but not in recent years.

"So that they can "sing" at karaoke"

You put "sing" in quotation marks. Are you suggesting these people are not very good singers? ha ha

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Frungy-san,

Thanks for taking me seriously.

I drink, but not inappropriately, as far as I can see.

I like wine with dinner when it suits the meal, but whisky before bedtime doesn't work for me.

I agree with you about binge drinking. I was certainly guilty of this in my younger days, but nowadays, I would no more do this than jump out of a third floor window.

Not a good idea.

As for drinking to cope with problems. I've never done this. For me, alcohol is for happy occasions. If something happens and it depresses me, I actually do not want to drink. It would add to the problem.

Yes, being unable to sleep without a drink would indicate a drinking problem.

As for the loss of memory aspect, this is something I really don't understand. Even when I've been so blasted that the room is spinning and I felt like death, I always made it to the lavatory and the next morning, I had no gaps in my memory. I wonder if "Did I do that? No! I must have been really blotto. Did I really? I don't believe it!" isn't just an excuse.

it's just common sense really. All things in moderation.

Good advice.

Thank you.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

kimuzukashiiiii Nov. 29, 2012 - 09:52PM JST Absolute nonsense Frungy.

Would you care to substantiate why my post was, "absolute nonsense", or are you just going to fire off a meaningless one-liner with no support and rely on the hordes of closet alcoholics out there supporting you?

Personally I've seen the effect of alcoholism on families and patients, and it is not a pretty sight. From alcoholic fatty liver syndrome to drunk driving. 3.2% of all deaths internationally can be linked to excessive alcohol consumption. That's more than lung cancer (i.e. smoking).

The simple fact is that people are in denial about how harmful excessive drinking really is, and that's why my posts are attracting so many thumbs-downs, because you're not interested in facts unless they confirm what you already know. As the old reporter's quote goes, "People don't want News, they want Olds!".

0 ( +1 / -1 )

3.2% of all deaths internationally can be linked to excessive alcohol

And 96.8% of deaths are not related to alcohol. So don't sweat the small things Frungy. Chill out, have a beer!

Cheers!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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