5 ms·

I am in my early twenties, and I have yet to drink my first alcoholic beverage. I made a decision a few years ago after weighing the negatives and positives of

by Zirro 12y ago

I am in my early twenties, and I have yet to drink my first alcoholic beverage. I made a decision a few years ago after weighing the negatives and positives of drinking against each other, and concluded that drinking alcohol provided very few benefits in comparison to the potential risks.

morganvachon 12y ago
Late thirties here, and I've never drank, not once. Not for any religious reasons, but exactly what you said: I weighed the positives and negatives as a teen, and decided I'd have more fun watching my friends get drunk and making sure they got home okay, than ending up in the same mess as them.
- danielbln 12y ago
  I respect that decision, but it is a bit of a false dichotomy. You can responsibly drink w/o becoming "a mess". Granted, that probably works better as an adult than as a teenager. Personally, I follow the 'everything in moderation, even moderation' approach.
  - morganvachon 12y ago
    Well, that was my thought process as a teen. As I got older, I just never saw a need to start drinking. I guess I grew out of it without ever experiencing it. At this stage in my life, why bother?
    - kaybe 12y ago
      Well, there is something to say about a good whiskey. It smells like so many things, and tastes like many others.. I can just smell my glass all evening without ever drinking. It's usually expensive enough that I don't even have enough to feel it, and it lasts a long time (since I keep smelling.. ). What you say sounds to me as if you've never tried chocolate (the good kind, not the sugary cheap one).
      - morganvachon 12y ago
        I can understand that point of view; I love the smell of a good cigar. I just won't smoke one for personal reasons. And yes, I've had gourmet chocolate; I'm not sure what that has to do with alcoholic drinks.
Hysteria 12y ago
^This. Well, I'm 20 and I had half of a bud light at a block party. tasted like horse piss, and I haven't considered wanting a drink since.
- BozeWolf 12y ago
  You might want to consider drinking something tasty, a proper pilsener. Some things, like coffee or coriander, are acquired tastes. I don't encourage you to drink, but having an opinion about all alcoholic drinks after one try might be a bit harsh. If you dont like some vegetable the first time you try, will you never try it again?
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
SyncTheory13 12y ago
I grew up around a lot of alcoholics - it actually runs in my family. My mother and father have been split up since I was a baby - on opposide sides of the country. My dad only drinks once or twice a year, socially. My mom and step-dad drank all the time and were very open about it - letting me try things, etc. When I was a teenager, I stopped trying drinks and abstained 100%, even after my mom offered to buy me whatever I wanted. Her goal/theory was to teach me how to be responsible/mature with alcohol by learning to drink just one, etc... Instead of learning with my friends and getting wasted. Well, I hated drunks, hated drunk driving, hated so many things about it... So I found a group of kids who knew how to have fun without it, and even after most of them started drinking (later than average), I still abstained. Anyway, to the point... In my early 20's, I opened up a little, learned my limits, learned my preferences (I really don't like beer, but hard cider and mixed drinks are great - I like sour drinks like Margaritas and Whiskey Sours), etc... And that's when I learned the benefits of light usage. I enjoyed myself a lot more and found my altered state of mind liberating to a degree (less social inhibition, but I also feel like I can think clearer/faster when I am just a little tipsy). If you believe you could be an alcoholic, then don't start... But otherwise, I'd recommend you break down some of those barriers you have against it - keep to a goal of only drinking once a month, and only 2 beers/ciders or one mixed drink until you are comfortable/stable. Last - To the person who said they've only tried Bud Light - no wonder you don't like to drink... lol... Not exactly the cream-of-the-crop.
redwood 12y ago
Risks?

by Zirro 12y ago

morganvachon 12y ago

Late thirties here, and I've never drank, not once. Not for any religious reasons, but exactly what you said: I weighed the positives and negatives as a teen, and decided I'd have more fun watching my friends get drunk and making sure they got home okay, than ending up in the same mess as them.

danielbln 12y ago
I respect that decision, but it is a bit of a false dichotomy. You can responsibly drink w/o becoming "a mess". Granted, that probably works better as an adult than as a teenager. Personally, I follow the 'everything in moderation, even moderation' approach.
- morganvachon 12y ago
  Well, that was my thought process as a teen. As I got older, I just never saw a need to start drinking. I guess I grew out of it without ever experiencing it. At this stage in my life, why bother?
  - kaybe 12y ago
    Well, there is something to say about a good whiskey. It smells like so many things, and tastes like many others.. I can just smell my glass all evening without ever drinking. It's usually expensive enough that I don't even have enough to feel it, and it lasts a long time (since I keep smelling.. ). What you say sounds to me as if you've never tried chocolate (the good kind, not the sugary cheap one).
    - morganvachon 12y ago
      I can understand that point of view; I love the smell of a good cigar. I just won't smoke one for personal reasons. And yes, I've had gourmet chocolate; I'm not sure what that has to do with alcoholic drinks.

Hysteria 12y ago

^This. Well, I'm 20 and I had half of a bud light at a block party. tasted like horse piss, and I haven't considered wanting a drink since.

BozeWolf 12y ago
You might want to consider drinking something tasty, a proper pilsener. Some things, like coffee or coriander, are acquired tastes. I don't encourage you to drink, but having an opinion about all alcoholic drinks after one try might be a bit harsh. If you dont like some vegetable the first time you try, will you never try it again?

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

SyncTheory13 12y ago

I grew up around a lot of alcoholics - it actually runs in my family. My mother and father have been split up since I was a baby - on opposide sides of the country. My dad only drinks once or twice a year, socially. My mom and step-dad drank all the time and were very open about it - letting me try things, etc. When I was a teenager, I stopped trying drinks and abstained 100%, even after my mom offered to buy me whatever I wanted. Her goal/theory was to teach me how to be responsible/mature with alcohol by learning to drink just one, etc... Instead of learning with my friends and getting wasted. Well, I hated drunks, hated drunk driving, hated so many things about it... So I found a group of kids who knew how to have fun without it, and even after most of them started drinking (later than average), I still abstained. Anyway, to the point... In my early 20's, I opened up a little, learned my limits, learned my preferences (I really don't like beer, but hard cider and mixed drinks are great - I like sour drinks like Margaritas and Whiskey Sours), etc... And that's when I learned the benefits of light usage. I enjoyed myself a lot more and found my altered state of mind liberating to a degree (less social inhibition, but I also feel like I can think clearer/faster when I am just a little tipsy). If you believe you could be an alcoholic, then don't start... But otherwise, I'd recommend you break down some of those barriers you have against it - keep to a goal of only drinking once a month, and only 2 beers/ciders or one mixed drink until you are comfortable/stable. Last - To the person who said they've only tried Bud Light - no wonder you don't like to drink... lol... Not exactly the cream-of-the-crop.

redwood 12y ago

Risks?