WHY do you drink alcohol?
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There's a drinking epidemic here in Australia, and if you haven't heard it from me yet, about two weeks ago, the headlines in The Age claimed that there's an "alcohol-fuelled Anarchy" in the streets of Melbourne City at night.
Which got me wondering... WHY is it 'kewl' to drink? Honestly, imbibing alcohol isn't as 'comfortable' (fiery sensation down the throat, bitter bitter bitter!) as, say, liking Hot Chocolate. Drinking seems to be an acquired taste. I mean, babies, with virgin palates, naturally like sweet things, and if you dab a little bit of something bitter / hot / sour, babies will immediately give you a facial expression that shows you what they think of it!
(OK, I am NOT advocating experimenting with babies, ok! 
)So, why is it 'sociable' or 'sexy' or 'macho' or 'cool' to be seen drinking? What is the allure of drinking, besides the image that you get to project?
Let's discuss this issue.
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i don't drink :D
but i used to when i am studying down under
a lot of peer pressure, curiosity and nothing else available at parties combined.
but when I finally grew up :D I stopped cos I just didn't like the taste (except err for some)
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I tolerated Beer because one of my ex b/f's said that as an adult, I HAVE to drink alcohol.
Ah Beng (not his real name) also claimed that it was more 'economical' to share a jug of beer whenever we went to the pubs. 
And because beer IS bitter as all hell, I used to make a face drinking it, but he'd grumble about it and I had to kinda tolerate it without wincing and making faces. 
Which got me thinking, WHY the hell would anyone drink something so unpleasant? 
Now that I'm here in Alcohol Paradise, I did try two or three bottles of 'light' / fruity beer, but I think the foregone conclusion is, I dislike beer. All beer.
At my age, I no longer feel the need to try to appear cool by pretending I like it. So, here it is - I dislike it, always have, and always will. Wine... I only like Choya. And even then, I rarely, if ever, drink Choya neat. It's always 30-45 mls mixed in a whole lotta goodness-knows-what strikes my fancy that night.
I love my Choya cocktails. But even then, I love it enough to only have it once to thrice every quarter. The rest of the time, I simply have no desire whatsoever to drink any alcohol. Reds I like, but I've never ever had my own bottle of Red. White, I don't like because it's too strong and dry for me.
I'm waiting for the alcohol joint near my place to sell the miniature set of Absolut Vodka again because I'd love to take one swig of it, but I imagine it'll be too strong and dry for me and I'd probably have to make a cocktail out of it.
So yeah... when it comes to Wine Appreciation, I rank first... from the bottom!
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Originally posted by ShrodingersCat:
i don't drink :D
but i used to when i am studying down under
a lot of peer pressure, curiosity and nothing else available at parties combined.
but when I finally grew up :D I stopped cos I just didn't like the taste (except err for some)
Oh! That makes it the two of us!
We drink because of social pressure but we both naturally do not like alcohol in general! -
I asked a few colleagues before WHY do they like drinking so much. They said that it's a but-of-course thing - because WHICH Aussie doesn't drink and get pissed drunk, y'know!
A few of them say that drinking helps them relax, loose control of themselves, and destress (although everyone hates the hangovers the next day). So I asked, "So, WHY do you drink to excess and then suffer hangovers the next few days when you already know how bad hangovers can get?" And they all said it's the 'fun' of being high and reckless and it also allows them to flirt and have fun whilst they are tipsy.
A few girls said it takes them a few minutes to start kissing a man once they get drunk and some guy chats them up. So yeah, we all know what happens next then! -
eee... I don't like to drink alcoholic drinks...
I only drink sometimes to taste how it is like... when it is something new... (only did that in Germany during my 4 months student exchange)
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Originally posted by Rhonda:
I asked a few colleagues before WHY do they like drinking so much. They said that it's a but-of-course thing - because WHICH Aussie doesn't drink and get pissed drunk, y'know!
A few of them say that drinking helps them relax, loose control of themselves, and destress (although everyone hates the hangovers the next day). So I asked, "So, WHY do you drink to excess and then suffer hangovers the next few days when you already know how bad hangovers can get?" And they all said it's the 'fun' of being high and reckless and it also allows them to flirt and have fun whilst they are tipsy.
A few girls said it takes them a few minutes to start kissing a man once they get drunk and some guy chats them up. So yeah, we all know what happens next then! Its stupid. I find this the stupidest reason at all to drink and I've seen so many girls do it.
if I want to be reckless and high, I don't need drink as an excuse to do it. :D
I mean, isn't it more fun to be reckless and high and completely sober and able to enjoy and remember the thrill of it?
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My previous job required beer drinking for socialising.
Personally I don't like beer, but I don't mind wine anytime.
