Can you hold your liquor?

[McCall St. Brewer]

I was out at a restaurant Saturday night with some folks I don't really know very well and this guy next to me ordered a 25 oz. Bud Light. It took awhile for us to get our food and during that time I drank two pints of Point Pale Ale. I didn't really feel tipsy at all from my two beers. The guy next to me ordered a second 25 oz. Bud Light, but I noticed that before he even took a few sips from his second one that he had become very obviously druck to the point where he was slurring his words badly and was pretty much just saying all kinds of silly stuff to people.

Meanwhile I ordered a 25 oz. Miller Lite and drank that with my meal. Even after that I still didn't feel tipsy.

I wonder why? This guy is not a partcularly big guy, nor is he little. I'd say he's maybe a little bigger than average. I'm pretty sure he didn't have a head start before we got to the restaurant as we were all at an elementary school and he was keeping stats for a youth basketball tournament. We all went directly to the restaurant from the school. I've always been able to drink a lot of beer, but this was ridiculous how fast that guy got smashed-- especially from Bud Light.

 

[Soulive]

It obviously depends on the person and then several variables. For me, it depends on how tired I am, the total length of time, and how much I'm eating. If I'm not tired and I eat before and during drinking, I am able to drink a considerable amount without being too impaired. I can't ever see two 25oz BL's making me slur my words. Thats like 4 cans in I assume about 2 hours? Not too much to handle IMO...

 

[cheezydemon]

It is basically: Overall size, Muscle to fat ratio, and tolerance.

I was always thin, but I was in good shape. I wasn't a body builder, but I had larger than average muscle mass.

Big huge fat guys used to be amazed that I could keep up with them, much less drink them under.

Of course
I kept my tolerance well exercised too.

 

[Sir Humpsalot]

And don't forget your stomach. If it's empty, that affects absorption rate.

 

[c.n.budz]

Well, he did drink it kinda quickly and some people are just plain old panzies

 

[McCall St. Brewer]

When I was in college (back right after the end of the Civil War) I was a member of the band. It was pretty much a party organization first and a musical entity second. Anyway, there was this 110 lb. flute player who I recall being sort of hot. She was reputed to be able to drink any guy under the table. Sadly, I never did get the opportunity to try to out drink her (it alwasys seemed to me to be sort of a no-lose situation). I always wondered, though, how she could drink so much.

Even back then, as a 170 lb. 19 or 20 year old, I could drink gallons of beer. (Actually, though, I do remember that if I drank ealier in the day, before eating dinner, I was usually pretty much useless the rest of the night. If I drank in the evenings, though, I could drink a lot).

 

[Loweface]

Have you never drank yourself sober??? So much fun (but damed expensive)!!!

 

[david_42]

I know one guy that literally could not get drunk on "regular" beer. Now that he is on meds to control his thyroid problem, 3-4 pints & nap time.

 

[quickerNu]

I have to be drinking liquor to get REALLY drunk. I am 6'1" 280 is and have 2 beers a night or so. I get too full to drink anymore beer before I really get drunk. I never drank in high school but right out, I found I could drink a 750 of jim beam and not be the drunkest one at the party. Then I tried a full jug. Now that got me trashed, but I had never really drank before. My dad had warned me, maybe it is genetic in part. I hated my high tolerance in college- made things expensive. Kinda appreciate it now, I can sample several different beers i 1 sitting, and enjoy and remember them.
I have noticed it is far from just a size thing. One of my friends is 5'10"ish, 270, and would be just as drunk as your buddy drinking that much. I usually don't go out drinking with ppl I don't know really well anymore, can never tell how they will handle it.

 

[kornkob]

Never mind plain old health. If you're sick your ability to consume will drop.

 

[PseudoChef]

I am the same way with liquor (spirits) versus beer. I can drink beer all night long and I'll fall asleep before I get sloppy (not even getting full before I'm drunk...it just has a different effect).

