Moderate drinker's thread

[roger]

We are not welcome in the non-drinker's thread, apparently.

I have a beer once in a while, or a glass of wine. No big deal. It alters my 'reality' less than watching a mildy entertaining TB show.

I was at a camping event this weekend, where a couple of people were saying they feel uncomfortable at events w/ people who are drinking. Amusingly, I had a Margarita in my red cup (most had water or lemonade). She complained how it was impossible to have a coherent conversation. Somehow, she did not have a problem having one with me.

I often hear the criticism that drinking necessarily implies an 'escape'. Well, I'll counter by asking if you have ever in your life gone on a vacation. A vacation is a far greater escape than having 1 drink. What's wrong with going on a vacation? Can't handle reality? Perhaps you should work on your life coping skills rather than 'escaping' to a tropical destination. (yes, I'm exaggerating to make a point).

Anyway, moderate drinkers, this is your thread...

edited to add: nondrinkers and heavy drinker's are invited too. post away...

[LuxFerum]

We must drink to make the non-drinkers less boring.

[Jon_in_london]

Drinking is good excercise for your liver.

[Nyarlathotep]

I am a moderate drinker at this point in my life. I used to be a heavy drinker, until a little incident (that I do not wish to discuss) that I got into left me with a bad leg. Then I became an almost total abstainer, drinking only on special occasions like birthdays and holidays.

Now however, I think I have found a happy medium. I now drink occasionally whenI get together with my friends and have found that a glass of wine before bedtime helps me go to sleep. I have become especially fond of German wines, especially one called Gewurtztramung (I can't pronounce it and am iffy on the spelling).

[roger]

Originally posted by Jon_in_london
Drinking is good excercise for your liver.

Good point! I have the theory that we should exclusively eat junk food, as it stresses the body, much like exercise stresses our muscles. It's gotta be good for you!

[Phil]

Whass thss is nott gonna fall off ny wagn todaay. Wha yu lookkin a? . . .

Sorry thought this was the excessive drinker's thread.

Seriously though, if these folks Roger speaks of are so dead set on removing people of "enhanced mental state" from their lives, then they might as well throw out 95% of their CDs, books, and artwork, along with us "samplers". No matter what stage in life I find myself, I'd still rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints. Course that's just me.

I always like that line from I think Senatra:

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day."

[Bearguin]

For the excessive drinkers thread, just look for posts from pillory ;)

I fit this thread and do drink in moderation. I pretty reasonable about it and if I don't feel like a drink, I don't have one. And I don't push a drink on others as I do have non-drinking friends. Plus my wife is hypoglycemic and can't drink so I'm used to not drinking.

But I enjoy a good micro-brewed Canadian beer too much to stop, soo don't ask me to.

[Rat]

After excessively drinking every day for 15 years, I find myself, at the grand old age of 29, on SSRIs. This means I am now a moderate drinker. It's not easy, this sobriety malarky, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who's not tried it.

People are so dull, and, conversely, drunks are difficult to get along with, because they talk crap, which I'm sure never used to be the case. Certainly not with me, anyway.

[Rat]

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep
... I have become especially fond of German wines, especially one called Gewurtztramung (I can't pronounce it and am iffy on the spelling).
Gewürztraminer. Gewürz means spice.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by ratcomp1974

Gewürztraminer. Gewürz means spice.

That's it. Now if only I could figure out how to pronounce it. I don't speak any German

[Rat]

Well the last bit is easy. It's more or less pronounced "tramminer".

The first bit is a little trickier. The G is hard. The W is pronounced much like we pronounce V. The Z is like TS. An umlaut U is very difficult to pronounce. Try to say 'OO' while shaping your mouth as if saying 'EE'. I pronounce it more or less like German, but many find it pretentious to pronounce foreign words correctly (and I'm sure people think me a terrible bore when I point out the inconsistency of "Bayern Munich"), so you may find it better just to say "Ge-VOORTS-TRAH-meener". (Stress indicated by capitals.)

