Some people perception of a Home brewer or am I the only one?

[Patch62383]

Never had the shakes. Never hungover. **** I get up at 5:30 during the spring/summer to go fishing. I think people take this subject to far. I appreciate your feedback but 2-3 beers a few times a geeek isn't going to kill you. If you're an alcoholic you're probably not brewing your own beer. You're more then likely getting cheap harf stuff and cheap beer. Just because you enjoy beer doesn't mean that your alcoholic

 

[Teromous]

I grew up in a family that never drank anything...not even wine at dinner on holidays or weddings. It took them a very long time to understand why I make beer, but I was never overly concerned with it. When I talked to them I would sometimes casually mention some bits about beer history, and I think they just started to understand that I was a beer nerd instead of an alcoholic. Eventually they even ended up buying me a gift card for homebrewing supplies and I was able to share some of my homebrew. That took about five years to happen. It takes time, and it might never come. The important thing is to remember that they are your family and that homebrewing is a hobby.

 

[CastleHollow]

Never had the shakes. Never hungover. **** I get up at 5:30 during the spring/summer to go fishing. I think people take this subject to far. I appreciate your feedback but 2-3 beers a few times a geeek isn't going to kill you. If you're an alcoholic you're probably not brewing your own beer. You're more then likely getting cheap harf stuff and cheap beer. Just because you enjoy beer doesn't mean that your alcoholic

You're making a lot of assumptions about alcoholism that aren't necessarily true. I'm not making a judgement about your particular situation, but do a quick Google of "alcohol, risk factors." Two to three beers a night might not indicate alcoholism, but it's definitely a risk factor that can contribute to other health conditions. Your family may be nagging, or they may be concerned for you. We're just a bunch of strangers with a common hobby and a lot of opinions.

Moderation in all things is the key.

 

[Pugnax88]

I have alcoholism on both sides of my family, but I am far from an alcoholic. I do typically have 2 or 3 a day most days, I've been drunk twice in my life and have no intentions on repeating it. I personally don't buy into being an alcoholic because it's in your family, I believe it's a choice. That said, my family doesn't give me call about brewing, my mother isn't particularly fond of it, but it's one that doesn't understand the draw of beer, too. Drink what you want, keep brewing, and don't worry about it.

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[CastleHollow]

Alcoholism is not a choice, it is a disease. "Problem drinking" is a choice. We should not confuse these two situations.

 

[snowtires]

After reading this thread, and checking out the links I have decided to cut down my own drinking to low risk levels. I had no idea high risk was 50% chance of becoming an alcoholic. Can't argue with statistics! Thanks guys

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[Patch62383]

I think statistics are just that. No one can tell you if you drink 2 beers a day your going to become an alcoholic and if someone told me that. I probably think there wasting time making up this statistic. My neighbor drinking 4 beers a day and has for 45 years and hes is healthy as a horse and is in great health. There is a difference between drinking to get drunk and drinking to enjoy a beer. There is nothing wrong with drinking a good beer and relaxing. If you are down right drinking like a fish and burning through a case a day you probably have an issue. I think your better off drinking 2-3 beers a day then a lot of what we as a society do in America. I find it interesting we if you look up average life span and alcohol consumption in different countries you'd be surprised. If someone doesn't like drinking good for them. If someone drinks responsibly and enjoys themselves good for you. We are all different and I look at it this way if I drink 2 beers a night that's my choice and I know a lot of people who drink more then I do and there not alcoholics. Any ways I think after working my ass off all day its time to pour a cold Belgian blonde from the kegger thanks everyone

 

[DanH]

^alcoholic

COMPLETELY JOKING! Couldn't resist.


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[DanH]

I'm in the two to three per day range as well and my Dr's are cool with it so I am too.


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[CanadianBacon]

I drink almost everday, 1-3 drinks of either whisky, beer, cider or wine. My family being italian/irish also drinks every day along with all my roommates who are german.

