Beer Connoisseur or Alcoholic???

Uh, oh, Lew, thats one of the signs of a drinking problem, having to prove to yourself that you don't have a drinking problem. Kripes, that is so Orwellian its scary. Me, I don't worry about it. Giving up beer would be as difficult as giving up cheese, sausage and pasta. They are a part of my diet and in the moderate amounts in which I try to consume them not too harmfull. I suppose if I had to give up beer or cheese or sausage for health reasons I would, but aside from that I see no reason to be a teatotaller not even for a few days. People used to drink a heck of a lot more than AMericans and in some parts of the world they still do and they manage to function well. I chalk it up to alcohol paranoia spread by an unholy alliance of neo-Puritans and social reformers who view the world in black and white.

--Dan E

Talk to your doctor. If he's not a total quack he'll evaluate you by the "12 or fewer a week" rule and say you're just fine (assuming you're in good health). Have him repeat this to your wife. The doctor is the voice of authority and she'll likely listen. If it goes on after that, just do what I do. Let everyone know that my life is my own and will be lived by my rules. If people can't handle that they should quit bitching and head on down the road.

Sounds like your father should mow his lawn more often. That grass sounds pretty tall.

Phil

I lost about twenty pounds on Atkins (in about two and a half months) and I still had the ocassional beer. Light lagers are generally lower in carbs. Avoid Michelobe Ultra.

Phil

AMEN!

Nu, I was much younger than, and I was drinking a lot more, stupidly. Helped me realize that I not only didn't need it, I didn't need it -- if you get what I mean.

But yeah, a lot of this stuff is circular, and I'd have a harder time giving up meat than giving up booze.

I know what you mean, this is going to be the First new Years Eve since 1997/8 where I'm not working it as a Taxi Driver (it's one of the 2 best days in Cleveland to work as A taxi Driver, the other being St. Patrick's Day, another heavy drinking day)

Drinking too much? It's only half past four, and gin is just a soft drink surely....

Hi Dan,

Although I personally agree with the "Can`t stop once you`ve started theory", I think we, who enjoy this newsgroup may unwittingly be a little biased and perhaps too sympathetic to your situation . Lets be honest, this is a forum for those of us who love beer & for the most part probably drink slightly more beer than the average person (not necessarily in destructive way or quantity). I am sure that this has crossed your mind.

You have received some very good input, but, unsurprisingly, there does not appear to be a "devil`s advocate" here. I say this not to attack anyone`s feedback, but because of the importance of the issue you are dealing with. Do yourself a favor & set your mind at ease by getting an opinion/checkup from a healthcare professional.

Take care,

Greg

On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 17:37:42 GMT, Dan Traveler spoke thusly:

There are many tests people use to determine if you are an alcoholic, but the most reliable is the shortest:

• Is alcohol adversely affecting your social life?

• Is alcohol adversely affecting your health?

If you answered yes to either of these, you need to seek professional help immediately.

The first one is generally pretty easy to determine. Does drinking cause you to show up late for work? Do you go out with friends less, in order to be able to drink more? In a nutshell, was your life better before you started drinking?

The second is even easier. Has your health deteriorated? Are you experiencing blackouts? Has your alcohol tolerance changed significantly?

Eighteen beers over fourteen days is well within "healthy." Most studies I've seen (and they do vary) point to one or two a day as healthiest. My only concern with your post is the frequency at which you have four or more in a day. Four's fine every now and then, but too often and that can lead to serious health problems, even if your average consumption is low.

Try this reference:

You'll find that moderate alcohol consumption is healthy, but in excess the health curve bends quite steeply.

Lets be honest,

I think most "beer aficionados" (geez, can we come up with a better term than that or the others that are kicked around- "beer geek", etc.?) might drink "...slightly more beer than the average person..." BUT I'd say we tend to drink LESS beer than the average, or above average, "beer drinker". You know the guy that puts away a twelve pack of Coors Light or Bud every night.

I think people get confused between the two and make a leap that if guy X buys a 12 pack of Miller and I'm in line behind him with a case of Jever, a case of HopDevil, a case of Sierra Nevada Celebration, 3 bottles of Anchor Small Beer and a 4 pack of assorted Heavyweight beers, I MUST drink more than him. Of course, he'll be in line tomorrow again, and I won't be back for 2 or 3 weeks AND I will still have a lot of the beer I bought in the frig or in the cellar, but I just had a taste for some Prima Pils and thought I'd check to see if any new Christmas beers arrived...

no I changed jobs because I wanted to be paid on a regular basis so I can buy things like Food and Internet Service.

Avoid Michelob Ultra? Because water is just as tasty or because there's something in it that inhibits weightloss?

I'm thinking about going back on Atkins again, but I'll have to give up beer entirely if I do. I'll drink mostly whiskey, because it is the most beerlike of the hard liquors and also dry wines occasionally.

If you were to add an ice cube to Michelob Ultra and let it melt, you would had to the flavor of it. I don't know how Michelobe did it, but their low carb beer has a vaccuum of flavor. This beer will only discourage you from being on Atkins.

Phil