[roger]

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep
That's it. Now if only I could figure out how to pronounce it. I don't speak any German
I often forgo ordering a wine in a restaurant because I can't pronounce it. Yes, that's a silly, ego-driven behavior that I want to fix.

[rustypouch]

I agree that some of these nondrinkers are overreacting. What I think they don't realise is that there is a huge difference between having a drink and getting drunk.

For instance, having a fine wine with good food has nothing to do with getting drunk, it's all about enjoying the flavors. In fact, I would still drink beer, wine, et al., even if they did not have any consciousness enhancing properities. I like the complex flavors of these beverages much more than the simple sweetness of most of the alternatives.

And sometimes I do like getting a good buzz on.

Edited for spelling.

[Phil]

Originally posted by rustypouch
I agree that some of these nondrinkers are overreacting. What I think they don't realise is that there is a huge difference between having a drink and getting drunk.

For instance, having a fine wine with good food has nothing to do with getting drunk, it's all about enjoying the flavors. In fact, I would still drink beer, wine, et al., even if they did not have any consciousness enhancing properities. I like the complex flavors of these beverages much more than the simple sweerness of most of the alternatives.

And sometimes I do like getting a good buzz on.

Word.

[jj]

Well, I'm of the 'very moderate' sort. Being naturally clumsy, and for some reason prone not to intaking more depressant when I'm already depressed, I seem to be a "1 beer" sort of fellow.

But it's usually one glass of red wine these days, anyhow.

[Ove]

I agree that some of these nondrinkers are overreacting. What I think they don't realise is that there is a huge difference between having a drink and getting drunk.

Precisely. A lot of the non-drinkers treat seems to have the opinion that the only reason to drink alcohol is to get drunk. NOTHING could be farther from the truth. I drink regularily, that is i get my pint every tuesday after music practice, when we are playing at a party i usually get 2 - 3 beers during the night and occationally i treat myself to a really good beer saturday night in front of the telly etc. I get drunk app. once pr year when we are at a party.

I drink beer/wine BECAUSE I LIKE THE TASTE not to get drunk(Nyarlathotep: I love Gewürtztraminer too) . I realize that a lot of people have trouble understanding that but frankly, that's their problem as long as they don't try to force their twisted opinions on me. ;)

[fishbob]

The most wonderful flavor in the world is that first sip of a cold beer after a day of hard work in the sun. Then get cleaned up and sample the second most wonderful flavors in the world - a nice dinner with maybe a little red wine. Then some dessert and coffee.

[Yahweh]

Me and my wife enjoy fancier things than beer. On special occasions we might try to buy 16 year old wines or cavatiers. Sometimes we order off the internet... how wholesome does that sound, home delivered alchol off the internet... I'm looking forward to that new "Disarrono" that I've seen advertised recently. If I'm feeling cheap I get the boxed wine with little rubber tap or a 6 pack of wine coolers that can be bought at some stores. Like Ove, we drink because we like the taste and it heightens the sexual libido. We are light drinkers, only for holidays or out to dinner (that doesnt mean there havent been times in my life where I've gotten plowed...).

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by roger

I often forgo ordering a wine in a restaurant because I can't pronounce it. Yes, that's a silly, ego-driven behavior that I want to fix.

Do waht I do. Show the waiter the winelist and point. But I am the same way, I hate tripping over the name of something and will sometimes just forgo it rather than show my ignorance of how it's pronounced. At least with my Gewurztraminer if I have to pronounce it, it's usually to my wife to whom I can just say, "Could you pick me up a bottle of that Gewuzrer-somethingor other.......you know that wine I like."

It's a lot less embarrasing to do that when talking to ones spouse thatn it is to a completre stranger.

[Nikk]

Originally posted by Yahweh
Me and my wife enjoy fancier things than beer. On special occasions we might try to buy 16 year old wines or cavatiers. Sometimes we order off the internet...

There's absolutely no reason to regard good beer as the inferior relation of good wine. Different drinks suit different circumstances. Mind you, I lived in Belgium for years where there add many strange things to beer and produce some fascinating results.