I have had a lot of people in my life say im an alcohalic, Maybe i am? Who knows. But what I DO know is, I would be a hell less happy if I was worried about drinking afew because of what others think.

I get allot of comments to when im at wallmart with a cart full of juice and sugar, But who gives a $%*#!

Do as you please my friend, You only have one life.

 

[knyland]

I am in the Boat of switching from drinking way to much hard stuff like 7-8 handles of Captain a month. It never affected my job or anything visible. Now I would hate to see my liver.

The wife and I decided to take a healthy approach to life and I switched to craft beers because I have always hated the big name beers. Hence why I drank captain. One thing led to another and now I home brew. I may have 3 beers a night even on weekends. I find it relaxing after dealing with work all day. I was completely honest with the Navy Cmdr who did my last physical she said I was at the high end of acceptable drinking. She then ask how active I am and I let her know I run between 10-20 miles a week. Her exact words were " you will be fine just remember there is a fine line between an abuser and an addict."

I explained the past to her and she said good for me and told me my drinking was responsible and should not cause any issues unless I was genetically prone to it.

 

[Gerry_P]

Anyways I guess I am a little pissed because I got in a really heated argument with Aunt because shes crazy and thinks if you drink a beer a day your an alcoholic, etc

My mom said the same thing, so I stopped speaking to her. Problem solved. :cross:
Seriously though...she told me this story about how her neighbor died of liver disease, and "he only had 1 drink a day!" And I replied "Well, that must have been one hell of a drink!"

 

[Gerry_P]

I am in the Boat of switching from drinking way to much hard stuff like 7-8 handles of Captain a month. It never affected my job or anything visible. Now I would hate to see my liver.

Years ago I was in the same boat as far as hard liquor goes, but with Jim Beam. I went in for a work physical and when my blood work results came in, my liver was a little off. I started taking milk thistle, and it went back to normal without changing my drinking habits.
Now, my liver could have been off for other reasons, and I'm definitely not saying it's a good idea to drink that much (I've cut way back on my alcohol consumption since then), but I do drink regularly and take milk thistle as a precautionary measure. I'm 47, I get yearly checkups, and my liver is fine.*

At this point in my life, if anyone were to say to me, "Well, if you drink X number of times per week, you're probably an alcoholic", my response would be "Ok, I'm fine with that."

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, blah blah blah...

 

[Zepth]

I get it from coworkers most. Friends don't seem to have an issue. Granted I often don't host gatherings based on having limited space compared to them. I'll show up with a growler, have one glass for the evening as I will be driving home later. But anyways....

For when I do host people, or I just have a single person over for a meal or movie, some have commented that I always have beer in a glass "on the go" somewhere. Thought about it, and it's true. I always have a glass nearby with beer in it. I started paying attention a little closer - having the kegerator and not a counter top of empties can make it more difficult to keep track. I noticed that on occasion my glass would only be half empty by the time a tv show ended. 1/2 pint in a 30 minute time frame. Sure enough, the glass outlasts the TV show. I'm not concerned.

The coworkers are always joking about how much I have to drink to justify making it myself instead of hitting the store. I don't tend to put much faith in what they have to say regarding much of anything. Particularly when they're always talking about crushing a 24 pack (of 4% BMC lite) on the upcoming weekend. Or that one fellow who had a habit of going paycheck > bank > liquor. Projecting their own faults onto me? Perhaps.

Was at a doctor not that long ago, they go through the standard cigarette / drug / drinking routine. Drinking. "Well that's the one," as the doctor looks up at me from the notepad. I do drink, usually 3-4 a day. On my own time, without interfering with work, social life, or obligations. According to them as long as the rest of my life is on track, I'm good.

 

[Gerry_P]

It sounds to me like your coworkers need to get a life. If it makes you feel better, here in New Orleans you'd almost be considered a tea-totaling health fanatic.

 

[Rhumbline]

I only get concerned about my level of consumption if I feel like I have to have a beer.

