Booze

[jmtorres]

Reminiscence about Vividcons past has led me to the conclusion that my definition of pretty much all levels of inebriation from tipsy to wasted is not the same as other people's. My scale is skewed. Or other people's scales are skewed. I think it might be the latter. I would ask people to describe to me what they think of as drunk--not so much the number of drinks it takes to get them there as the physical state they experience--but I reached a level of cynicism where I don't trust drunk people's self-perceptions. Viz, "It's only when I sit still that I get dizzy, if I'm standing or walking I'm okay," sorry to use you as an example, dear, but seriously, you do not stand or walk nearly as well as you seem to think you do when you're in that state. (I'm using you as a distraction to not talk about the particular drunken incident that set off my grumble tonight. I really am sorry!) Someone said something terrifying the other night about under what symptoms of drunkitude they still consider themselves safe to drive, and I have basically sworn off letting anyone, no matter how much more tolerance than me they think they have, drive me anywhere after having even just-one-drink, because clearly our scales of inebriation differ and I am done being trusting that people know their own limits, as we are obviously using "limit" differently. Also davetheinverted, though a teetotaler, is also no longer allowed to be my designated driver because he is playing Gran Turismo 5 on the streets and if nothing else, I prefer my drinks to stay down. So we drink at home, or we take public transit, or we take taxi, or we take our feet, or I'm the designated driver who doesn't drink anything and is not pretending to be a guest star on Top Gear. (I save that impression for when I'm late for work.)

*takes rantypants off*

*falls down in bed*

Comments

[laurajv]

I do think it's different for everyone -- the definition, I mean. I had a friend at university who claimed that there didn't need to be penalties for drunk driving, just reckless driving, because he was a perfectly safe driver when drunk. I was all "..." because WHAT.

My maternal grandfather's rule was that you never drink sitting down, because you'll think you're sober far longer than you are, and by the time you stand up it's too late. My rule is that if my lips get numb, it's time to switch to water until I can feel them again, and I have to have been able to feel them for an hour before I will drive. (It is rules like this that keep Keith Richards alive, people! I have heard that Keith has a rule: he will buy a certain amount of drugs for his bender, and when the drugs are gone, the drugs are gone. No buying more drugs until sobered up. Well, he's still alive.....)

[echan]

My maternal grandfather's rule was that you never drink sitting down, because you'll think you're sober far longer than you are, and by the time you stand up it's too late.

OMG this is so true. Alcohol tolerance really does vary based on the activities you are or aren't doing.

[jmtorres]

Yes and no? You, with the only dizzy when you're sitting.

[jmtorres]

Numbness freaks me out as a description of symptomology! I have never experienced numbness! So I assume that is much drunker than I have ever been.

[echan]

I think it's elfling that has some sort of molar numbness or something like that when she's drunk. You could ask her about it sometime. :)

[jmtorres]

Totally freaked out, do not want to know.

[laurajv]

I don't think it happens to everyone! Most of my friends are quite surprised that I experience it, because they never have. For me it happens before I start slurring my speech or stumbling or anything, so I find it a really useful marker.