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What are your thoughts on alcohol?

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Transform said:
While basically not drinking at all nowadays, I had one small glass of Glühwein at the weekend (in the process of accepting hospitality, as sometimes happens). It gave me a headache almost immediately (n)

As if I need any further confirmation that alcohol is entirely unsuitable for me now - if it indeed ever was. There was a learning process for navigating the dose-response curve of alcohol-induced disinhibition in the direction of merriment that all too easily could veer off into mayhem, embarassment and/or misery. Add in the cost of physicochemical damage to all bodily systems and you may end up wondering if the price of mirth is a fair one here. It was always just as much, if not more, a matter of the company rather than alcohol in its own right.

I keep the (hazy) memories as gold while discarding alcohol from my life as dross.
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100% this. I see alcohol as a (somewhat) necessary mechanism of socialization in my past. But nowadays, even a single drink of any hard liquor gives me a headache and my stomach gets upset. For me, it's not worth it anymore. There are just better ways to have fun at a party than slamming down brewskies, as the youth say. :p
 
I quit booze about 2 years ago, after 30+ years of regular and sometimes abusive consumption. I definitely don't miss it, body and mind feel rejuvenated since I stopped. Everyone around me has noticed that I'm in better shape since then.
I didn't really plan to stop, it's something that came naturally and gradually when I started to take rue tea regularly. Interest for alcohol vanished away and I'm now completely afraid to be in a drunk state like I was before. My body and mind don't want it, don't need it anymore.
All these years I was blind on alcohol misdeeds and I realized that it's difficult to have perspective on its consumption in a society which values it and makes it available everywhere easily. Especially in my country, where it's very culturally anchored. Peganum harmala allowed me to get out of this booze fog in a way that still amazes me.
 
Really good to see the so many people here being able to not drink or limit themselves in drinking. I stopped drinking 10 years ago and haven’t had an sip since then. Looking back I think this was one of the better life choices I’ve made and although I do miss the taste of wines and the social aspect I don’t think I can start again. What I also remember is having distinct moments of regaining cognitive ability and reduced stress levels within the first year, so there’s that.

All in all if you’re still thinking about quitting may I recommend that you do so, it will probably improve your life significantly and all the things that you do now with alcohol are still fun without the alcohol.
 
I was occasional drinker for decades, but never had any substantial social or mental problems from drinking it. I am lucky to be very sensitive to negative physical symptoms of alcohol, so I never developed addiction to it. I also never liked its effects very much, always preferred effects of other substances (mostly cannabis).
Nowadays, I still drink sometimes, but definitely less frequently than in the past and only in small doses - with age, my body tolerates alcohol even less than before.
 
doubledog said:
I also want to add that it is quite interesting that such boring substance is so popular. I would say the main reason is that it makes people horny and aggresive, what is very positive from evolutionary point of view.
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It also can take you very far away from reality and your immediate problems, which makes it very useful from a modern point of view.
 
Voidmatrix said:
Like drinking hard liquor out of a plastic bottle. Or even going so far as to use iso.

One love
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I meant much, much worse things, but yes, that too. In any case, moderation is key. A drink every now and then in good company isn't the end of the world. But to use alcohol as a way to escape from one's problems is a bigger problem in and of itself. My heart goes out to everyone that is suffering from this addiction, I've known alcoholics, and this substance is ruthless. It robs you of everything you care for with time. And it is the substance of abuse with the worst societal impact of all. I'll never be able to accept the fact that it's so freely available and even mandated by governments, while beautiful medicines like mushrooms and DMT are scheduled drugs that "have no medical benefit" :mad:
 
Currently I seem to be using alcohol to disassociate the reality within myself and thus allowing me to see the many other realistic perspectives. It seems to help in the sense that my ego is not fighting the other view-points tooth and nail. A slippery slope, for sure, but at the moment the excuse seems to work. I just have to make sure that the bottles are made of glass and the label does not state isopropyl alcohol. ;)

I am sure that once I start consulting the plants that they will inform me about my many misguided ideas. Looking forward to it!
🦋
 
It somehow serves a very real purpose for many of us, right Now, in this culture. That is manifest reality and as such, in my opinion, deserving of the deepest respect and humility we know.

