I'm starting this thread to offer an outlet for some of the discussion from the diversity thread (which has been wildly successful, I must say. Big wootz for the board members!)
I am very interested in discussing drinking with my fellow boardies, though. Few groups as diverse as ours can do this with such restraint and respect. I was also surprised at the number of abstemious members we have here.
So to get things rolling:
I didn't drink at all before college. My parents trusted me implicitly, and impressed good values on me, so I never would have thought about drinking during high school. Even so, they offered me a taste or two at that young age, and made it clear that they trusted my judgment in matters of drinking, which really meant a lot to me.
So when friends of mine offered me a shot of rum when I was in college, I was okay with it. As my college career continued, I had a few bad run-ins with booze- I got really sick a few times, showing me (quite harshly) what my limits were. Since then, I've been able to imbibe responsibly (although perhaps a bit more often than is good for my waistline).
I think responsible drinking is a good thing. It is a fine social endeavor, and allows for relaxation and a certain (IMHO, healthy) loosening of inhibitions (karaoke, anyone?). That said, I have great respect for those who abstain. I would likely be among your ranks if I had not developed a taste for beer (and certain rum-based drinks).
I like drinking culture- the rites involved with having certain drinks, the mystique and arcane knowledge of the cocktail, the sense of camaraderie and celebration, etc. I like the refinement of connoisseurs (wow, spelled it right on my first try!)- in moderation, of course ;-) I have a good friend who comes from "the wine country" in Cali, and I always envied his knowledge of the grape.
I think there is a great universal culture to be found in drinking, and that, I think, is where the great appeal lies for me.
On a somewhat related note, I'm trying to become something of an amateur bartender. You guys got any cocktail recommendations?
Also, what have your experiences with booze been like? Good, bad, maybe sad? I want to know!
I am very interested in discussing drinking with my fellow boardies, though. Few groups as diverse as ours can do this with such restraint and respect. I was also surprised at the number of abstemious members we have here.
So to get things rolling:
I didn't drink at all before college. My parents trusted me implicitly, and impressed good values on me, so I never would have thought about drinking during high school. Even so, they offered me a taste or two at that young age, and made it clear that they trusted my judgment in matters of drinking, which really meant a lot to me.
So when friends of mine offered me a shot of rum when I was in college, I was okay with it. As my college career continued, I had a few bad run-ins with booze- I got really sick a few times, showing me (quite harshly) what my limits were. Since then, I've been able to imbibe responsibly (although perhaps a bit more often than is good for my waistline).
I think responsible drinking is a good thing. It is a fine social endeavor, and allows for relaxation and a certain (IMHO, healthy) loosening of inhibitions (karaoke, anyone?). That said, I have great respect for those who abstain. I would likely be among your ranks if I had not developed a taste for beer (and certain rum-based drinks).
I like drinking culture- the rites involved with having certain drinks, the mystique and arcane knowledge of the cocktail, the sense of camaraderie and celebration, etc. I like the refinement of connoisseurs (wow, spelled it right on my first try!)- in moderation, of course ;-) I have a good friend who comes from "the wine country" in Cali, and I always envied his knowledge of the grape.
I think there is a great universal culture to be found in drinking, and that, I think, is where the great appeal lies for me.
On a somewhat related note, I'm trying to become something of an amateur bartender. You guys got any cocktail recommendations?
Also, what have your experiences with booze been like? Good, bad, maybe sad? I want to know!
DM: You come to a fork in the road.
PC: I pick it up and put it in my pocket.
PC: I pick it up and put it in my pocket.
). When I was 16 I cleaned offices. Cleaning up after their Christmas parties made me want to puke from the smell of all the empties lying around. 
