Owly055
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- Feb 28, 2014
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I have been drinking legally for almost 40 years... Drinking age was 18 when I moved to Montana in 1973 at age 18, and I'd been secretly brewing and drinking for 3 years before that.
During the time I've lived in and around small towns (most of my adult life), alcohol has been deeply rooted in the culture. The people I associate all drink more or less, and all social events except religious ones (which always avoid) involve alcohol to a greater or lesser extent.
I've always been hyper aware of the potential of developing a problem / habit, and never wanted a monkey on my back, so with a few "excursions" beyond my "comfort zone", I've been extremely conservative. Conservative to the extent of limiting myself to one or two drinks in an evening out, and avoiding making that a daily ritual.
The last couple of years, I've been outside that comfort zone, drinking virtually every day... at least one or two drinks, often at home alone in the evening, or one at lunch, or even a breakfast beer. I virtually always hold things down below the "buzz level" or to a very light buzz, as I prefer not to physically feel the alcohol, but I really don't think that this is relevant as far as "habit forming" is concerned.
I've completely stopped consuming alcohol... for about a week now, to give my body a rest and to take stock of my relationship with alcohol. I plan to stay on this track for at least a month or two, though I have two brews going at the moment, and a considerable stock of beer and some whiskey on hand.
Thus far things are going well, and I have felt no compelling need for a beer or a shot of whiskey, etc, though there is a problem of what to drink. Coffee, water, what else? Hence the foray into non-alcoholic brews.
The effects of alcohol on me are in three stages essentially. I can't speak for anybody else.
1: No discernible physical effect, but a relaxing of stresses and inhibitions. Classic example of this are playing pool. After one beer, I am very good at it... at my peak, after 2 things start going down hill. Driving is the same. In a high stress driving situation, I'm sharper, less stressed, and more focused, and my reflexes are just as quick, and a tad smoother. I often stop for one beer when dealing with horrendous winter driving conditions..........never more than one.
2: Buzzed. After about 2 beers, I feel a discernible "buzz", and physical and cognitive abilities begin to decline, reflexes and focus deteriorate, and reactions are less measured and controlled. The buzz is progressive, as is the deterioration that goes with it.
3: Drunkenness. Drunkenness is obvious to others.... thoughts are no longer expressed rationally and clearly, motor coordination is obviously reduced, speech slurred, whirling sensation, etc. There definitely is going to be a hang over. This is low level alcohol poisoning.
I like level one, and find it very useful. I dislike level 2, and avoid it to the extent of spacing drinks out, and if away from home never having more than two. If I can feel it, I've gone too far. I dislike level 3 intensely, and it's been about 25 years since I've been there.
Alcohol-ism is something all of us who drink and/or homebrew should concern ourselves with......... Our own potential for it, and the problems of those around us, and how we could end up in their shoes. I've lost a string of longtime friends to alcohol related accidents over the years. All of them drank too much, and knew they drank too much, as did everybody around them. They were good people without exception, family people, decent caring people, not stupid slobbering drunks, just people who once in awhile had a few too many. I can tick off their names, and the names of their widows or widowers and children. Their names are not carved into a black granite wall somewhere unfortunately. Mine will never be one of them, simply because I do not drive if I've had more than one or two, spaced out over a few hours. That has always been my policy, and always will.
Taking stock of your relationship with alcohol is something I believe in doing periodically, and have done a number of times when the alarm bells start going off. Who's in the driver's seat in your life? You or "Jack Daniels" as the saying goes?
H.W.
During the time I've lived in and around small towns (most of my adult life), alcohol has been deeply rooted in the culture. The people I associate all drink more or less, and all social events except religious ones (which always avoid) involve alcohol to a greater or lesser extent.
I've always been hyper aware of the potential of developing a problem / habit, and never wanted a monkey on my back, so with a few "excursions" beyond my "comfort zone", I've been extremely conservative. Conservative to the extent of limiting myself to one or two drinks in an evening out, and avoiding making that a daily ritual.
The last couple of years, I've been outside that comfort zone, drinking virtually every day... at least one or two drinks, often at home alone in the evening, or one at lunch, or even a breakfast beer. I virtually always hold things down below the "buzz level" or to a very light buzz, as I prefer not to physically feel the alcohol, but I really don't think that this is relevant as far as "habit forming" is concerned.
I've completely stopped consuming alcohol... for about a week now, to give my body a rest and to take stock of my relationship with alcohol. I plan to stay on this track for at least a month or two, though I have two brews going at the moment, and a considerable stock of beer and some whiskey on hand.
Thus far things are going well, and I have felt no compelling need for a beer or a shot of whiskey, etc, though there is a problem of what to drink. Coffee, water, what else? Hence the foray into non-alcoholic brews.
The effects of alcohol on me are in three stages essentially. I can't speak for anybody else.
1: No discernible physical effect, but a relaxing of stresses and inhibitions. Classic example of this are playing pool. After one beer, I am very good at it... at my peak, after 2 things start going down hill. Driving is the same. In a high stress driving situation, I'm sharper, less stressed, and more focused, and my reflexes are just as quick, and a tad smoother. I often stop for one beer when dealing with horrendous winter driving conditions..........never more than one.
2: Buzzed. After about 2 beers, I feel a discernible "buzz", and physical and cognitive abilities begin to decline, reflexes and focus deteriorate, and reactions are less measured and controlled. The buzz is progressive, as is the deterioration that goes with it.
3: Drunkenness. Drunkenness is obvious to others.... thoughts are no longer expressed rationally and clearly, motor coordination is obviously reduced, speech slurred, whirling sensation, etc. There definitely is going to be a hang over. This is low level alcohol poisoning.
I like level one, and find it very useful. I dislike level 2, and avoid it to the extent of spacing drinks out, and if away from home never having more than two. If I can feel it, I've gone too far. I dislike level 3 intensely, and it's been about 25 years since I've been there.
Alcohol-ism is something all of us who drink and/or homebrew should concern ourselves with......... Our own potential for it, and the problems of those around us, and how we could end up in their shoes. I've lost a string of longtime friends to alcohol related accidents over the years. All of them drank too much, and knew they drank too much, as did everybody around them. They were good people without exception, family people, decent caring people, not stupid slobbering drunks, just people who once in awhile had a few too many. I can tick off their names, and the names of their widows or widowers and children. Their names are not carved into a black granite wall somewhere unfortunately. Mine will never be one of them, simply because I do not drive if I've had more than one or two, spaced out over a few hours. That has always been my policy, and always will.
Taking stock of your relationship with alcohol is something I believe in doing periodically, and have done a number of times when the alarm bells start going off. Who's in the driver's seat in your life? You or "Jack Daniels" as the saying goes?
H.W.