If there is something you would genuinely rather destroy your body for than integrate, then I would hope those souls surrounding you can see that with empathy, wisdom, and support you.

Alcohol when related to poorly, as with many addictive situations, is only a small part of the story. We can avoid alcohol if we are addicted to it, but we can’t avoid that addictive pain within ourselves forever. Don’t forget, xD we are all tripping 🙏❤️

So for us to really know alcohol, I feel like we also need to see it with a clear set of eyes. Emotionally Speaking
 
I definitely have tremendous compassion, but I still hate alcohol.

I've had to go a friend's house and get him into a hospital per his parents request (because he wouldn't listen to anyone else). He's been in and out of the hospital for complications in the last couple months since I got him in the hospital.

My best friend had a decades long issue he just recently remedied. His husband on the otherhand... similar boat to my friend above.

I love my friends and would do anything for them. Hence my support. It still wears on me. And I blame alcohol and all those that promote it and ignore the issues because it fattens their pockets.

One love
 
The big issue with alcohol is not only that it destroys the life of the user, but that of others around them. I can't speak for other places, but where I live, drunk driving is very common, and many innocent people die on the roads every single day because someone that's dealing with heavy emotional stuff didn't have the compassion and care for others and got into their car.

Alcohol might have some spiritual value in some settings (such as indigenous jungle tribes brewing alcohol and using it as part of all kinds of societal activities and ceremonies), but like Void, I will never not hate it. I've seen it ruin too many lives to be on good terms with it.
 
Void I completely understand. What’s strange is how normalized alcohol consumption has become, even when its consequences are painfully obvious. I grew up around pub owners in my family who’ve seen countless regulars pass away before the age of 65, some even suffering heart attacks right there in the pub. Despite witnessing these tragedies firsthand, they still convince themselves and others that their drinking is under control and that they serve alcohol responsibly. It’s almost like there’s this collective denial on reality when alcohol is involved.

Seeing the devastating effects of alcoholism up close is both heartbreaking and deeply frustrating. It’s not just the physical toll it takes, but also all the innocent bystanders, families who have to deal with the consequences. You want to help, but when drinking is ingrained in the culture, change seems almost impossible.

Some of my friends binge drink heavily on weekends and even during the week, but still insist they don’t have a problem. They rationalize it because it’s socially acceptable, only to then have these same friends argue that psychedelics are dangerous and cause psychosis. It’s strange how deeply embedded alcohol is in our society, to the point where its dangers are often minimized or outright ignored
 
You're highlighting a lot of bad reasoning and logic my friend. And preaching to the choir.

Hume spoke on the importance of tradition.

Alcohol is part of social traditions the world over. Sometimes it's how two culture are able to find common ground to connect.

So a thousands year old tradition we're fighting again.

And there's lots of lies we'll tell ourselves to get through the day.

One love
 
I started drinking at age 14, had a lot of fun and it helped me drop my social inhibitions, until I wasn't drunk anymore but then usually I felt a closeness with those I drank with that over time friendships formed without booze.

By 17 I was smoking cannabis regularly and had given up the alcohol almost entirely, finding something so boring about the head space it opens. A load of hot air compared to the expandedness of cannabis.

At 21 I started drinking and smoking a lot. If I didn't pull back when I did I was headed for a dark spiral downwards. I was often drink driving, often very intoxicated, I am so glad I didn't hurt anyone else, let alone myself. Psychedelics slowly helped me here and eventually helped me stop my addiction to cannabis too. I have alcoholism in my family including my father and I see dear relatives struggle immensely with it and I ride the line between accepting and feeling despair for watching them wither away and then sometimes I feel resentment pop its head in.

I watch a lot of people I grew up with also become so dull, unaware and kind of like bumbling fools from chronically binge drinking alcohol on weekends. Ive experienced how to can help break down barriers but I've also seen it totally wreck lives. I'm not really a fan, last time I drank was a few years ago at my best friend's wedding which was the first time in a long time. I had a great time catching up with old friends but woke up feeling a sense that I'll likely never drink again. Its just become way to dulling of my awareness to drink tbh. Its too socially sanctioned as totally reasonable to chronically binge drink every weekend, drink a carton of beer through the week etc etc. I find it to be the least inspired of beverages one can alter their consciousness with.
 
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