<p>Right. I agree that one can drink alcohol for the taste. But if one drinks an excessive amount of alcohol and says she is drinking it because it tastes good…well, she’s in denial.</p>
<p>“A glass of wind”, I like that typo. Reminds me of a “bowl of steam” (for Woody Allen movie fans).</p>
<p>deleted for double post</p>
<p>Ha! And I’m not even drunk! I can’t type drunk or sober but my edit window is up so it will live for eternity =)) </p>
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<p>The traditional European approach to alcohol (wine at family meals) is considered the most healthy form of consumption. Certainly it is social drinking; if you are not alone but engaged in interaction with other person(s), it is social. Just you and your neighbor sitting on the porch drinking a scotch is social too.</p>
<p>Oh, I tried that ginger beer and vodka drink, so good. I then went and bought some ginger beer (which is non-alcoholic, like root beer). With or without vodka, it is refreshing.</p>
<p>I might have a drink once a week. I have a drink because I enjoy how they taste. A crisp chardonnay with grilled fish, a cold beer with Chinese food, a magarita with chips and salsa. Yum. </p>
<p>If I didn’t worry about the calories, I might drink more often. I equate alcoholic drinks with dessert. Fine to have every once in a while but not good as a habit.</p>
<p>I think of it this way; if I were asked to list some social activities I enjoyed, I would not list “a private dinner at home with my wife”, though I sure do enjoy her company.</p>
<p>@younghoss, ok then, is any drinking in your own home social (other than throwing a party)? If you add 2 kids or 5 kids, does it become social? If granny is at the table? If a friend drops by? </p>
<p>The key is to compare with the technical definition of ‘social interaction’, not with the common understanding of ‘social activity’.</p>
<p>I drink almost every day. I have never been drunk in my life (I am ancient in comparison to everybody here). I consider my drinking for taste to be a “Social Drinking” as I drink with my H. who has never been drunk in his life either, but he can consume great amount without getting into “drunk condition”. If I get to have a bit more than my system is taking, I just get way to sleepy and there is no fun any more. There is no point for me to get to this level. I love the taste of beer and some wines and I like to add hard stuff to my ice cream, brownies and other desert. it jsut taste better this way. </p>
<p>It seems pretty clear to me that “social drinking” is an inexact term and that what people often really do (i.e., one or two drinks, either in social settings or at home) would be better described with some other term like “limited” drinking or something like that.</p>
<p>I think of a “social drinker” as the opposite of a “solitary drinker”. The latter primarily or solely drinks alone, while the former primarily or solely drinks around other people (who are usually but not necessarily drinking also).</p>
<p>While the physical dangers of alcohol are primarily based on quantity consumed, the presence of alcoholism (or of alcohol being used to self-medicate other conditions) is indicated both by quantity and by the manner in which it is consumed.</p>
<p>Maybe I’m wrong, but I always thought if a doctor’s form, for example, asked if I was a social drinker, I felt that referred more to the “when” and “how often” of drinking rather than the quantity. I never felt “social drinker” was defined by how much the consumer enjoyed the taste(re post 89). One glass of wine or even a 5th of vodka per night privately in one’s home would not be a social drinker imo. Not defined because of the quantity, but because of the setting. That example shows what I believe to be the distinction between “drinker” and “social drinker”.
For that example, much as Hunt says, I think light, moderate, or heavy drinker might be a better description.</p>
<p>I think the doctors’ offices need to give amounts guidelines if they want their patients’ answers to be fairly accurate. Do you drink more than 5 alcoholic beverages per week, etc. I’m quite sure that my friend describes her drinking as light when she goes to the doctor and I’m also sure that if the doctor knew the amount that she actually consumes she would call it very heavy.</p>
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It seems pretty clear to me that “social drinking” is an inexact term and that what people often really do (i.e., one or two drinks, either in social settings or at home) would be better described with some other term like “limited” drinking or something like that.</p>
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<p>I don’t think we can define social drinking. While some don’t think having a glass of wine with one’s spouse at dinner is “social drinking”, it probably is because the reason for drinking (and the amount) is not dysfunctional or abusive. </p>
<p>I think it is easier to define the opposite…and that seems to be drinking for the sake of addiction, medicating oneself, escape, etc. Dysfunctional drinking, abusing alcohol.</p>
<p>My parents drink like a 6 pack of beer at dinner or a bottle of wine. It depends on the weather. When my parents go out to drink socially they usually get pitchers of margaritas and shots but they usually drink something before they go out. It just depends who they are going out with. Like if its old friends they drink more and if its the neighbors they don’t have that much. But at family dinners usually everybody has 1 or 2 bottles of wine. And I’m not Italian.</p>
<p>Are you like Italian? Sorry, I just had to kid you about your English skills.</p>
<p>That’s a new wrinkle, mom2college, that social drinker is defined by the intent one has when they consume alcohol.</p>
<p>Yes, eptr, the doctor’s office often is unattentive and/or unclear. On such forms when it asks if I drink, I usually put “like a fish” and if it asks about drugs, I answer “whenever I can get them”. My wise-guy answers have never raised an eyebrow, and no staffer has ever asked me about it. Tells me a lot about the staff.</p>
<p>It tells me more about the question. It’s not that important. I wonder how many people check the alcoholic box.</p>
<p>^^^ True, and the ones who do check alcoholic box are probably the ones who have admitted their problem and are sober.</p>
<p>Someone mentioned that doctors/medical staff always mentally double the amount that people say/admit that they drink. An old doctor’s joke, but considered to be a truer measure of actual consumption.
I always thought that “social drinkers” are people who don’t regularly drink alcohol. But if they are at a social event where just about everyone is drinking alcohol, they will take one or two drinks just to fit it, relax, have something to hold in their hand. They are not total abstainers, but drink alcohol only occasionally and never get drunk. They might not drink any alcohol for months–and then go to three events in one week and have a total of 6 drinks. So it would be hard to describe their average alcohol consumption as “X drinks per week.” On a yearly basis it might be a total of 10-20 drinks, but in clusters. I would call them “occasional light drinkers” rather than “social drinkers.” I see that another interpretation of “social drinker” is just “drinking with friends.” Could be every other night, 10-20 drinks per week, not per year! Obviously, there should be a more exact measure for medical history forms. I looked up definitions of “social drinker”–Here’s one:
. . .* Only drink occasionally.
- Do not feel the need to drink alcohol in order to have a good time.
- Never get into trouble because of alcohol.
- Don’t do or say things they regret while drinking.
- Do not spend a lot of time thinking about alcohol.
- Feel no need to control their intake. Such individuals never drink enough to worry about having to cut back.</p>
<p>I don’t much like the taste of alcohol, but do drink occasionally. It just occurred to me that I don’t buy alcohol. For example, if I go to an event and there is an open bar or wine at the table, champagne passed around, I will have one drink. Cash bar? No thanks! </p>