I agree of course that old wines can offer a whole new range of interesting flavours, although one can also be very disappointed. I've cooked a beef casserole with 25 year old claret before now because it had been kept too long and lost its flavour!

What does "cavatier" mean by the way?

[Nikk]

Originally posted by Ove


Precisely. A lot of the non-drinkers treat seems to have the opinion that the only reason to drink alcohol is to get drunk. NOTHING could be farther from the truth. I drink regularily, that is i get my pint every tuesday after music practice, when we are playing at a party i usually get 2 - 3 beers during the night and occationally i treat myself to a really good beer saturday night in front of the telly etc. I get drunk app. once pr year when we are at a party.

I drink beer/wine BECAUSE I LIKE THE TASTE not to get drunk(Nyarlathotep: I love Gewürtztraminer too) . I realize that a lot of people have trouble understanding that but frankly, that's their problem as long as they don't try to force their twisted opinions on me. ;)

Yes indeed.

There is quite an extensive zone between sober and falling down drunk which is simply fun to be in. Some of the confirmed non drinkers on the other thread seem to have an excessive fear of losing complete control over their mental processes.

By the way if you like Gewurtztraminer have you visited the Alsace? Its where the best Gewurtz comes from. There are literally hundreds of small producers keen to let you taste their wines. Plus the food is good, the towns are pretty and you can walk off any overindulgence in the forests in the hills.

And now, time to test drive a bottle of Viognier I think, cheers!

[Rat]

Incidentally (i.e. off-topic), what's the deal with inability to pronounce things? I'd have to confess that I'd have trouble with pronouncing Czech names, and various other languages, but I can have a decent stab at most European languages. I've learned some German, and a (very) little French, but I can have a decent go (I think) at Italian, or Spanish, or various other Romance languages.

If I need to ask for something I can't pronounce, I generally say "I'll have this; how do I say it?", or something along those lines.

Last time I was in Austria, I went to a bar that was supposed to be like an English pub. As I went to the bar to get drinks, I couldn't tip easily, so I just said to keep the change. As I was otherwise speaking German, I asked on my second visit how to say "keep the change", and was thus sorted. (Ist in Ordnung).

Foreigners are generally pleased if you make an attempt (even an appalling one) at their language, and will only correct you if you ask them to. English speakers are in no position to correct your pronunciation of foreign words anyway.

[Hydrogen Cyanide]

Sometimes there is nothing so wonderful as having some good food with just the right kind of wine.

Like very good chocolate with a very good merlot or cabernet saugvinon (which I don't thing I know how to spell) - the rich red wine with good beef. Or pears with cheese and a nice bright white wine (like a Gewurtraminer). I especially love champagne... to me it goes with everything EXCEPT chocolate and beef.

And on a hot hot day... a very good freshly made frozen lime daiquiri. I usually put in a splash of Cointreau. I never put any other fruits into my daiquiris.

I have also learned from hard experience that I should never ever have more than 2 drinks in an evening (and I am such a wimp I do not even attempt to drive after one drink)... or I get a hang-over in the morning. The best cure I have for a hang-over is to go to bed sober.

[Grommitt]

I get the boxed wine with little rubber tap or a 6 pack of wine coolers that can be bought at some stores. I'm with you! Nothing says "class" like a box of wine and a few cans of champagne!

Try it with a lightly seared medallion of Spam on toast with a dollop of Cheese Whiz and a side of slaw. Top it off with sponge cake and Cool Whip. Follow up with Tasters Choice decaf and a Tipparillo.

Ah! The good life!

[UnrepentantSinner]

Nice bump Gromitt, but don't forget, some of the most decent people you can meet can have the most plebian tastes... or budgets. ;)

[LW]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner
Nice bump Gromitt, but don't forget, some of the most decent people you can meet can have the most plebian tastes...

In my case the limit where I can really taste differences in wines goes somewhere around 15 euros. If a bottle is more expensive than that, I'll probably just note that it tastes good but I won't have any idea how expensive it really is.

And that 15 euros is the Finnish price, after really heavy tastes. So, those living in Mediterrean wine-producing countries should at least halve the price, perhaps even cut away two thirds.