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by pmarreck
1272 days ago
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Absolutely helped me in my 20’s. I was severely repressed, and alcohol in moderation felt like it basically “unlocked” me. I actually have a pet theory that the people who evolved to tolerate alcohol (and not die from it or misadventure via it) actually depend on it to “fully be themselves” because the cost of this is being LESS daring etc. (basically having an overabundance of self control) while sober.
I’m a software engineer with 100% German ancestry, so this may figure. Not sure if related to this, but 100% of my best sexual experiences (as well as the first few experiences at all) were under the influence to some degree. I used to feel bad for people who’d drink and get real angry and then learn they need to stop drinking, but I never considered that I might actually be paying an ongoing cost for my alcohol tolerance. |
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In actuality, my consumption had slowly (but dramatically) lowered my standards on _everything_. My daily routines had all but evaporated. I was in a constant rush, phoning in virtually everything in my life - all while planning for the next drink.
Took 30 days of sobriety to realize the sauce had robbed me of 15 years of my life. I can count on one hand the number of events in hindsight actually _better_ due to alcohol’s presence. Turns out most gatherings begin awkward - with or without alcohol.
Alcohol is a scourge. It suffocated my values and turned me into someone I was not. Unsurprising [0]”Criminal activity is more closely linked to the use of alcohol than any other drug.”
Fascinating “Pet Theory” that would surely electrify a room of bev alc marketers.
[0] Esser, M., Sherk, A., Liu, Y., Naimi, T.S., Stockwell, T., Stahre, M., Kanny, D., Landen, M., Saitz, R., and Brewer, R.D. (2020). Deaths and years of potential life lost from excessive alcohol use-United States, 2011-2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 69 (30): 981-987.