4 ms·

I always wanted to ask this question, Does it is really uncool if someone learns that I had never tasted an alcohol even once in my life, and never intend to do

I always wanted to ask this question, Does it is really uncool if someone learns that I had never tasted an alcohol even once in my life, and never intend to do either? On personal level, I don't really like or have any reason or wish to drink it. Sometimes though, I read that alcohol is good for overall health in small quantities. While, I really doubt it, considering it's additive properties! Literally, among my friend circle everyone drinks for no reason. Most of the times, Just to be cool! Has alcohol become new norm of today's lifestyle across the world?

wolco 9y ago
It is good for your health in small doses like salt. But people like the affect and over do it to the point there are no health benefits.
- theoh 9y ago
  Usual official advice is not to start drinking purely for sake of health benefits -- they are outweighed by risks at any level of consumption.
sk5t 9y ago
From your perspective they're drinking for no reason, but there probably is a reason, and that is to lower inhibitions or forget their troubles for a while.
scottLobster 9y ago
Alcohol is only addictive to alcoholics, and precisely what makes an alcoholic is a subject of ongoing research. Assuming you're not an alcoholic (the more likely option) it's no more addictive than candy. Actually less addictive, as candy doesn't have a hangover. As for drinking due to peer pressure, well drinking is a social thing. But in my experience most people will be perfectly fine with you not drinking for whatever reason. You might lose out though being the only sober one at the party, and you'll be driving a lot of people home if you have a car. :) For my part I'll typically go through a 6-pack or bottle of wine on the weekend, I never drink during the week. There are some very tasty alcoholic drinks out there, and while I find getting plastered unpleasant a mild-moderate buzz is quite enjoyable.
- humanrebar 9y ago
  Resisting candy is harder than resisting alcohol for me. So in that sense candy is more habit forming. But habitual candy eaters don't get sick or die from going cold turkey from eating candy (1). It's not clear that clinical addiction is even possible with sugar (2). In that sense, alcohol is much more addictive. (1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_withdrawal_syndrome https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_withdrawal_syndrome (2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar#Addiction https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar#Addiction
  - TACIXAT 9y ago
    Withdrawal is possible with sugar and I could prove this (with myself, which is miserable). If any scientists want to monitor me for a week while I eat a bunch of ice cream, stop, and get violently ill, I would love to do this for the sake of science. I'm celiac. My symptoms are best described as withdrawals to various food. I had chronic sinusitis (which is associated with celiacs but not studied anywhere) my whole life until I tried an elimination diet to cut out wheat (at 23). It was the best I had ever felt. Since then (now 28) I have cut out caffeine, sodium nitrites, MSG, and most recently sugar. Once I started feeling better from not eating wheat, it was easier to identify other triggers. I get minor sinus headaches while consuming these regularly (I attribute these to "missing a dose" of something my body is dependent on) and when I cut them out I go into full withdrawal mode. I get a really bad sinus headache, I get nervous shakes, sometimes cold sweats, diarrhea, and vomiting. I don't drink mostly because I don't enjoy it getting sick (and it's tough to find gluten free, sugar free drinks) but I've been meaning to experiment with alcohol to see if the symptoms are similar. There is a crazy lack of research done on celiacs. I think withdrawal symptoms could explain a lot. Gluten has been seen to act similar to opioids in patients with Autism (while studies have shown that a gluten free diet does not affect symptoms of Autism, behaviors, etc). I also believe that undiagnosed celiac cases could explain why some people swear MSG causes them problems while many believe it is entirely harmless.
- DanBC 9y ago
  > Actually less addictive, as candy doesn't have a hangover. Since a hangover is part of the mechanism of dependency I'm not sure how you get to this conclusion.
UnpossibleJim 9y ago
The same benefits gleaned from drinking are available from taking an aspirin a day. Wine has some antioxidant effects, I guess, but they are outweighed by the detrimental effects of ingesting, what is basically, a poison. For the record; I'm not for prohibition and have the occasional drink (though, as I get older, I drink less. I have gotten hangovers from a single drink, in the recent past, and I just don't like it enough to deal with a hangover. Though, that was probably a sugar hangover from a god aweful drink my wife made).
gaius 9y ago
It's only uncool if you keep talking about it. If you just order a non-alcoholic drink at the bar, noone will even notice. As for new norm, people have drinking and enjoying alcohol for literally thousands of years...
humanrebar 9y ago
I've never heard anyone talk bad about anyone for not drinking. At most there will be a mild curiosity since there's sometimes a personal story involved as to why. If you're around people that give you a hard time for not drinking, find another group to be part of. It shouldn't be hard to find people that are more chill. Health nuts, parents, and religious folks in particular tend to develop alcohol-free or alcohol-optional culture.
shalmanese 9y ago
Some people will really really care but that's a good sign to not have anything to do with that person. For the most part, people will react to it like not being able to ride a bike or never having seen the ocean; aka: A noteworthy piece of trivia but nothing to get excited about.
bonniemuffin 9y ago
Humans have been making and drinking alcohol since at least 10,000 BCE, so it's definitely not a "new norm" [1]. Choosing not to drink is a perfectly reasonable life choice. If you act like a jerk to other people who choose to drink, though, I wouldn't expect that to make you any friends. Live and let live; it's a personal choice either way. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_alcoholic_drinks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_alcoholic_drinks
whipoodle 9y ago
Alcohol has been around for a couple years. If you think everyone who drinks is just trying to be cool, I'd wager that says more about you than it does about them.

