Comments on: The Tie That Binds: Do We Need Alcohol to Connect On the Road?

By: Johnny

Johnny — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 08:32:23 +0000

To Turner’s comment…

Not trying to start an argument here but I disagree with what you said. There is no “invisible line” when you turn down a drink. There’s only you and taking your own actions. So what if they think they think you got a problem. If its for your health then why not turn it down. If they’re really you’re “boys” as you say then they wouldn’t have any problems with you turning down a drink. Simple as that. Again, there’s no moral superiority here. You know that drinks don’t make you a better person then why bother with them.

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By: Jasmine Wanders

Jasmine Wanders — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:40:54 +0000

I haven’t had a drink for 5 years, and I traveled for 2 years. I love going out to clubs and bars, and most people don’t seem to notice I’m not drinking. All of the people I’ve met traveling that I’ve kept in contact with I’ve met in a guesthouse, on a bus, et cetera, and then go out with them afterward. I don’t recall meeting anyone that’s remained in my life long-term at a bar while I’ve been traveling.

Not only that, but I save a ton of money from not drinking. I may buy one Red Bull (or its equivalent) when I go out and that’s it. I get to travel longer and have to save less than my drinking counterparts. My non drinking hasn’t been a hindrance so far, and I don’t think my stories are any more or less boring than someone who does drink. I lived a crazy life before my decision to stop drinking, and I think I’m more entertaining now

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By: starr

starr — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:33:21 +0000

“Need it to have fun” and “enjoy it a lot” are not the same thing. Some people think that beer tastes really good and enjoy all the different types and flavors.

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By: Benny the Irish polyglot

Benny the Irish polyglot — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:03:01 +0000

I wrote precisely about why I don’t need to drink as I travel, in particular when I am speaking foreign languages.
Alcohol is completely unnecessary for socialising. The PUB is necessary, simply as a way of gathering people interested in socialising in one place. Throwing some liquid down your throat just because everyone else is, is not being social. The parts between the drinks; the actual talking, is the social part.
I had a look at your “alcohol abstainers at a higher risk of depression” link and was amazed at the huge jump in logic that it seems to be treating as incidental. It’s the same logic used to make people think that life without the glass of wine is unhealthy. The most important part of that article is that “some abstainers were formerly heavy drinkers”, some people don’t drink because they medically can’t, or because they take much heavier drugs, or because they simply can’t afford to – which can all lead to depression, that has nothing to do with the reasons the article is implying that lead to depression. Simply not ever starting to drink and learning how to be social naturally is surely a better alternative. It’s a psychological problem. Frankly, despite the fact that alcohol clearly has mind altering effects, it’s a placebo in terms of being a “social lubricant” for some people. If they didn’t wait for beer’s permission to have fun, they could do it! It’s definitely harder at first, but it’s a mental barrier that you could get over with some work, and getting a pint is a quick solution rather than dealing with social awkwardness head on.
I go out several times a week, am the first person on the dance floor and the first to sing at karaokes and I run on nothing but orange juice. To this day nobody has explained to me why I would want to throw away money, my ability to think clearly and my liver just so I can be another sheep and do what everyone else does…
Sadly I have to lie and tell people that I’ve already got a drink “waiting for me”, rather than pointlessly try to convince them that some of us don’t need beer’s permission to have fun. When I’m out and having lots of fun, people presume that I needed drink to reach that stage, and I prefer to avoid the discussion when I’m out. I wonder what all of these people do during the rest of the week! I find it a depressing thought that I could only have fun once or twice a week and only at night time… (or all week long and be an alcoholic)

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By: Candice

Candice — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:15:55 +0000

I’m a little taken aback by the condescending attitude towards drinkers here. I’m a drinker myself, but I have dozens of friends who are non-drinkers and it’s never been an issue between us. Sure some alcoholics are idiots, but they’re the kinda people you just ignore and they’ll be too drunk to remember your disagreement later anyway.

Personally, a city’s nightlife is my most favorite part of travel. I love seeing a city or town come alive at night, I feel that that the atmosphere entirely shifts in the later evening when people come out to have a carefree, good time. Plus, at most nightclubs, bars and pubs I’ve visited, there’s a great mix of both expats and locals. Myself, and friends I’ve travelled with, have never let a hangover or a boozefest stop us from getting out and continuing our travels the next day, and we certainly don’t consider our money “wasted”.

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By: Ernesto

Ernesto — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:03:57 +0000

I find alcohol unnecessary. Being straight-edge at home means I’m always the designated driver. On the road, it becomes a social handicap, because most travelers drink and a lot smoke. For many travelers, an evening drink at the bar seems to be more important than a morning stroll thru town.

Luckily, I don’t travel to meet other travelers. I travel to meet locals. And, during my travels, I’ve found locals to be much more understanding (of my desire to avoid alcohol) than travelers.

I’m glad I’m straightedge because it means I have more time, money and energy to devote to the actual “traveling” part.

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By: Fresh Airfares

Fresh Airfares — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:38:46 +0000

Caffeine is a great social lubricant too, I’ve met some cool people in coffee shops, including a Starbucks in Kyoto.

When you’re solo on the road, there is a bigger need to make connections and alcohol (social lubricant) helps.

If you’re traveling with friends or family then you already have that human connection, and there is less need to seek it.

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By: Carlo Alcos

Carlo Alcos — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:10:45 +0000

I wouldn’t call everyone who enjoys a drink or two a “drunk”. There are many who handle their drinking very responsibly, who might only want/need one or two drinks to loosen up a bit. They don’t “need help”.

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By: Carlo Alcos

Carlo Alcos — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:17:23 +0000

It was always a commonality between my friends growing up. Since I started traveling more later in life – when I drink much less – I haven’t really thought about it in a traveling sense, but for me alcohol definitely breaks down the barriers and makes it much easier to socialize. I responded to this article at my blog, if you’re interested.

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By: Christine Garvin

Christine Garvin — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:11:37 +0000

Thanks for your comments, everyone. Turner’s comment reminded me of the time period in my 20s when I couldn’t drink (which interestingly enough, I didn’t recall when I was writing this up). On and off for a good 4 years, I didn’t touch it at all because I was sick, and abstaining from alcohol (among other things) was part of the get-better protocol. It was one of the hardest times socially in my life. Explaining why I wasn’t drinking (or eating certain foods) definitely strikes at other people’s comfort zones, as well as my own.

I had been drinking since I was in high school, not over the top, but definitely used it as a way to make myself comfortable in large crowds. Really, it’s only been in the past two years that I’ve realized I hate big large crowds of people at things like concerts, etc., so alcohol really helped. Now, I can drink alcohol again, but that time off taught me a lot about myself, and I am much more aware of the “why” (enjoying wine at a dinner or a party with new or old friends, or wanting a vodka tonic because of feeling extremely uncomfortable and wanting that feeling to go away?).

Also as I have become more comfortable with me, I recognize less of a need to find the bar as soon as I walk in the door of a club (or party, or event, or [insert here]).

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