Drinking...

[Raydreamer]

I was just wondering what people thought about drinking alcohol alone and during the day.
It's 2:00pm here in murky ole Bristol and i just made up a huge jug of mixed juice. As i was walking past our little drinks cabinet i decided to splash a little gin in to give it kick. And then it got me thinking...
I sometimes have a small glass of red wine in the afternoon maybe about once every two weeks or so. I'm not in anyway depressive and am of very sound mind so i don't have it for any reason other than i like a nice red wine occasionally. I'm an adult and past legal drinking age (so no problems there) but i was curious about peoples thoughts on having a drink now and then when you're alone.
hmmmmm......

[Bainidhe Dub]

I hate drinking alone - it's boring for me. I only drink a few times a year though... Major holidays with family.. I'm not big on going out on Friday drinking or anything.

[71Beetle4Rio]

We're all adults, why not enjoy life when ever we can. As long as you're not hurting anybody or yourself, "Bottoms Up" Cheers

Rio

[Raydreamer]

I see what you mean...i don't just sit in an empty room dwelling on the past drinking masses of vodka (not that i'm saying there's anything wrong with that...)
But i'm being productive, searching for courses online, swinging by mysticwicks, waiting for my shirt to dry so i can go into town...and i just so happen to have some gin in juice to drink. Like when i have a glass of wine, i'll be doing something. Practising a routine for work...reading, doing some artwork, researching, writing, making candles...all sorts off things.
And i'm like you in that i don't wait around for Fridays just so as i can go out and get pissed with friends. But culture in England is a little different i think from america in that Pubs are a part of life. It's a sunny afternoon and you go to the pub for some scampy and chips and a pint.
Or in the winter you sit by the fire in the Pub with a pint and the dog at your feet.

[Raydreamer]

or if you don't have a dog...you can take a eh...urm...a stuffed toy Polar Bear!! :lol:

[Raydreamer]

We're all adults, why not enjoy life when ever we can. As long as you're not hurting anybody or yourself, "Bottoms Up" Cheers

Rio

Yeah!!!

[Bainidhe Dub]

*laughs* I've always wanted to live in an area with pubs and all, where I could go and just hang out, have a drink or two.... But the only place I feel comfortable doing that is 700 miles away LOL. I don't know too many people in my area, and going out drinking as a young woman alone is definitely not the safest thing to do.

When I visit family though, we go to the local American Legion and order pizzas, play arcade games and drink til we're all pretty much three sheets to the wind. *laughs*

[docdoo]

I know exactly what you're talking about! I dont normally get a desire for anything alcoholic during the day. However, during the summer, after working outside in the garden all day, or tending to the horses I do sometimes want a beer.

For that matter I am alone nearly every night (but husband is a truck-driver) and here, just a few nights ago, I drank a couple of beers :smoke:

Nope, nothing wrong with that as far as I can see, unless you're drinking and then spending hours crying!

til next time,

[Lil Miss Witchy]

Drinking alone is ok (I just drank a small glass of wine with my omlet!) But getting drunk alone is another subject!! Once in awhile that extra kick is a nice thing! And I will definatly do it occasionally! Or if I know my fiance is on his way home with intentions of drinking tonight I'll get a head start on him! (Only because I drink slowly and he complains about it...)

[Koehnae]

I say why not, too. This part of the US sounds a bit like your hometown... its a part of our lives.

[Nighthawk]

I do not see a problem here... Enjoy some. Relax some. Work some.... It is the balance that makes it all work. I would not fear at all at this point.... NOPE!! (Beer... yummy after a hot day)

[TornadoAli]

Ehh I don't like getting plastered while home alone, just because it tends to get me all introspective, which tends to get me sad. I'll have a glass of wine in the evenings tho, especially if I'm lounging in the bath...

[Sylvan]

I think as long as you're not getting hammered right before you have to go somewhere, it's fine. And one glass of wine every two weeks? That's beyond fine. Heck, Europeans have wine with every meal, don't they?

[Jenne]

Enjoying a drink for the TASTE of it now and then by yourself (I certainly do it) is fine in my book. Enjoying getting blasted by yourself often, that represents a problem. JMO

*enjoy!*

[WitchJezebel]

If it's only a glass or two every now and again I don't see the problem. If you were getting sloshed by yourself on a regular basis I'd have to wonder if you were depressed or something. I used to come home on Friday nites after work and have a few beers, it was no biggie. Since I've just given up the smokes I can't, I haven't the willpower to have my beer without it yet.

[~ Monk ~]

I see no problem with it at all.

[Heathen Dawn]

Drinking, yes, but I usually have a drink together with my dad, as a family bond.

