Serious poll

[AllThatJazzZ]

Confession: I had some green tomatoes that I fried up in beer batter. Twice. In a 2-week period of time. And I'm going to do it again soon. Looks like I'm officially off the wagon. I'll get back on after tomato season. 

[The_Reader_David]

This is the form of question which asked by a prosecutor rightly calls for invoking the fifth.  Any answer confirms you stopped drinking.

I think I'll invoke the fifth (of Lagavulin 16 year).

[Bigun]

This is the form of question which asked by a prosecutor rightly calls for invoking the fifth.  Any answer confirms you stopped drinking.

I think I'll invoke the fifth (of Lagavulin 16 year).

If I were to be offered two fingers of that in a glass I don't know if I could refuse.

[mystery-ak]

Confession: I had some green tomatoes that I fried up in beer batter. Twice. In a 2-week period of time. And I'm going to do it again soon. Looks like I'm officially off the wagon. I'll get back on after tomato season. 

After frying those tomatoes there is no alcohol left just the flavor of it..   the same when you add wine to a sauce...

[Elderberry]

If and when I ever stop, I'll let you know why. Unless I die first.

[mountaineer]

After frying those tomatoes there is no alcohol left just the flavor of it..   the same when you add wine to a sauce...

Quite true. The heat burns off the alcohol, leaving only the flavor.

[massadvj]

I haven't given up drinking. I have a beer occasionally, usually after a round of golf with my buddies. One beer, never two. In summer maybe twice a week. In winter I drink a lot less. But I did quit smoking, and I have eliminated a lot of other toxic things (and people) from my life,

In my early 30s I realized I was living like I had a death wish. Overweight, donut in one hand, cigarette in the other. My self-awareness led me to conclude I have a compulsive personality. But I also realized I could control what sorts of things I channeled my compulsiveness into. I took up distance running and I went back to college. My personality translated that into two finished marathons and a PhD.

So my advice to addicts of any sort is to become addicted to something that is good for you rather than harmful.

[Kamaji]

Never had a problem with drinking - i.e., what I did drink didn't significantly impair my life or ability to function - but I stopped being a recreational drinker many years ago when I used to drive city buses.  The max allowed BAC level with a commercial driver's license was lower than the max BAC with a non-commercial DL, so most of us drivers just didn't bother doing it because of the risks to our ability to make a living - most drivers' parties were pretty boring, drinks-wise; I remember one party that was BYO where someone brought a six-pack of beer, and at the end of the night, there were still five left over.

[Elderberry]

That's a far cry from when I was a member of the USS Lexington ET Radar Gang. We had a rent house on the beach. When we were in port every one of us would buy a case of Falstaff longnecks. And we would drink most everyone of them each nite. I hardly drink any beer now, but I sure like my Sourmash.

[Bigun]

That's a far cry from when I was a member of the USS Lexington ET Radar Gang. We had a rent house on the beach. When we were in port every one of us would buy a case of Falstaff longnecks. And we would drink most everyone of them each nite. I hardly drink any beer now, but I sure like my Sourmash.

[mountaineer]

I occasionally have beer or wine. Thankfully, I absolutely cannot stand the aroma or taste of distilled spirits, so they're no temptation. One brother has abused drugs, the other alcohol. They're a good reminder not to go overboard.

[Elderberry]

Back when we put our first child in Catholic school, the teachers really laid on the evils of alcohol. So I changed from beer to red table wine and laid on how I was drinking the wine for my health.

[roamer_1]

I haven't given up drinking. I have a beer occasionally, usually after a round of golf with my buddies. One beer, never two. In summer maybe twice a week. In winter I drink a lot less. But I did quit smoking, and I have eliminated a lot of other toxic things (and people) from my life,

In my early 30s I realized I was living like I had a death wish. Overweight, donut in one hand, cigarette in the other. My self-awareness led me to conclude I have a compulsive personality. But I also realized I could control what sorts of things I channeled my compulsiveness into. I took up distance running and I went back to college. My personality translated that into two finished marathons and a PhD.

So my advice to addicts of any sort is to become addicted to something that is good for you rather than harmful.

I should modify my position to be in line with yours... I have stopped drinking altogether, but only because of medical reasons. But prior to that I would still enjoy an occasional beer or two, and even a very rare blowout at one hootenanny or another - Getting fairly well lit maybe once a year or so.

I quit drinkin-drinkin  many years ago though. My kids have never seen me drunk.

[jafo2010]

Hoodat...
I have never been able to understand people like you.  I do not possess the ability to have just one (fill in drug of choice here).

It is called self control.  And as I mentioned, I had three relatives that were alcoholics, and I observed them growing up and watched as two of them almost died the same night in the same hospital.  Can't tell you how many nights were were awakened when I was a kid by one of my father's two brothers in the middle of the night, who was drunk as a skunk.

After the first time I ever got drunk, I felt miserable the next day.  The day after was the first day my parents came down to my university to visit.  When we went out to dinner, my mother could tell there was something wrong with me.  I told them, I partied the night before and had too much to drink, my mother's response was "eat something, you will feel better".

I spent much of my adult life on the road, living out of hotels, and would dine with folks that ordered a bottle of wine, expensive wine, with dinner every evening.  I learned to appreciate fine wine.  I am perfectly happy drinking one glass of wine with my meal.  Occasionally, this cohort would order a 2nd bottle of wine, and I would end up having a 2nd glass. 

I believe red wine in particular is highly beneficial with food from a health perspective.  I saw an American doctor, who did research in Europe talking about the huge benefit and reduced likelihood of having heart issue with regular consumption of red wine.  He indicated it reduces the stickiness of one's platelets in the body from consuming red wine, reducing dramatically the risk of heart attack.  That is my primary reason for consuming alcohol.

Plus, I love green Chartreuse, and I have learned it has incredible medicinal qualities.  If I become symptomatic with viral symptoms, ONE drink of Chartreuse before I go to bed, and 4 out of 5 times, I would awaken with no symptoms, feeling normal.  I have been drinking it since 1982 when I discovered it at a high end restaurant in Washington, DC.

My favorite whiskey presently is orange flavored Jameson whiskey.  Very tasty, and smooth.  I am a firm believer that whiskey also enhances one's physical life, prolonging life, but again in moderation.

Everything in moderation, and that pertains to all things in life.

[DB]

I haven't given up drinking. I have a beer occasionally, usually after a round of golf with my buddies. One beer, never two. In summer maybe twice a week. In winter I drink a lot less. But I did quit smoking, and I have eliminated a lot of other toxic things (and people) from my life,

In my early 30s I realized I was living like I had a death wish. Overweight, donut in one hand, cigarette in the other. My self-awareness led me to conclude I have a compulsive personality. But I also realized I could control what sorts of things I channeled my compulsiveness into. I took up distance running and I went back to college. My personality translated that into two finished marathons and a PhD.

So my advice to addicts of any sort is to become addicted to something that is good for you rather than harmful.

Sounds like solid advice to me.

[Kamaji]

I haven't given up drinking. I have a beer occasionally, usually after a round of golf with my buddies. One beer, never two. In summer maybe twice a week. In winter I drink a lot less. But I did quit smoking, and I have eliminated a lot of other toxic things (and people) from my life,

In my early 30s I realized I was living like I had a death wish. Overweight, donut in one hand, cigarette in the other. My self-awareness led me to conclude I have a compulsive personality. But I also realized I could control what sorts of things I channeled my compulsiveness into. I took up distance running and I went back to college. My personality translated that into two finished marathons and a PhD.

So my advice to addicts of any sort is to become addicted to something that is good for you rather than harmful.