Soon as that first drop of JD hits, I'm belligerent, puking, and falling down drunk.

Don't know what it is.

FWIW, I'm 25, 170 lbs, and 6'.

 

[Short Drive]

The guys a "light weight". Just be thankful its not you.

 

[brewt00l]

I have always found this aspect most interesting:

"Over the past few decades a series of studies were conducted to determine how much pre-established expectations affect an individual's drinking experience. Conclusively all studies demonstrated that an individual's pre-conceived level of drunkenness was achieved whether or not the individual consumed a corresponding quantity of alcohol. In other words, the people who set out to the bar to get drunk tended to "get drunk" even if they were given look-a-like drinks, and those who intended on staying sober tended to "stay sober" even if they were given drinks that contained more alcohol than they thought.

Clearly an individual's pre-conceived expectation of drunkenness does have a significant effect on his/her drinking experience. Furthermore, it is also clear that those who did not set out to get intoxicated were less likely to do so. Although you may in fact desire to get drunk, try to avoid drinking solely for that purpose. Make the focus of your evening something other than alcohol, ex: your friends, the music, the party, the hot guy/girl across the room. Make alcohol the sideshow, and think sober."

http://www.rochester.edu/uhs/healthtopics/Alcohol/tolerance.html

Consider the implications of your mindset on the effects of consumption combined with all of the other factors and you have quite a variable experience and one reason why folks are so different when it comes to alcohol.

 

[JKelley]

I concur with Short Drive, sounds to me like he's a light weight with extremely poor taste in beer.

At 6'2- 300, I struggle sometimes to work up a buzz from suds depending on how much I've eaten. If I want to speed things up a bit, I'll get some 7-10% beer. If I'm really hell bent on getting the job done, its a mix of beer and Old No. 7.

 

[MikeFlynn74]

It is basically: Overall size, Muscle to fat ratio, and tolerance

I dont believe that for a second. I think its all a reaction in your brain. I know a guy whos 6.2 265 runs 3 miles a day, lifts, eats well and does MMA. 2 beers and hes **** faced.

Im only 5'9 but 235 and I exercise a lot. I have some days where 2 beers and im feeling it. Others where I can drink 30 and feel fine. But I can usually have about 5 pints with dinner and be fine.

Still I know guys who dont exercise at all are fat and can drink like a fish- Others who cant.

Course 4 months of me being sober is gonna make for an interesting night home.

 

[MikeFlynn74]

PseudoChef- Thats cause your drinking the bud light of burbon.

Switch to Makers Mark or Bulliet. Much smoother- hangover almost nonexistant.

Mix it with something Coke or water and sip.

 

[quickerNu]

I love Maker's Mark! Couple of small batch bourbons out there I really like, but Makers is my "always in the cabinet" whiskey.

 

[BuffaloSabresBrewer]

I am the same way with liquor (spirits) versus beer. I can drink beer all night long and I'll fall asleep before I get sloppy (not even getting full before I'm drunk...it just has a different effect).

Soon as that first drop of JD hits, I'm belligerent, puking, and falling down drunk.

Don't know what it is.

FWIW, I'm 25, 170 lbs, and 6'.

Im the exact opposite. I have been able to drink everyone Ive met when drinking just liquor but I cannot hold my beer anywhere near as well.

 

[kaptain_karma]

I'm pretty small, except for a nice round belly, but I drink at least a few beers every day, so my tolerance is pretty high. When liqour gets into the mix though, all bets are off. Because I'm so used to the effects of alcohol, I never notice that I've had too much to drink until it's too late.

As far as the guy who seemed tipsy after 25 ozs, maybe he had been drinking before going out. I know by the time I go out for dinner I'm usually three or four deep.

 

[NWernBrewer]

Bourbon and beer is all that I will really drink. I find that if I stay with one or the other I can drink steady and never get 'faced - but I mix a shot or a drink with the beer or follow a bottle of whiskey with a beer and I can turn into the village idiot with the addition of only a couple of more drinks.