wolco 9y ago

It is good for your health in small doses like salt. But people like the affect and over do it to the point there are no health benefits.

theoh 9y ago
Usual official advice is not to start drinking purely for sake of health benefits -- they are outweighed by risks at any level of consumption.

sk5t 9y ago

From your perspective they're drinking for no reason, but there probably is a reason, and that is to lower inhibitions or forget their troubles for a while.

scottLobster 9y ago

Alcohol is only addictive to alcoholics, and precisely what makes an alcoholic is a subject of ongoing research. Assuming you're not an alcoholic (the more likely option) it's no more addictive than candy. Actually less addictive, as candy doesn't have a hangover. As for drinking due to peer pressure, well drinking is a social thing. But in my experience most people will be perfectly fine with you not drinking for whatever reason. You might lose out though being the only sober one at the party, and you'll be driving a lot of people home if you have a car. :) For my part I'll typically go through a 6-pack or bottle of wine on the weekend, I never drink during the week. There are some very tasty alcoholic drinks out there, and while I find getting plastered unpleasant a mild-moderate buzz is quite enjoyable.

humanrebar 9y ago
Resisting candy is harder than resisting alcohol for me. So in that sense candy is more habit forming. But habitual candy eaters don't get sick or die from going cold turkey from eating candy (1). It's not clear that clinical addiction is even possible with sugar (2). In that sense, alcohol is much more addictive. (1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_withdrawal_syndrome https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_withdrawal_syndrome (2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar#Addiction https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar#Addiction
- TACIXAT 9y ago
  Withdrawal is possible with sugar and I could prove this (with myself, which is miserable). If any scientists want to monitor me for a week while I eat a bunch of ice cream, stop, and get violently ill, I would love to do this for the sake of science. I'm celiac. My symptoms are best described as withdrawals to various food. I had chronic sinusitis (which is associated with celiacs but not studied anywhere) my whole life until I tried an elimination diet to cut out wheat (at 23). It was the best I had ever felt. Since then (now 28) I have cut out caffeine, sodium nitrites, MSG, and most recently sugar. Once I started feeling better from not eating wheat, it was easier to identify other triggers. I get minor sinus headaches while consuming these regularly (I attribute these to "missing a dose" of something my body is dependent on) and when I cut them out I go into full withdrawal mode. I get a really bad sinus headache, I get nervous shakes, sometimes cold sweats, diarrhea, and vomiting. I don't drink mostly because I don't enjoy it getting sick (and it's tough to find gluten free, sugar free drinks) but I've been meaning to experiment with alcohol to see if the symptoms are similar. There is a crazy lack of research done on celiacs. I think withdrawal symptoms could explain a lot. Gluten has been seen to act similar to opioids in patients with Autism (while studies have shown that a gluten free diet does not affect symptoms of Autism, behaviors, etc). I also believe that undiagnosed celiac cases could explain why some people swear MSG causes them problems while many believe it is entirely harmless.
DanBC 9y ago
> Actually less addictive, as candy doesn't have a hangover. Since a hangover is part of the mechanism of dependency I'm not sure how you get to this conclusion.

UnpossibleJim 9y ago

The same benefits gleaned from drinking are available from taking an aspirin a day. Wine has some antioxidant effects, I guess, but they are outweighed by the detrimental effects of ingesting, what is basically, a poison. For the record; I'm not for prohibition and have the occasional drink (though, as I get older, I drink less. I have gotten hangovers from a single drink, in the recent past, and I just don't like it enough to deal with a hangover. Though, that was probably a sugar hangover from a god aweful drink my wife made).

gaius 9y ago

It's only uncool if you keep talking about it. If you just order a non-alcoholic drink at the bar, noone will even notice. As for new norm, people have drinking and enjoying alcohol for literally thousands of years...

humanrebar 9y ago

I've never heard anyone talk bad about anyone for not drinking. At most there will be a mild curiosity since there's sometimes a personal story involved as to why. If you're around people that give you a hard time for not drinking, find another group to be part of. It shouldn't be hard to find people that are more chill. Health nuts, parents, and religious folks in particular tend to develop alcohol-free or alcohol-optional culture.

shalmanese 9y ago

Some people will really really care but that's a good sign to not have anything to do with that person. For the most part, people will react to it like not being able to ride a bike or never having seen the ocean; aka: A noteworthy piece of trivia but nothing to get excited about.

bonniemuffin 9y ago

Humans have been making and drinking alcohol since at least 10,000 BCE, so it's definitely not a "new norm" [1]. Choosing not to drink is a perfectly reasonable life choice. If you act like a jerk to other people who choose to drink, though, I wouldn't expect that to make you any friends. Live and let live; it's a personal choice either way. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_alcoholic_drinks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_alcoholic_drinks

whipoodle 9y ago

Alcohol has been around for a couple years. If you think everyone who drinks is just trying to be cool, I'd wager that says more about you than it does about them.