[Jenne]

Drinking, yes, but I usually have a drink together with my dad, as a family bond.
Ya know, me too! My dad and I share wine together! We're both "winos" LOL

[Heathen Dawn]

We share either wine or beer. :)

[DayDreamer]

I don't think drinking alcohol is a good idea at ANY time, whether you're alone or not. If ya need alcohol to have a good time, there's a much deeper issue at work.

[Heathen Dawn]

I don't think drinking alcohol is a good idea at ANY time, whether you're alone or not. If ya need alcohol to have a good time, there's a much deeper issue at work.

Are you joking? It’s one of life’s finest pleasures! Lower on the scale than sex, but still...

[DixieWitch]

I rarely drink, much less drink alone!! I'm what most call a social drinker!

[Izabella]

i dont think its very smart. there are a lot of ppl who start like that and after a while it gets out of hand. as long as youre in control i dont see a problem. but a lot of alcoholics say theyre in control. im not saying youre an alcoholic. just be carefull. alcohol is still a harddrug.

[ambermystique]

Having a drink or two when you are alone at any time is ok. Getting drunk when you are alone is sometimes ok. Passing out from drinking alone is never ok.

[~ Monk ~]

:fofftopic

ambermystique, that is a very cool avatar. :D

[Felidae]

Having a drink or two when you are alone at any time is ok. Getting drunk when you are alone is sometimes ok. Passing out from drinking alone is never ok.

:thumbsup:

[Calyx]

I don't see any problem with drinking alone! Unless it's alone all the time, every day...... :lol:
I actually like to drink alone on occaision. Although not in bars, as LadyPhoenix said, that's not a very good idea for females. But, in the summer, I like to unwind by going outside and reading til it's dark and having a few beers.

Not like I am hammering tequila shots or anything. Ew! :smoke:

[Sequoia]

Since I am prone to alcoholism-like behavior (mom and grandfather are/were/are alcoholics), I don't really drink anymore. But before. . . nah. Drinking alone. . . why?

Me, my favourite time to drink is while playing a game such as scrabble or chess. It's great fun, especially if you're both drunk. Video games are fun drunk, too. I've never played drunk Twister, but the thought is tantilizing.

[Nighthawk]

:thumbsup:
I would have said that!!!!!

[Pesha]

Guess I do see a problem as I was once married to an alcoholic. So I imagin it colours my veiw point still.

BB
DS.

[ambermystique]

:fofftopic

ambermystique, that is a very cool avatar. :D
Thanks Monk!

bb,
ambermystique

pm me sometime

[enchancea]

I picked other because I dont drink. I cant stand the feeling of not having full control of myself.

[DayDreamer]

Definitely not joking. I've always seen alcohol and any other mind altering substance (drugs, including marijuana, etc.) as the crutch of a weak mind.



Are you joking? It’s one of life’s finest pleasures! Lower on the scale than sex, but still...

[Radocs]

I voted for "Why not?" because I enjoy drinking.

[Lady Jade]

guess it would all depend on what I was supposed to do that day and the next...otherwise, why not!

[Witchzee1]

I don't drink much but I'll occasionally have a beer or a glass of Baileys when I'm alone. http://mysticwicks.com/images/smilies2/nixweiss.gif Why not?

[Muireannach]

Life is short, have a drink, have a man (or men), and have a laugh!

Do what makes you happy and don't let anyone spoil it!

[Raydreamer]

Definitely not joking. I've always seen alcohol and any other mind altering substance (drugs, including marijuana, etc.) as the crutch of a weak mind.

What about the shamans and Native Americans and the Mexicans and the Egyptians and the Aborigines and the Maoris and the celts etc. (phew) who used mind altering substances (what are considered drugs today) to expand their mind and for other uses too?

[FaerieGothMommy]

Why not? Aslong as your not an alcholic - drinking every day, whats the problem?

[mucgwyrt]

What about the shamans and Native Americans and the Mexicans and the Egyptians and the Aborigines and the Maoris and the celts etc. (phew) who used mind altering substances (what are considered drugs today) to expand their mind and for other uses too?

I agree totally, it can be a very valid tool. I personally always drink a herbal concoction (legal) a glass of red wine (also legal) or have a puff (not so legal) before I do a ritual, as it aids meditation by calming the nerves and the 'monkey mind' as KeithDragon calls it, and opens me up to the universal energies much better :)

In my experience (having lived in Seattle) drinking just isn't as 'accepted' over there as it is in the UK. No pub outings for their teenagers - what a scandal that would be!! (not like over here, we're so naughty :lol: )

[mucgwyrt]

I've just realised I'm not a teenager anymore, I turned 20 last month :collapse: :wah:

[soilsigh aingeal]

I don't drink alone and I don't care if someone else does but if I was alone during the day I'd rather take a nap or go out and do something fun.

