Thread: Anyone tee-total?

Originally Posted by isdatu

I've heard it said by doctors that a glass of red a day keeps the doctor away? Hic

I'm not a drinker, but I have heard this and it is plausible for many reasons. Back in the day alcohol was mostly consumed as it was the only safe drink since their was little to no refrigeration or safe, clean drinking water available and alcohol would break down bacteria and viruses while keeping without refrigeration.

Reasonable thinking would suggest that a glass on occasion would have some health benefits in this regard as it also has the same effect in the bloodstream but the problem is the addictive properties and those who are most susceptible to those and can't regulate them effectively through moderation..For those who can regulate their drink, drink responsibly and enjoy the taste, more power to em..Personally I don't get any pleasure out of the taste nor the sensation of being impaired nor do I need it to have fun and be sociable. My not drinking may make others around me uncomfortable but that's more about them feeling their own weaknesses and inability to avoid it and projecting on to me and wanting me to bend to their whims and follow the crowd than it is about my not drinking..

I'm only uncomfortable when they are judgmental against me or their drunken behavior reflects poorly on me through association. Whether it's driving impaired and irresponsibly or egotistically believing they aren't, or are capable of driving while impaired or better than someone else who isn't, especially more so than anyone who is not impaired just because they may have been LUCKY enough not to have injured themselves (as never happens with drunks anyway) or worse yet someone else or some other deviant behavior they wouldn't be doing if they weren't impaired, then I find it personally offensive without apologies...Most especially when they argue with someone who is not impaired about their decisions and actions while they are impaired..That's the height of arrogant and imbecilic behavior IMO and just proves how incapable of making a sensible decision they are at the time..

The other really scary thing is while they think they have never hurt anyone while driving drunk it is a very real possibility that they might have and never even known it if they kept on going for example thinking they just hit a bump in the road for example and if they did is it likely they would ever admit it? That is the fallacy about drinking and driving as well as other behaviors while being drunk, the convenience is using that as an excuse and also for the denial.

I once went on the town with 2 new acquaintances and they had both had a few earlier on while I hadn't had any, but not knowing the area I was forced to either go with them or appear anti social by following them in my car, I should have been offered to drive in reality..

while getting lost and them turning around we pulled out in front of an oncoming car late at night that was doing about 100kph or more around a bend and was coming towards my side of the car and I got hell for speaking out a warning about this oncoming car since this U-turn was being taken at a very casual pace with no concerns.

Numerous comments were made about my speaking up when in actuality the driver of our car froze up right in the oncoming cars path, like a deer in the headlights, because he was impaired and not thinking clearly so he had to take the time to process the danger but still didn't recognize it even after my speaking out and since he was thinking in slow motion and not in real time like I was, so it was all trivial to them and complete denial about the potential incident and perceived danger that the OTHER driver had just avoided in spite of his driving faster than he should have been for the road..

What was also not taken under consideration in this scenario was the fact that regardless of how fantastic this driver may have been in his own clouded mind , at that time of night, on that day, in that area, there was also the very real possibility that this other driver was also impaired like him and not as prolific a driver as he was while drunk .. Certainly I was judged for my speaking up and that is when I get extremely offended when others put my families future and my life in danger without even so much as an apology thinking about the larger picture and then treat my protestations with a dismissive and trivial attitude.. Demonstrates a complete lack of character as far as I'm concerned especially when it's used to pass negative judgment on the responsible and sensible person of the group..

All of the reasons I've heard here for quitting along with the denials are the same reasons for people drinking, selfish and self centrist without any mention of anyone else's benefits in their life such as family or friends for example...

Originally Posted by The Zapster

I'm thinking about riding out the recession in Bangkok.

I have recently given up drinking, in a belated bid to stop dying, which has been fine so far, but I really doubt I can live in bkk without beer - the temptation and supply is just too great, and let's face it there's not an awful lot else to do.

So, anyone tee-total?

Monday to Thursday, I am often not drinking at all.

Mostly for health reasons. 40 is approaching and I'm fat because of beer. High Blood pressure, etc.

The only negative is that when I don't drink I cannot sleep. Last week I actually did not sleep at all. It's OK because I had to work at night. My body is not use to not have alcohol to metabolize, or whatever, yet.

As for saying it's hard to avoid the brewskies in Bangkok, that's because it's a habit, IMO.

It's also mental. Once you get used to not having beer it won't be a big deal. You probably find more interesting things do dabble in, and to do.