New Drinker ... Any words of advise??

Well, for me, I have never had a drink in my life, not even college.
Now that I am nearly 36, single, and stressed out, I think it's time to start enjoying my nights out, and stop being the only sober person leaving the bar or club.

So, for someone who has never had a drink before, what the best way to start out?

What drinks should I start with?

Now, I am not looking to get wasted, but to start drinking socially, a wine here and there. and some flavored drinks as well.

I am guessing, will I puke the few few times, or not?

 

You sure you want to start now at that age? Why didn't you drink before, religion?

Just wondering, don't have to answer me if you don't want to.

 

If you haven't done it up until now, be glad, and continue avoiding it.

 

Pabst Blue Ribbon
and Wild Turkey

Keep us posted on your progress

 

If you're fine without drinking, no point in starting. You can totally enjoy yourself at a night club without drinking, just nurse a coke in your hand the entire night.

 

^ Come to think about it... A close friend of mine (male) started drinking while under stress at the age of around 23-25. Never drank anything prior to that. Now, 5-ish years later he is scaring me with his drinking habits, because one half liter beer goes down in 5 minutes and after one hour he has almost no self control and a totally different and tiresome personality. I could see his girlfriend rolling eyes and running after him with water even though she was wasted as well.

 

Babo will do that to ya

 

no kidding. barely missed each other, too

 

In answer to some of the questions.

1 - Never drank before becasue never felt the need. Usually watch my buddies and friends get hammered and act stupid. So said to myself, I don't want to be that way.

2 - Just looking to be a social drinker at events or the once a week corporate get together.

3 - Really sad with the way life is going right now, so looking to cheer up, but spending less time alone, and more time at bars and clubs meeting new people. (and to some degree, make me feel happy, even if only temporary)


So my question is:
1 - Should I expect to throw up the first time ever after a wine or champaign?
2 - what drinks should I start out with and how much?


(And I will never drink and drive)

 

Honestly, I would start by having a drink at home.

I'll be the first to tell you, drinking will not make you feel happier. I'm working on my own issues right now and will have a beer a night just about. But its sort of began me to think about limiting my drinking.

But if you're just curious. Have one beer one night. The next time youre out have wine. Don't mix anything, stick with what you started with. I seriously doubt you'll throw up off one drink. Keep it in control and limit yourself and you'll be fine.

 

All good advice - as someone that has witnessed the damage drinking can potentially do, recognize it is a depressant, it won't help you in that regard.

That's not to say a social drink isn't ok. I enjoy a drink, but I know when to curb it. Don't mix as TexasF355F1 notes - stick with one style and enjoy it.

Good luck!

 

Uzy.........

1-2-3 drinks isn't going to make anyone puke, unless they are medically pre-dispositioned to it in the first place.

Mixing numerous different types alcohols and consuming waaaaaay too much in one sitting will. And we are talking about a minimum of at least 15+ units over a period of 3-4 hours or so, and that is only if you have a weak constitution.

Usually, most of the publicly posted BAC charts (blood alcohol content) limit you to one drink per hour as a guideline to avoid legal impairment, but, everyone's body and tolerance to booze is different. So, stay within that time frame as a rough guideline, and drink water or pop in between drinks, and you probably won't have any trouble looking like a fool and will enjoy yourself.

Personally, I prefer whisky with water on the rocks, dry vodka and gin martinis.......or a good red wine (cabernet or merlot). If I were you I'd have a glass or two of wine with a meal in a nice restaurant, and ask the sommelier or waiter what they would recommend you have with your order. Take it from there..........once a week the wife and I drink 2 bottles of wine on either a Friday or Saturday night with dinner...........if I go out with the guys for 4-6 hours to a bar I'll consume 10 or so rounds of Jack Daniels or martinis, and that only happens once a month.

 

Drink in moderation mate.

Jack Daniels and coke is a nice brew.

Mix up one or two of those on ice and enjoy yourself.

 

AMF!

 

The first time I've been to the US a friend's mother told me "many Americans drink to get drunk"(I think we were talking about girls in that moment).

That is one way to see alcohol.

The other one is to to taste what you are drinking and enjoy it.


Being Italian I suggest a glass of good red wine with a good dinner might be a good way to start, making sure they are a good match possibly, or a lighter sparkling white wine after dinner.


Alcohol is not bad, excess of alcohol is.
A glass of wine or a beer with friends never killed anyone!
Drink with moderation and enjoy it!


If you are scared to get sick make sure your stomach is full of food first and you don't have to drive, with empty stomach, you'll feel it much more.

If it's just one glass I believe it's nearly impossible you puke for that.

 

Aaahahahahaha!

Seriously, try drinking wine with dinner. Good wine really enhances your enjoyment of food. Moreover, it will slow down your meals, give you something new to learn, and something to discuss with your dinner company. All that should help you have fun in the evening.

Or, you can become a complete souse like Darth and me. See: Modern Drunkard Magazine (drunkard.com)

 

Cocaine is pretty fun give it a try champ.

 

What would you all do if you had to start all over again...would it be scotch...didn't think so.

Try it at home, have a beer, a nice glass of wine...who knows, your virgin taste buds will mostlikely allow you to enjoy some of the subtlelties of a wonderful burgundy.

Don't overthink it. Then when your in a social setting you'll know what you like.

Wine coolers are not cool.

 

Uzy, you say you'd like to have a drink in a social setting, but not the underlying motivation - do you want to drink because of the effects of the alcohol or because of the taste?

 

Why start? I'd just leave it be. If you are not happy and looking for it in drinking that is the WRONG drug to start. Smoke weed or do some other drug instead as alcohol is a depressant. Get a valium script or something if you need pharmaceutical help. Although daily exercise will work better then any drug IMHO.

Calories vs. taste drinking is not worth it anymore - I'm getting older and can't keep my six pack, if I drink socially. I have 1-2 beers over the weekend (only if I feel like it) and can keep the gut off doing that. If I have 1-2 drinks every other day socially within 2 weeks my gut is creeping back.

For me it's not so much the calories in the drink as the reduced inhibitions that come after a the drinks. I throw caution to the wind and eat a bag of chips or too much BBQ or a bag of cookies etc. - If I don't drink that is less likely to happen.

If you are set on drinking just drink what tastes good to you. If none of it does don't force the issue. If it tastes so good you keep waking up in strange places seek help

 

DON'T START. No point if you've gone all your life without it. Think of the $ you'll save, the mental,emotional and physical affects of alcohol over time.

Get a hobby spend more time with friends to get rid of or deal with your stress. If you really do want to drink I suggest sampling what's out there. I'm a scotch drinker, but its taken time to acquire that fondness for scotch. Its a pungent, strong drink that i didn't really like at first. I rarely drink anything else.

 

It's kind of like asking "I haven't smoked all my life - which cig's do you smokers recommend?"

 

Why bother?
Having said this I'm aquainted with a certain former tea-totaler who was always very stiff and often uncomfortable to be around. Since her discovery of demon alchohol she has let her hair down and become less uptight, whether drinking or not.
So, if you are an uptight sort of fellow perhaps a little booze will loosen you up. If you have any addictive or compulsive tendancies stay away from it.