I try to treat beer/wine like an accompaniment to a good meal rather than a daily ration.

I wonder if those same people would consider you a glutton if you enjoyed cooking?

 

[ericbw]

I think alcoholics usually switch to the hard stuff, I don't know if this is true or not but I figure if alcohol is what you need, why bother with beer? Go straight for the vodka or whatever Lysol, aftershave

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Incorrect. People have preferences, and they don't necessarily drink just to get drunk. They like the experience that gets them there. Popping a cold can of beer, squeezing a lime into a cocktail, swirling wine, the burn of a shot of whiskey, setting up lines of coke on a toilet seat. If it were just to get intoxicated, everyone would take pills.

And there's other stuff that goes along with it for some people - listening to music, dancing, watching sports, smoking. It's sometimes the whole package.

There are people who will drink anything to get buzzed, too.

 

[filthyastronaut]

I don't think I have any kind of drinking problem. Haven't heard anything from other people about how homebrewing = alcoholism, either. Moderate drinking is defined as having 2 drinks per day as a man and 1 drink per day as a woman, and obviously in reality this varies from person to person. I am certainly not going to say that a woman has a drinking problem but a man doesn't, when they are drinking the same number of drinks per day. My drinking tends to fall in that range except for special occasions when I do enjoy getting moderately drunk, and those are few and far in between. The only ill effects from my normal drinking are when I drink before bed and don't have enough water, which is remedied by just drinking more water. Also, on occasion I will eat lighter in a day and have even ~5% drinks sneak up on me and give me a buzz. Then I just eat something, drink water, and it goes away pretty fast. And, of course, I have off days.

It's physical dependence that makes you an alcoholic, and you have to be able to evaluate yourself to determine whether you have it or not, and how much you need to limit to prevent it. I always hate the impression that if you are an alcoholic, you must stop drinking forever and a single drink will throw you off the wagon. May be true for some, but it seems very extreme.

 

[mattdee1]

I find this subject kind of frustrating, to be honest.

There is no doubt in my mind that there are lots of people out there who would say "you're an alcoholic, plain and simple" if they saw the amount that I consume.

95% of the alcohol I drink comes from craft beer, homebrew, and red wine. It might even be more than 95%.

In all cases, the drink in question is held to a high standard--it gets consumed so that it may be enjoyed for its nuances and taste.

I remember a few months ago I had purchased a box of Busch because my parents like it. I came home from work the other day really looking forward to a beer. I opened the fridge and all I saw was some of that leftover Busch. I said "well, that sucks" and ended up not drinking anything, because there was nothing good to drink.

If I were an alcoholic, would I not just drink the Busch to get my "fix"? Or go mix some nasty drink using the 4 year-old bottle of vodka my girlfriend has in the closet? When a pill-popper, heroin addict, or heck, even a cigarette smoker, is looking for a fix, will they sniff the dope and say "no good man... I only shoot quality drugs.. guess I'll just go without today, thanks anyway."

My weight, my family life, my finances, my job... all in good order. "Well, you still drink enough to do damage to your health... haven't you read the flyers?" If that's the standard of "alcoholic", then where are the pejorative labels for people who eat Burger King and TV dinners every day? I guarantee they're killing themselves much quicker than I am.

If people look hard enough, they can always find reasons to judge others. This is sad.

 

[Rhumbline]

Yeah,

Society has no issue with people taking all kinds of powerful prescription drugs to alter their mood if they're too anxious or too depressed or whatever.

But let someone find out that you enjoy three beers in the evening and you've got a problem.

 

[Gerry_P]

I remember a few months ago I had purchased a box of Busch because my parents like it. I came home from work the other day really looking forward to a beer. I opened the fridge and all I saw was some of that leftover Busch. I said "well, that sucks" and ended up not drinking anything, because there was nothing good to drink.

That's funny, there's a bomber of Kirin and a bottle of Sapporo that have been camping out in the back of our fridge for months now for the same reason.