At what age are people supposed to start realizing heavy drinking is for losers?

I realized it at 21 years of age while I was studying abroad for a year. I did a bunch of party with people that get drunk and high several time per week. I get bored of that kind of

*sorry for the duplicate I made a wrong move.

I get bored of that kind of lifestyle and started to run and socialized with the local running community. I stopped drinking and smoking, I had completly abstained from alcohol consumption since I graduate 4 years ago. It affected a lot my social life given that most of my friends at the time were big or moderate drinker. Even my family was upset when I declined a glass of wine during family gathering. Since then, I spend much less of my free time socializing.

But I am convinced that it was the best decision my health improved, and I am more aware mentally. I took interest on important topic such as diet, gardening by the way I started to grow vegetables. Also, I restart reading book for pleasure which was my biggest hobby when I was young.

It baffles me that abstinence is such an issue in western society. When I said that I don't drink people think that I am a religious extremist...

some never grow up wrote:

I realized at 19 that people who get drunk are losers. At 22 I realized how pathetic people in their late 20’s who brag about alcohol have mental issues and an unwillingness to grow up. When someone in their 30’s calls themself a whiskey connoisseur I just feel sorry for them and realize they are trying way to hard to try to be relevant. It is really pathetic.

Wow. You took a lot of my own thoughts right out of my head, particularly the unwillingness to grow up thing. I have a close friend I am in the process of distancing myself from as I have been feeling very strongly this very thing about them over the last six months or so. She's about to turn 28 and seems to have not grown or developed/matured at all from being a stupid idiot 20-year old. This person has even told me that multiple friends and coworkers have mentioned something about it to her! And yet she still doesn't see it! Her friend group has shifted because all her old friends have matured and want to do age appropriate things, while my friend still wants to drink and act like a fool, so she's had to get new, younger friends. It's been very disappointing to watch...

The people who are still drinking a lot after age 30 do indeed pretty much always have pretty bad mental problems they're not attending to. Drinking seems to be an indicator of a deeper problem.

Yeah, I don't know. It's different for everyone. Also, genetics play a large role.

I'm 47 and still drink a good amount. I very rarely have the night out where you try to add it up in the morning, get to like 14 drinks and then can't remember after that. Haha. Like once a year max. F'ng hat myself in the morning.

I do drink 5 to 8 beers typically 4 nights a week.

Many would say I have a problem. Hell, I guess I may. I'm hungover more than I'd like.

It's never had a negative impact on my life though. I've never lost a job, gotten a DWI, beaten a GF or any of that noise! I always make sure my day is done before cracking one open.

I get a physical yearly and my liver is checked.

I just love beer way too much and it's worth the small health risk at my drinking levels to really enjoy a nice buzz 4 nights a week.

I do take every June off drinking. It's not bad. I just like drinking more than not drinking.

Fire away, my judgemental non drinkers!

Also, I think it may have some to do with where you live. I live in Austin, Texas and this place is a drinking town, big time. Sure, not everyone drinks but a huge percentage of older folks do.

pepa pigg wrote:

Fire away, my judgemental non drinkers!

This is a big misconception that non-drinkers are judgemental. Some might be. But most aren't, they're just people that used to drink, loved to drink, but had to give it up. I'd gladly keep drinking, if I could. But the way it happened, I can't (long story). Therefore, anyone that's lucky enough to continue it and make it work for them, great. More power to them.

It's not a drink/don't drink, thing. It's all how it affects a given person. If it works for you, and doesn't hurt anyone else, do it. If not, then don't. And if you want to drink around me, that's cool, too. I couldn't care less, one way or the other. It makes no difference to me what's in someone else's glass or bottle.

Early 30s, for me and a lot of those I hung around with. This might not be common, but even the biggest party animal (remaining) of us might drink two or three light beers, more commonly two, and last time around it was near-beer anyway.

The big party guy crashed his car and died in his late-20s, so who knows?

Someone said genetics, and this is true (for everything, actually). You can fake it easy in your teens, pretty well in your 20s, and you have no shot of outrunning it after 30. Is what it is.

GettingFasterDude wrote:

pepa pigg wrote:

Fire away, my judgemental non drinkers!

This is a big misconception that non-drinkers are judgemental. Some might be. But most aren't, they're just people that used to drink, loved to drink, but had to give it up. I'd gladly keep drinking, if I could. But the way it happened, I can't (long story). Therefore, anyone that's lucky enough to continue it and make it work for them, great. More power to them.

It's not a drink/don't drink, thing. It's all how it affects a given person. If it works for you, and doesn't hurt anyone else, do it. If not, then don't. And if you want to drink around me, that's cool, too. I couldn't care less, one way or the other. It makes no difference to me what's in someone else's glass or bottle.

Solid points.

I do feel like you're a little different than most non drinkers though.

Not exactly sure why but most people who quit drinking think they're better than people who drink.

I get it, they don't drink and good for them. If they think they're better off without it I'm happy they quit.

Like you said though, if someone enjoys drinking and it doesn't negatively impact their life then who cares?

To each their own. Just be open minded about other peoples lifestyles. Sounds like you are based on your post.

Cheers (lol)

James Bond drinks a lot and he's not a loser

Seems like they identify with a younger culture