Do people need alcohol to have fun?
 

Okay, first things first: I drink alcohol. I understand the risks involved with drinking way too much of it. I would also like to point out that this question can go hand in hand with why people use recreational drugs at parties and other social events.

This question has been in my mind for awhile, and since NYE is approaching in approximately 36 hours (here at least), I decided to ask it. Drinking is certainly a great social activity; it's made shy people more outgoing, it's helped others get laid for centuries, but it's also killed millions and caused others to become chronic alcoholics. I have no problem with drinking at parties, as long as it's done in MODERATION and nobody drives drunk. Moderation is key when it comes to drinking alcohol.

There are posters all around my university that say: "If your friends can't have fun without alcohol, maybe you need new friends." That statement makes me uncomfortable. I would much rather the posters said something like this: "If your friends can't have fun without alcohol, maybe you should talk to them about it/help them with their problem."

So why do people feel the need to drink at parties? Is it so they can feel accepted by a certain group of people? Maybe so they can get into bed with the hot person in the corner? I don't think that people need to drink alcohol in order to have a good time. Alcohol doesn't make things more fun to do - it just clouds your perception and masks reality. Ever heard of the term "beer goggles"?

I personally believe that if somebody says they absolutely can't have any kind of fun without having alcohol in their system, then they have a problem with drinking. I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but this opinion stems from my personal experiences. I come from an alarmingly long line of alcoholics on both sides of my family (but my mother doesn't drink and dad drinks in moderation), and they have all said something along those lines.

I would just like to know your opinions on this. I'd also like to know how you have fun without alcohol.

lemme think about this hard and get back to you

as anyone should know, i can control my alcohol - i can abstain completely, and if the situation warrants it, i can binge until nearly passing out

i do have fun without alcohol, music is better without alcohol, and at best, it just seems to make bad music easier to listen to - as you've said - it clouds judgment

as to why sometimes I binge, to the point of passing out or making silly passes at any women, well sometimes you just need to unhinge yourself and let your id fly free - i don't like being rational all the time - it's just a form of legalised narcotics

I drink maybe twice, three times a year, and the last 10 times I've done it, it hasn't been more fun than days I remember while sober.

I have a penis and a pair of hands... so no :D

In all seriousness, I see where you are coming from. I have at times thought that I had a drinking problem, then I grew up a bit and realised that the amount I was drinking was nothing compared to what real alcoholics can go through.

My problem was that I would buy four cans a night five nights a week, even if I wasn't going out (where I wouldn't drink that much by normal standards anyway) and make whatever I was doing a little more fun.

I think it did enhance the enjoyment of sitting in a small University apartment watching TV Shows by the dozen and playing Video Games, but I enjoyed those things without alcohol.

Regarding social drinking. I find myself wanting to drink because it enhances your enjoyment, but this has to be in moderation, otherwise you end up regretting it the day after for minor/major reasons.

I don't think it's needed to have fun, and I tend to drink in moderation-ish (2 PBR tall boys is my usual) at large parties. I usually only drink a lot if it's a huge celebration. I've actually slowed down my drinking a bit lately - I still drink, and probably more than I should...but I did get freaked out when I was at my friend's party, swallowed a piece of glass (the bottle chipped ever so slightly when I was opening it) and ended up in the ER covered in bloody vomit. To be quite honest though, even at that point I'd not really had a ridiculous amount to drink. Probably a six pack. Anyway, that scared me, and I've not really had as much to drink since then.

With that said, I don't need to drink to have fun. I do, however, like to have a few to loosen up when I'm around a lot of people I don't know, because I'm very introverted...not exactly "shy", but I get in my own head a lot...and drinking usually brings me out of my head a little bit. I don't want to be the weird quiet girl sitting in a corner playing with her BlackBerry / staring off into space. I also like having something to do with my hands that doesn't involve holding my cell phone. I get fidgety.

I use it as sleep medication. Whiskey helps me nod off no matter where I am.

It's ****ing retarded that the nanny state has encroached to such an extent we've retarded government propaganda telling us how to drink. As though an alcoholic is going to ignore every other sign of his degeneration, only to have his life changed by a cheesy advertisement.

Because people respond positively to others telling them how to live?

Yeah man. I know how much of an advocate you are for people living their lives the way they want without interference.

Hmmm: