I was thinking about Zane's Vegan-pride thread and I wanted to pose the question to everyone.  Personally (and religiously), I abstain.  The main reason: my father and his father.  I've come to grips with the fact that I have an addictive personality, and that if something tickles me just right, it's hard for me to give it up (read: video games).  But this is one thing I'm really committed to. 

My grandfather lived to be 74 years old.  During the last 20-ish years his drinking got steadily worse, to the point where he was becoming delirious.  It also didn't help that he was living on his own and there were these two people taking advantage of his money (which he didn't care because they brought him alcohol!).  Finally, we put him in a senior center and by that time his mind was just gone.  He could hardly recognize me or my father and we literally watched him waste away. 

There's also an issue of pride here, which comes from my father's side.  It must be a lawyer thing .  That's not to say that my wife doesn't enjoy a Midori Sour every now and then, but I'll keep away from the stuff.  Oh, I also don't smoke. MEH.

What about you guys?

I drink but not much. Maybe two beers every couple of weeks. I do enjoy a nice cold beer but I don't really enjoy being drunk - loved it as a teen but when I hit my mid-twenties, the fun to hangover ratio seriously shifted for the worse.

While I am still very much vegan, I do enjoy a few beers now and them. I don't drink at all during the week, but I allow myself to throw a few back on Fridays and/or Saturdays, depending on where I am and who I'm with. I won't drink by myself or when I'm just hanging out with someone at their/my house or whatever but if there's a party or karaoke you can count me in for a few brews!

As far as my diet is concerned, a lot of beer is vegan but people really don't know it - I was at a wedding a couple of months ago and ordered a vegan meal with an Amstel Light. The waitress gave me a hard time and told me that I couldn't drink because I was vegan! I had to explain that I wasn't straight edge, and that's what she was confusing me with. I consulted this page before buying into any beer after I decided to make my diet change, so now I can drink myself into a giggly mess without having to worry if it conflicts with my ideals and diets.

I also have an addictive personality, but I'm pretty conscious about my drinking habits because I want to make sure that I don't go overboard. A couple of years ago I would go out for karaoke and have 22 oz UFO's and shots of Jagermeister. Needless to say that summer is a big blur of headaches, hangovers and really loud karaoke... something I'd rather not go back to. I like to actually enjoy my liquor now.

I drink only when asked, or when I want to sleep soon.

Ingesting alcohol really doesn't mean much to me, but probably that's because I hate my father as f--- who has always drunk and the other day almost had a problem with police regarding by beating a neighborhood kid.

Wow, I wonder what percentage of us have alcoholic fathers... ?

i do, mostly on weekends.

its all about scotch and beer. just for taste, you wont see me lose control. nothing special around here.

I don't think that I ever drinked anything which is mostly due to the fact that I can't stand the smell of any kind of booze.

My dad never really drinked when I was growing up because of a medical condition so maybe that had slight influence?

I like to think that even if someone doesn't drink he/she can still go out with friends and drink soft drinks/water.

Just during parties and holidays, with the emphasis more on New Year's and Fourth of July.  I drink wine more than beer, but I'm always up for a good flavored ale.  Blueberry is a personal fave of mine, especially the Bar Harbor brand.

EDIT: I thought this topic sounded familiar, actually:

http://www.soundtrackcentral.com/forums … hp?id=1646

I drink happily.

I drink every weekend but rarely during the week. I've been known to get quite drunk, but I don't have an alcohol problem, unless my glass is empty *hic*.

My answer hasn't really changed that much from the last time I gave it. I drink more wine these days than anything else, only one or two at a time, and only at special occasions.

I did make the mistake a week ago of going out and drinking way too much... and then I woke up the next morning and remembered why I don't like DOING that!

Almost like clockwork I have one of those once and only once a year, and usually it doesn't take until morning to start regretting it.  Last one was just a few weeks ago so I should be good for a while

Anyway my own drinking habits haven't changed much since the last time this topic came around but I have come to enjoy the occasional umeshu (on the rocks, of course) since then.