I guess it's the image tied to alcohols, that it's hip and a symbol of success to be able to enjoy life in a glass (rum excluded).
But during my clubbing days, I'd like to get into the 'high' state from tequila shots before I hit the dance floor.
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i dont think its cool....
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Drinking is evil.
Regards,
Evil Bus.
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drinking is not cool. excessive drinking will destroy ur liver though. other than that, the person will become alocholic though
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Choya?
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i like beer.. it tastes good and is refreshing as heck..
i like.. uhh.. almost all types of alcohol.. yummy..
ahahaha
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Originally posted by stellazio:
Choya?
Yes? Have you not heard - 'tis good for your digestive system! Like... erm... Yakult, but with alcohol!!
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Originally posted by the Bear:
i like beer.. it tastes good and is refreshing as heck..
i like.. uhh.. almost all types of alcohol.. yummy..
ahahaha
For a supertaster who kpkb about broccoli and brussels sprouts, I'm surprised the bitterness of beer doesn't bother you.
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Originally posted by Rhonda:
For a supertaster who kpkb about broccoli and brussels sprouts, I'm surprised the bitterness of beer doesn't bother you.
that's nice.. and it doesn't taste or smell like decaying sewage gas... -
Originally posted by the Bear:
that's nice.. and it doesn't taste or smell like decaying sewage gas...I don't geddit... bitter is 'nice'? That slight burning sensation as you take a swig of it is... 'nice'?
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i drink because i am thirsty
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Recently I have tried different kind of alcohols -
Green tea and whiskey - quite mild because of the smell of the Green Tea. If I'm not wrong at 9.5%.
Bacardi ( Forgot about the flavour,drank 2 different types before ) - Gotta be 2nd worst alcohol that I've ever tasted - The taste seemed so wrong ..
Bubble Wine - Hell this is the WORST alcohol that I have ever tried. Gosh I was deceived by the packaging ( BTW, it was from an Aluminum can - I can't remember the brand ), promised " Smell of rose and Blackcurrant nose ". I admit I am nothing at drinking since I don't drink for a living and was guillible enough to think that it really does smell of rose. Bullshit. Other than the strong overwhelming wine flavour and CO2 gas I can't taste anything else. Had to force myself to finish it.
Honey Choya - Ok I have to say this is on par with Green Tea & whiskey. I can't stand the strong alcohol smell of it so I went to add some honey into it. Still remained same. Urrgh.
Well that basically sums up my experience for the past 2 weeks.
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I drink so that i wont get dehydrated
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Originally posted by Rhonda:
I don't geddit... bitter is 'nice'? That slight burning sensation as you take a swig of it is... 'nice'?
Good beer dun have that slight burning sensation and it's very 'pang'I guess it's an acquired taste
I like beer but I don't like all beer, and there are so many different kinds of beer and they are all brewed and fermented differently
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Originally posted by dbowie:
Recently I have tried different kind of alcohols -
Green tea and whiskey - quite mild because of the smell of the Green Tea. If I'm not wrong at 9.5%.
Bacardi ( Forgot about the flavour,drank 2 different types before ) - Gotta be 2nd worst alcohol that I've ever tasted - The taste seemed so wrong ..
Bubble Wine - Hell this is the WORST alcohol that I have ever tried. Gosh I was deceived by the packaging ( BTW, it was from an Aluminum can - I can't remember the brand ), promised " Smell of rose and Blackcurrant nose ". I admit I am nothing at drinking since I don't drink for a living and was guillible enough to think that it really does smell of rose. Bullshit. Other than the strong overwhelming wine flavour and CO2 gas I can't taste anything else. Had to force myself to finish it.
Honey Choya - Ok I have to say this is on par with Green Tea & whiskey. I can't stand the strong alcohol smell of it so I went to add some honey into it. Still remained same. Urrgh.
Well that basically sums up my experience for the past 2 weeks.
Royal Honey Choya? That's my absolute favourite!! It's not yet available in Melbourne, although I have made a pest out of myself by asking the Asian grocery stall owners to start ordering it.
In the meantime, I have to ration my precious bottle! 
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Originally posted by elindra:
Good beer dun have that slight burning sensation and it's very 'pang'I guess it's an acquired taste
I like beer but I don't like all beer, and there are so many different kinds of beer and they are all brewed and fermented differently
Well, which beer would you consider as "good beer"?
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Originally posted by Rhonda:
Well, which beer would you consider as "good beer"?
An easy to drink average beer would be HeneikenSomething better would be Erdinger, Stella Artois and Hoogaarden
But for Heneiken, must drink the ones you buy from DFS in Changi Airport. Ever since they switched to production in APB, the taste change :(
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I drink cos im sad.