Does anyone here not drink alcohol?

[CannedHam]

Any people who don't drink alcohol here? I drink 6-10 beers a week and a few glasses of wine, and calculated that I could lose 15-20lbs in a year just from quitting alcohol, changing nothing else about my diet. When I was in my 20s/early 30s I could drink all night and feel great the next day. Now after a few beers I feel sluggish/lazy the next morning. I also have little time to workout now and with life more stressful than it was before, I'm starting to think it's time to say good bye to the booze...

[Moretorque]

I might drink on average these days a beer or two a month but I just bought some Ever Clear because the stores are out of rubbing alcohol so I am ready to make up for lost time.

[MrMan]

I don't drink, but I'm not as skinny as a rail. I have to work out. But I think cutting back or cutting it out of your routine would be a good idea.

I'd drink wine if it's for communion, use cooking wine, but I also bought some 95% alcohol because the stores were out. I wanted something to 'swab the throat' to prevent respiratory infections. You can mix it down and make an old-fashioned cough syrup. It's also a backup plan if I run out of rubbing alcohol. It's much, much more expensive than isopropyl. They didn't have any cheap Korean soju in a plastic bottle like they have in Korea, either. I accidentally got that instead of drinking water when I first got there.

[Yohan]

Any people who don't drink alcohol here? I drink 6-10 beers a week and a few glasses of wine, and calculated that I could lose 15-20lbs in a year just from quitting alcohol, changing nothing else about my diet. When I was in my 20s/early 30s I could drink all night and feel great the next day. Now after a few beers I feel sluggish/lazy the next morning. I also have little time to workout now and with life more stressful than it was before, I'm starting to think it's time to say good bye to the booze...

I do not drink any alcohol, since more than 40 years I am on zero alcohol level, because I had to drive frequently heavy vehicles and had irregular working time doing my job. Japan has harsh regulations about drink and drive.

However I found no indication that I lost any weight because of that and I have a hard time to maintain a weight of 80 kg - to keep my BMI between 25 and 27.

Now after retirement in Japan, I still drive my small car and ride my motorcycle any time I like to do it, also use a small motorcycle while in Thailand in my second home. I am really on alcohol = zero.

If you think, you could lose some weight because of quitting alcohol, try it. I doubt it.

Some people can eat and drink as much as they like including alcohol and will never gain any weight, but others have to control what they eat and drink or they will gain weight quickly.

However to quit any consumption of alcohol cannot be wrong and will not harm you in any way, same with smoking, why not to try it out? It helps likely to avoid to spend some money and you are doing something for your health...

[CannedHam]

Any people who don't drink alcohol here? I drink 6-10 beers a week and a few glasses of wine, and calculated that I could lose 15-20lbs in a year just from quitting alcohol, changing nothing else about my diet. When I was in my 20s/early 30s I could drink all night and feel great the next day. Now after a few beers I feel sluggish/lazy the next morning. I also have little time to workout now and with life more stressful than it was before, I'm starting to think it's time to say good bye to the booze...

I do not drink any alcohol, since more than 40 years I am on zero alcohol level, because I had to drive frequently heavy vehicles and had irregular working time doing my job. Japan has harsh regulations about drink and drive.

However I found no indication that I lost any weight because of that and I have and always had a hard time to maintain a weight of 80 kg - to keep my BMI between 25 and 27.

Now after retirement in Japan, I still drive my small car and ride my motorcycle any time I like to do it , also use a small motorcycle while in Thailand in my second home. I am really on alcohol = zero.

If you think, you could lose some weight because of quitting alcohol, try it. I doubt it.
Some people can eat and drink as much as they like including alcohol and will never gain any weight, others have to control what they eat and drink or they will gain weight quickly... I belong to the group of people who quickly get overweight, but I can also lose weight easily, only the first week is a bit difficult, I do it by eating only 1 time a day.

However to quit any consumption of alcohol cannot be wrong and will not harm you in any way, same with smoking, why not to try it out? It helps likely to avoid to spend some money and you are doing something for your health...

Starting tomorrow I'm dumping out the rest of my booze, weighing myself, and taking a selfie. I've decided to go the month of May without drinking anything, and see if I have the fortitude to survive. I used to be around 175lbs (79kg) but have slowly gotten up to 195lbs (88kg). Not catastrophic, but I definitely felt better when I was lighter...

[Yohan]

Starting tomorrow I'm dumping out the rest of my booze, weighing myself, and taking a selfie. I've decided to go the month of May without drinking anything, and see if I have the fortitude to survive. I used to be around 175lbs (79kg) but have slowly gotten up to 195lbs (88kg). Not catastrophic, but I definitely felt better when I was lighter...

You will not notice any difference for 2 to 3 weeks - you should continue 6 weeks to see a clear difference in weight if any. Just my experience.

88 kg is surely overweight, except if you are very tall and/or a bodybuilder I guess. - I myself feel not comfortable when lower than 78 kg, hungry all time - and I feel overweight around 85 kg, clothes getting too narrow etc.

