At least there is one good soul in this world

Alcohol free? You dunno what your missing :P

Jermman: On the contrary, I know exactly what I'm missing. Or rather, what I'm gaining: two years of life, thanks to a healthy liver. ;-)

In Canada, you can drink at 19. But those Yankees have the age at 21, so I had to mention it.

I am only 15, but I proclaimed years ago I will never polute my body with such monstrocities.

I don't drink because wacky-water tastes nasty.

As for drugs, never had a coke I haven't enjoyed.

Want to drink legally? Go to England!

:)

Happy Birthday. As a present, I got you this lovely rant; I hope it goes well with the decor of your blog :)

What's with the alchohol hating? I like to count myself as drug-free, too; I forswear caffein for this reason. However, beer (and wine) has been a staple food since oldest times: Some scholars attribute our settling down, and growing grains instead of hunting, to the making of beer. (A more accepted explanation is that we had to settle down in order to make bread, but the two processes are very similar; the first beer was probably the result of soggy bread.)

For much of our history, Beer has been the healthy choice over the water available. Stagnant water grows bateria much more rapidly than beer with an active yeast culture. This was especially true of voyages on the sea, where alchoholic beverages were a nessesity. It could be argued that without alchohol the Americas would never have been discovered by the Europeans (though some would count this as a good thing).

Do I drink? Yes. Do I get Drunk, or even buzzed? No; I don't advocate that others do, either. I'm a home brewer, too. Actually, today I made a batch of Nut Brown Ale, and a loaf of bread. I feel that food should be simple, and people should know what goes into the food they eat, which is why I view the beer I brew as being more healthy than much of the soda and coffee that other people drink. (In much of Europe, as some of you probably know better than I, Coke-Cola is refered to as 'American Table Wine').

Unfortunatly, Americans act very poorely when it comes to beer. The beer is viewed either as a means to become drunk, or as an adult soda (Bud Light cans look surprisingly similar to Pepsi's). The average American uses the word 'Beer' to denote Pilsner, and denounces anything with any color, body, or taste.

This is all your fault, Puritans.


I do regonize the problems that alcohol causes/has caused, and I don't make light of them. Just like all drugs, it should not be abused. Therefore, I stand behind anyone who commits themselves to being alcohol free, especially recovering alcoholics. Just note that beer (and wine, mead, etc.) can be enjoyed maturely, not for it's alcohol content, but for it's flavor.

Nah, I've been drunk a handful of times, and while the experience is definitely novel (and often fairly amusing), I don't particularly enjoy it, or crave it later (a sign that I honestly don't enjoy it... otherwise, I'd be wanting to do it more often)...

So, contrary to Jermman's statement, those of you who haven't been drunk aren't necessarily missing out... I guess it depends on your personality whether or not you'd enjoy the experience...

Jermman:
The thing is, those of you who have not gotten drunk do not reilise that

getting you perception/thought process
messed is FUN!

You have to try it to understand what your missing.

I have been drunk a few times, and I can say that being sober is much more fun, IMHO. (sober) Sex, or a game of poker = 100 times more fun. All I ever see is people getting drunk for an excuse to make out or scream avidly into my ears, and me, being that I've had way more fun in my day than all of them, thinks that's stupid.

Elation:
ITS IRONIC THAT WE ALL DONT DRINK AND SOCIALISE AND GO OUT AND HAVE NO FRIENDS AND ARE SOCIALLY REJECTED

I am a lot happier in my life than my "social, outgoing, alcoholic" friends. Being social isn't always bliss.

I also wouldn't want to be around the people who absolutely cannot have a good time unless they drink, so I made friends that don't mind staying sober to have fun, so I couldn't say I'm "socially rejected". I also have no problems with getting out and meeting people.

Actually, alcohol is a problem too. It's the most dangerous drug in the entire world!