I drink very rarely, so when I drink it's a pretty big deal. Still, it usually only one or two beers at the most when someone special vists; I don't have a normal "crew" I go out with.

The main reason I don't drink is I live with my fokes and I'd rather just avoid the unpleasent/akward questions of why I feel the need to drink in the first place. Same goes with smoking - and with both of my parents being major smokers - they don't want me to get started. I don't want to get started either, rather spend the money elsewhere = VGM.

My answer is also the same as last time, but I'd like to add that it sure would be fun to get the Captain Matthews hat: http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i237/ … thews1.jpg

I don't, personally. My dad was an unrepentant asshole when he drank, and as his kid I fear I stand a good chance of being that same asshole.

No umbrage intended to those who do drink, of course.

Yeah, same response as then...No change for me, other than adding Rolling Rock to my arsenal (as well as National Bohemian, which is apparently a famous local brew from Baltimore). Still love it with Italian food, still need to have it with sushi sometime. MAYBE up to 10-15 per year.

Wow, am I the only one whose father can actually deal with alcohol?

.

Actually I was just about to say respect to those who have decided to avoid alcohol because of their family history.  Alcohol is definitely one of those things where if you have doubts or anxieties there's no harm at all in just forsaking it altogether.

Perhaps there's a general pattern here of people not following their parents' drinking tendencies, whether it be one way or the other?  My parents never drank at all when I was growing up but the apple has fallen far from the tree in that area at least

D'oh!  I guess that's why there's a "search" function....   Sorry everyone.

Don't drink, smoke, or do drugs.

Alcohol because it tastes like what I imagine cat piss tastes like, smoke, because it is disgusting, and drugs because I don't see the point.

A good quality cold beer can taste truly heavenly. Chocolate beer I've never quite understood, two great tastes that go grate together.

As for more heavy drinking, the non-drinkers usually seriously underestimate the kind of fun that can be had in a party or a bar night with a good group of people getting really drunk. Sure, sometimes there will be hangover, but it's not a necessity or unavoidable by any means, and when you've hit just the right stride, the next morning and day can be fantastic. Think of everything bad about hangover, and then think its complete opposite, the anti-hangover. Something to experience.

*sees a bunch of "Who here drinks..." subjects and thinks, "What the...?"*

I drink alcohol occasionally in social situations -- usually go for sweet stuff. Can't stand red wine after a really bad experience. I also use liquor in baked goods sometimes. I've used it in some stovetop recipes too, but I usually try to avoid such recipes.

Amended post. Now I am jobless, which means that I have more time to drink and rock out at karaoke during the week. So... yeah, now every night is a Friday or Saturday night. Oops.

According to a book I have, 40 - 60 % of all the possible causes of alcoholism relate to genetic vulnerability. It also had something in it about how many abstainers have alcoholic parents, but cannot remember exactly what it said. The books title is "The Science of Addiction" by Erickson. Some time ago I drank "like a german" (is what we say in Norway), which means ~6 beers a day. I wanted to get to know more about the subject, hence I bought the book. But I would NOT recommend it! I can't claim I'm any wiser on the science of addiction now than before I read it. Would appreciate another recommendation on the subject, though.

Right now I drink once each week. Several beers, enough to get drunk that is. I dislike most alcoholic beverages (taste-wise), and generally only drink if nothing "else" is accepted by the people I happen to be together with.

If science can ever pin down what causes addictive behavior, it's probably best to do away with it altogether, rather than modifying it into being addicted to something "good" instead, since even good things can go bad when taken too far.

Moderation is the key to pretty much everything.

Hm, I drink all the time.  Mostly on weekends.  I also work part-time at a bar in Osaka called XEX West, which is owned by a company called "Y's Table Corporation"  No joke. 

See, I work my manical fandom into everything I do. (@_@)V

- Justin Pfeiffer

Sorry to hear that.  Hang in there.

Yeah, sorry to hear, man. Hope things work out. Good luck!

On topic, I don't drink that much alcohol, usually only for social purposes, like when I'm out with friends. I never drink alone. I prefer wine, especially something sweet like port (I love Madeira, for example).