<p>Ok, I’m getting slightly worried that I’ve been developing a tolerance for alcohol over the first couple weeks of college. A little background info: I’m male, weigh 140 lbs, and I used to be a lightweight (no joke, I would feel pretty disoriented after 2 beers). Another thing to keep in mind is that I averaged less than 1 drinking session a week in high school but have been averaging ~3 a week in college. </p>
<p>Here’s what worries me: I had the equivalent of 6 shots of 80 proof vodka in the span of an hour and I only felt a little buzzed. Also, I’ve quit drinking beer and moved on to mixed drinks/shots because it’s too tedious to drink that much liquid.</p>
<p>I don’t feel like I have any dependency for alcohol and I never drink alone, but it still worries me. Not to mention it’s annoying as hell to have to drink so much more to get a similar buzz. For some reason, I never get hangovers but I do blackout/brownout (remembering bits and pieces of the previous night) on occasion. Can anyone give some opinions/advice?</p>
<p>How much alcohol effects you will vary from day to day. If you’re well rested and just ate a large meal it’s going to take a lot more than if you’re tired and hungry. If you think you’re drinking too much then just drink less. If you keep drinking more and more to get buzzed you’ll just make the problem worse.</p>
<p>Remember, a huge amount of being “drunk” is all in your head. The lack of coordination/etc. is real, but people also get very ‘party drunk’ just because they think they’re supposed to. So if you think your tolerance is high, or if you think it’s low, to an extent you’re right.</p>
<p>I’m a physician by training, and Brown Alum and would say that drinking an “equivalent of 6 shots of 80 proof vodka in the span of an hour” and having small black outs/brown-outs are concerning.</p>
<p>It’s not a habit you really want to start. There’s a big downside to your emotional, and physical health.</p>
<p>Welcome to college. Increased tolerance is a good thing. You don’t want to be the guy over in the corner hurling your guts out after losing a drinking game, you want to be able to take it in stride and keep going on with your life.</p>
<p>To a degree a high tolerance is a good thing (you can have a beer or two with dinner and not lose your wits) but I’d be very concerned if somebody actually took 6 shots of vodka (no need to specify proof if it is 80; that’s standard for most liquors) in an hour and only got buzzed. I’ve got a pretty high tolerance and 6 shots in an hour wouldn’t have me sick, but I’d be considerably drunk.</p>
<p>Go back to beer. Trust me, if you’re at a party and have a couple beers you’ll feel buzzed, doesn’t matter what your tolerance is.</p>
<p>The rate of alcohol absorption is a constant. You will not get any more drunk in an hour if you have four shots or eight. That’s why it catches up to people so fast.</p>
<p>I only get a buzz when I drink 6 servings of alcohol, but I’m used to drinking four litres of beer for rugby.</p>
<p>cosine- tobaccoN brings up a very good point.</p>
<p>Most likely, you’re not feeling drunk after the 6 shots simply because it hasn’t caught up to you- but when it does, that’s why you’re blacking out.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about tolerance increasing after only 3 weeks at school. I highly doubt that’s the case.</p>
<p>As someone else said, just go back to drinking beer.</p>
<p>If I drink, I drink at a party, or after a week/day of hard work. I don’t see the sense in drinking to get buzzed or drunk besides peer pressure.</p>
<p>Well if you’re drinking because it tastes good you’ll be fine. If ever you want to cut down your alcohol consumption a bit start drinking good beer. It’s more expensive (which is why you’ll drink less) and actually worth drinking.</p>
<p>I would say there is a range where you will feel equally drunk, such as 3-7 drinks you feel the same. Also, beer and liquor act differently. For instance, you may have a low beer tolerance, meaning a buzz after 2 or 3, and a higher liquor tolerance, say 5-6 drinks. Tolerance depends on what you’re drinking. You get a different buzz from forties than liquor/wine. </p>
<p>“That is nothing. I have been known to go through 200mL vodka in a night.”</p>
<p>thats not very much, about 6 shots so unless your a girl or u dont get very drunk thats barely anything. most guys i know, including myself, easily double that (i’m not saying thats a good thing though) so i wouldnt call that much to brag about. the op is actually talking about drinking that much and not feeling anything. i wouldnt call building tolerance a good thing, usually people say thats the beginning of a physical dependence. i have built one too, but its good to not be puking after nothing</p>
<p>You shouldn’t have to prove to your friends how much alcohol you can consume. If they are the type of people who won’t accept you if you don’t have 21 shots on your 21st birthday, find some new friends. Drink to have fun, be social, get drunk, but be careful. I had a friend spend a year in jail for drinking and driving (and it was before he was 21). And he lost his license for 12 years. You want to be an alcoholic?</p>