I think a lot is predisposed and some has to do with "training" - but druck is a state of mind and some people just cannot handle it.

 

[BierMuncher]

I think I did okay keeping up with the two gentlemen on my left and right...




Up until that habanero beer.

 

[blacklab]

This is starting to feel like the Dan Patrick show.

6'0", 225.

I used to be able to drink ANYONE under the table, win the shotgun contest every time, etc. BMC, micros, whatever. But we're talking beer.

Wine? Two glasses = nitenite.
Hard liquor? done.

 

[Yooper]

The guys a "light weight". Just be thankful its not you.

Haha- I've been out drinking with Short Drive, and I'm guessing he's got about 50 pounds on me. I'm pretty small (135 pounds), and pretty muscular. I can outdrink most people. I don't know if I outdrank SD, though. I wasn't counting. Still, I think it's because I'm just used to drinking quite a bit of beer.

 

[Brakeman_Brewing]

I think I did okay keeping up with the two gentlemen on my left and right...

View attachment 5068


Up until that habanero beer.

That looks like trouble right there, haha

 

[Air Pirate]

Well, he did drink it kinda quickly and some people are just plain old panzies

hey....

i resemble that remark...


im a cheap drunk and i know it, but i also dont really like being drunk drunk. well buzzed sure, but drunk makes me nauseous

 

[blacklab]

I think I did okay keeping up with the two gentlemen on my left and right...

View attachment 5068


Up until that habanero beer.

You guys look like trouble. 'zat ollllllllllllllllo on the left? Nice wussy glass!

 

[Short Drive]

Haha- I've been out drinking with Short Drive, and I'm guessing he's got about 50 pounds on me. I'm pretty small (135 pounds), and pretty muscular. I can outdrink most people. I don't know if I outdrank SD, though. I wasn't counting. Still, I think it's because I'm just used to drinking quite a bit of beer.

Try more like 150. You did out drink me but you stayed out two hours longer.

 

[Dr_Deathweed]

Funny how you can be just sitting and drinking with friends and then you take a look at your total....

This last weekend was chilifest, and the team I was on tends to have a contest of who can throw back the most BMC in ~24 hours. Usually we have a board that we kept tallys on, which made it easy to tell yourself when to slow down. This year we just kept tabs....

Thats 36 tabs for those that don't want to count....

Oh, I am currently 5'6", 170, and a little out of shape. In my better days a bottle of vodka a night would be followed by studying and a 6am wakeup to go to work. Now I try to stick with a beer or two a night to try and preserve whats left of my liver.....

 

[BigKahuna]

I think I did okay keeping up with the two gentlemen on my left and right...

View attachment 5068


Up until that habanero beer.

MY GOD!!
I want to be you guys when I grow up. That looks like the kind of evening that would be talked about for many years to come...and not just by those in attendance.

Back to the point of this thread.
Back in my 21-22-23 year old days...Drinking in Bars and Chasing Women...I couldn't go to the beer bar for less than $75 and $100 was better. This was usually for me and a friend (Splitting the tab)...and whatever women we'd meet...But still, I would spend in an evening for what I now spend on 10 gallons. Also, I'd rarely get slobbered drunk on that money.

And just cause everyone else is saying...
30 - 6'3" - 320#...But Mom says I'm HUSKEY!

 

[Bedlam]

The real issue is which chromosomes you happen to have.

There are several different variations of alcohol dehydrogenase (the main enzyme in breaking down alcohol). If you got the genes that code for the slower version of this enzyme, then you are a cheap date.

Folks of Asian decent commonly have a very slow metabolism of alcohol. One Korean friend of mine could consume one glass of wine and be staggeringly drunk. We had to watch out for her pretty closely, because she was so vunerable to the effects.

All those other things mentioned play in too, like level of hydration, illness, last time you'd eaten... but if it's a consistent difference, then the answer is gonna be in your DNA.