I reduce food - eating only 1 time a day - and go swimming daily while in Thailand and walk for a few hours in the forests nearby while in Japan. In general this makes a difference of 1 kg per week with me, starting with the 3rd week.

[IraqVet2003]

Any people who don't drink alcohol here? I drink 6-10 beers a week and a few glasses of wine, and calculated that I could lose 15-20lbs in a year just from quitting alcohol, changing nothing else about my diet. When I was in my 20s/early 30s I could drink all night and feel great the next day. Now after a few beers I feel sluggish/lazy the next morning. I also have little time to workout now and with life more stressful than it was before, I'm starting to think it's time to say good bye to the booze...

CannedHam I don't drink alcohol. Even when I had turned 21 back when I was serving in the U.S. Air Force, I just never had a desire to drink alcohol for three reasons. Number one I know that alcohol is a MIND ALTERING drug or substance. I had learned this both in elementary and junior high school through the D.A.R.E. program (educational comic books). Also, CannedHam, I had learned this through studying my state's driver's license manual. Alcohol can impair a person's judgement. Meaning that they're more likely to say or do things they wouldn't otherwise do when sober. And because of this some people when drunk can either get into fights, have unsafe sexual activities, or get into an accident. The second reason I don't drink alcohol is it can become an ADDICTION. I don't wish to become a slave to any kind of substance that can eventually damage my liver. Not to mention, I wouldn't want to deal with a "hangover" or vomiting after drinking. Then finally the third reason I choose to abstain from alcohol is because I think I can simply have a fun without drinking. CannedHam while I do understand there are many reasons why people wish to consume alcohol such as being at a sporting event, celebrating the holidays (like Christmas and New Year's Eve), "Ocktoberfest" in Germany, bars and night clubs ("happy hour") or taking part at a wedding ceremony. However, I really believe a lot of people are drinking alcohol due to ADVERTISING AND SOCIAL PRESSURE. The major liquor and beer companies spend millions if not billions of dollars on ads showing mostly young people in their early 20's and 30's either at a cookout, on a beach or lake, or a party having a great time. And many young people certainly want to be part of the "in crowd" or to "be cool". Not to mention, drinking can be seen as a "rite of passage" into adulthood. However, what these same companies don't show are the numbers of people that get "wasted", who are sent to the ER due to alcohol poisoning, getting arrested for a drunken brawl or driving accident, or the broken homes/families due to alcohol abuse. I on the other hand, tend to "march to the beat of a different drummer" and does things I wish to do so not because I'm pressured to!!!

[Contrarian Expatriate]

Any people who don't drink alcohol here? I drink 6-10 beers a week and a few glasses of wine, and calculated that I could lose 15-20lbs in a year just from quitting alcohol, changing nothing else about my diet. When I was in my 20s/early 30s I could drink all night and feel great the next day. Now after a few beers I feel sluggish/lazy the next morning. I also have little time to workout now and with life more stressful than it was before, I'm starting to think it's time to say good bye to the booze...

CannedHam I don't drink alcohol. Even when I had turned 21 back when I was serving in the U.S. Air Force, I just never had a desire to drink alcohol for three reasons. Number one I know that alcohol is a MIND ALTERING drug or substance. I had learned this both in elementary and junior high school through the D.A.R.E. program (educational comic books). Also, CannedHam, I had learned this through studying my state's driver's license manual. Alcohol can impair a person's judgement. Meaning that they're more likely to say or do things they wouldn't otherwise do when sober. And because of this some people when drunk can either get into fights, have unsafe sexual activities, or get into an accident. The second reason I don't drink alcohol is it can become an ADDICTION. I don't wish to become a slave to any kind of substance that can eventually damage my liver. Not to mention, I wouldn't want to deal with a "hangover" or vomiting after drinking. Then finally the third reason I choose to abstain from alcohol is because I think I can simply have a fun without drinking. CannedHam while I do understand there are many reasons why people wish to consume alcohol such as being at a sporting event, celebrating the holidays (like Christmas and New Year's Eve), "Ocktoberfest" in Germany, bars and night clubs ("happy hour") or taking part at a wedding ceremony. However, I really believe a lot of people are drinking alcohol due to ADVERTISING AND SOCIAL PRESSURE. The major liquor and beer companies spend millions if not billions of dollars on ads showing mostly young people in their early 20's and 30's either at a cookout, on a beach or lake, or a party having a great time. And many young people certainly want to be part of the "in crowd" or to "be cool". Not to mention, drinking can be seen as a "rite of passage" into adulthood. However, what these same companies don't show are the numbers of people that get "wasted", who are sent to the ER due to alcohol poisoning, getting arrested for a drunken brawl or driving accident, or the broken homes/families due to alcohol abuse. I on the other hand, tend to "march to the beat of a different drummer" and does things I wish to do so not because I'm pressured to!!!

Ditto! Alcohol is about the worst legal thing you can put into your body. I am healthier for not drinking the stuff.