[Faeawyn]

Drinking alone is ok (I just drank a small glass of wine with my omlet!) But getting drunk alone is another subject!! Once in awhile that extra kick is a nice thing!
I agree. A "cocktail" or glass of wine is one thing, but sitting home along drinking until your drunk may be another. Of course, I come from a long line of alcoholics, so I'm a bit worried about such things. I have too many family members that you can't call past a certain time because they'll be drunk by then and you can't understand what they're saying. :(

[Morr]

i voted "undecided" even though now it looks like it should be "other"..
I dont think its bad to mix up a drink for yourself if youre alone at home watching TV or reading a book or whatever... Sometimes youre just in the mood for a beer or a yummy coctail...

But it depends.. I know people who fall into depression and start drinking like crazy just to get away from the pain... and they start to drink alone and that can become a problem...

So it really depends on the situation!

[blugirrl1]

i don't drink very often, but every now and then i just get in the mood, usually in the middle of the day. and then i can knock em back with the best. other than beer, i love some good red wine. and most times i am by myself, but i like my own company. :)

[WrathofCirce]

I was just thinking about drinking the other day. Probably because I haven't in a very very long time. I tend to be a date drinker. No man, no alcohol, it's almost like I need one to tolerate the other, lol. Anyway, if it isn't a problem for you I don't think it matters if you drink alone. I was in a relationship with an alcoholic though, and his day drinking led to some very nasty consequences (oh, and he almost always drank alone because he was hiding it). He got a dui, lost custody of his son, his job and lost me. So, if it isn't a problem bottoms up! If it is or can be, find another guilty pleasure.

[Ben Trismegistus]

Whatever floats your boat. I don't drink alone because I think it's boring, and I tend not to drink during the day because it makes me sleepy. :)

I'm a social drinker. I like to have a drink or two or ten when I'm with friends, having a good time. I like wine with dinner, mixed drinks after dinner, etc.

And for your second question, I don't think alcohol is particularly effective as a "mind-altering substance" to be used for ritual. In my personal experience, whenever I've drank before or during a ritual, I tend to lose focus and concentration.

[Aidron]

I honestly drink so rarely, but normally it's by myself. Like, half a beer, if I can even get that down late a night with a snack if I'm watching a movie. I've done that twice since I turned 21 in October, and most often I wind up pouring out more than I drink. Even more so, I only drank because they happened to be here, otherwise I wouldn't have ever thought of it.

[Shadowolff]

I don't think drinking alcohol is a good idea at ANY time, whether you're alone or not. If ya need alcohol to have a good time, there's a much deeper issue at work.
Well, yes, I agree with you, that if you need alcohol -- or other altering substances -- to have a good time, there are deeper issues... but on the other hand, sometimes it's enjoyable to get a little buzzed, which I see no problem with, as long as you are doing no harm... which is why I voted "other"

[MerrisHawk]

I'm not much for drinking, kind of a wuss really but I don't mind an ice cold drink after mowing the lawn or a nice, rich, glass of red wine with a good book.

[dragonspirit 69]

I don't drink much and when I do it's usually at night to unwind. Then there are the nights that I go out to a bar about a couple of times a month when I just go out and tie an a few. :cheers: . I love the loud music , people and of course the liquer. No beer :sick: I have bottles here with dust on them that you have to wipe off before you open them.

[SpikesPet5150]

My father is a (recovering) alcholic, and I went to Al-anon meetings all growing up. The one thing I remember learning over and over is, "Just because you drink alone doesn't make you an alcoholic. What makes you an alcoholic is your inability to say no to alcohol."

So I don't see a problem with it at all. I would wonder about depression if you were drinking all the time, getting smashed out of your mind, by yourself... but no, drinking alone is not a sign of a problem in most cases.
~Bree

[ArKane]

I drink but I dont really like to drink on my own at all. It's so boring if you dont have a drinking buddy. I like drinking at night time better.

[Lilith79]

I don't do it, but to each their own. :)

[Dextra]

I don't drink much anymore, and when I do, it's socially. When I was on vacation in Mexico, however, I turned into an alcoholic for a week. :hehehehe:

The only Spanish I needed to know was "Dos cervezas por favor." :P

[Romani Vixen]

I'll drink on occasion. I have had something in the afternoon... A friend offers me a sip of something... or a hard cider... nothing heavy and not a lot though.