[E Irizarry R&B Singer]

Since I'm here in Mexico, I've been doing Four Loko once every other weekend just to pass the time.
When I'm back in the U.S. of Gay, I don`t even touch the stuff unless it's cheap wine once in a "blue" moon.

[Shemp]

I drink maybe 5 times a year on social occasions, one shot of vodka mixed with soda water (easiest type drink to metabolize) each such occasion.

[Winston]

I've never understood the addition to alcohol either. It doesn't even taste very good to me, and makes me feel weird and dizzy.

Why do movies always show white American men drinking themselves to death? Why can't they stop? For example, in movies like:

- Leaving Las Vegas starring Nicholas Cage
- Walk the Line, a movie about Johnny Cash
- A Star is Born starring Lady Gaga

They always show a white man getting more and more drunk everyday until he dies or almost dies. Making him look like a stupid degenerate who can't control his drinking.

How come you never see Asian, Black or Hispanic men drinking themselves to death uncontrollably like that? Only white men do? Is alcoholism some disease that only white men have?

[Will N. Dowd]

I've been a teetotaler since 2006.
I haven't knowingly had any alcohol since then.
I very rarely drank before that but enjoyed the occasional Bailey's Irish cream on ice a few times a year.
I still don't understand how people claim to enjoy beer and wine.
When I was growing up my parents drank a bit of beer and wine and told me it was an acquired taste.
I never acquired it and I'm glad.
The cost, taste, smell and dizzy feeling from it is a major turn off for me.
I'm introverted and rarely socialize so it's easy for me to avoid it anyways.
I don't care if people I'm with drink I just don't like being around drunk people.
I also much prefer to date girls that don't drink.
If a girl is a regular drinker I'm simply not interested and they usually aren't in me anyways. What a tragedy.
If the typical clueless drinker asks me why I don't drink I tell them it's probably because I'm more knowledgeable about the negative affects of alcohol than they are and then I ask them why do they drink?
They usually try to sell me on the few alleged lame benefits of drinking that are far outweighed by the benefits of not drinking.
The cost and health benefits of not having any alcohol are too numerous to list so no one will ever convince me to start up again.

[WorldTraveler]

I've never understood the addition to alcohol either. It doesn't even taste very good to me, and makes me feel weird and dizzy.

Why do movies always show white American men drinking themselves to death? Why can't they stop? For example, in movies like:

- Leaving Las Vegas starring Nicholas Cage
- Walk the Line, a movie about Johnny Cash
- A Star is Born starring Lady Gaga

They always show a white man getting more and more drunk everyday until he dies or almost dies. Making him look like a stupid degenerate who can't control his drinking.

How come you never see Asian, Black or Hispanic men drinking themselves to death uncontrollably like that? Only white men do? Is alcoholism some disease that only white men have?

Alcoholism is definitely not just a white man's disease. There are many Filipinos that I'm sure are alcoholics too. I can't speak for other Asian countries.

[IraqVet2003]

I've been a teetotaler since 2006.
I haven't knowingly had any alcohol since then.
I very rarely drank before that but enjoyed the occasional Bailey's Irish cream on ice a few times a year.
I still don't understand how people claim to enjoy beer and wine.
When I was growing up my parents drank a bit of beer and wine and told me it was an acquired taste.
I never acquired it and I'm glad.
The cost, taste, smell and dizzy feeling from it is a major turn off for me.
I'm introverted and rarely socialize so it's easy for me to avoid it anyways.
I don't care if people I'm with drink I just don't like being around drunk people.
I also much prefer to date girls that don't drink.
If a girl is a regular drinker I'm simply not interested and they usually aren't in me anyways. What a tragedy.
If the typical clueless drinker asks me why I don't drink I tell them it's probably because I'm more knowledgeable about the negative affects of alcohol than they are and then I ask them why do they drink?
They usually try to sell me on the few alleged lame benefits of drinking that are far outweighed by the benefits of not drinking.
The cost and health benefits of not having any alcohol are too numerous to list so no one will ever convince me to start up again.

I happen to agree with you 100%!!! I'm more of an introverted/intellectual person myself and I don't "follow the crowd" just to drink.

[IraqVet2003]

I've never understood the addition to alcohol either. It doesn't even taste very good to me, and makes me feel weird and dizzy.

Why do movies always show white American men drinking themselves to death? Why can't they stop? For example, in movies like:

- Leaving Las Vegas starring Nicholas Cage
- Walk the Line, a movie about Johnny Cash
- A Star is Born starring Lady Gaga

They always show a white man getting more and more drunk everyday until he dies or almost dies. Making him look like a stupid degenerate who can't control his drinking.

How come you never see Asian, Black or Hispanic men drinking themselves to death uncontrollably like that? Only white men do? Is alcoholism some disease that only white men have?

Hey Winston, there is a 2012 film called "Flight" that involves a black commercial pilot played by Denzel Washington who has a serious alcohol and drug addiction.