Women and alcohol

I know the concern you must have Mellow. I watched my mother worry about my twin sisters and their 'over indulgences'. It's very frustrating for loved ones watching on if things get out of control. I can't begin to tell you some of the things I witnessed while growing up as the disease of alcoholism consumed both my sisters:cry:
 

MrPants said:
Often women (or men) who drink too much have a disease called alcoholism. It's not a choice, it's a disease.
Would you make the same comment about a woman with an eating disorder who was overweight because of it?

I know the concern you must have Mellow. I watched my mother worry about my twin sisters and their 'over indulgences'. It's very frustrating for loved ones watching on if things get out of control. I can't begin to tell you some of the things I witnessed while growing up as the disease of alcoholism consumed both my sisters:cry:
Click to expand...

Well said Mr Pants!
 
Viewing the stats in the opening post, 2% doesn't sound that bad, does it?
Of course, even one woman in the throws of alcoholism is sad.
What is the percentage for men?
 
I'm surprised that any country can beat Russia, and that nation is Australia! which surprises me too.

Tommy Smothers' take on Russia and alcoholism: Too much wodka makes you womit!
 
@mellowyellow Understand your concerns for your 'girls'. Hope you can find a way to talk to them about it that still keeps lines of communications open.

As to the numbers given i have a lot of questions. How did they arrive at that figure? People arrested for driving drunk? Self-report (notoriously bad info--more people claim a positive behavior and deny a negative one than actually do whatever in reality), AA groups? Did they count 'binge' or just daily drinkers? Even if you just get blotto on weekends or once a month or a few times a year, if you can't resist the urge to drink or refrain from some activity that encourages it (clubbing, parties at private homes, throwing a self-pity party by your lonesome) you still have issues with alcohol.

Alcohol indeed is a common, because legal and comparatively cheap compared to the illegal drugs, self-medication. (Tho if you 'gotta have it'--even a high end wine, whiskey, rum, liquor 'addiction' still counts as alcoholism.) But alcohol is more addictive to some than to others, and that probably has to do with differences in their bodies/brains. What is more there have been studies that showed that many people use alcohol as an excuse for behaviors they don't allow themselves when sober. For those it may actually be more psychologically addictive than physical and with motivation and effort they could learn to drink in moderation or refrain entirely.

i've seen most every form alcoholism within my family from my Irish Granny to my kids (Boys got double whammy of any genetic component--between paternal Grandma, my Mom, and their Dad. i 'flirted' with it in my youth, But ultimately decided i was in charge. i can have a beer or a shot on the rare occasions i want one without then having to have a string of them. Both of my sons the same, tho they both had to go thru hangovers (more for one than the other) to decide they needed to control it not vice versa. My daughter, for a variety of reasons including some alcoholics on both sides of her family tried wine coolers when she came of age, and never wanted them or any other alcohol again. She's even careful about OTC pain killers because she's so concerned she might become 'addicted'.
 
When you have 1 or 2 drinks max. you might be funny! If you have too much you become a big bore. You slur your words and you keep repeating the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over. I speak from experience from my younger days (No, it wasn't me; thank god).
 

Attachments

  • Drunk Man.jpg
    Drunk Man.jpg
    31.4 KB · Views: 0
You have to understand our culture of drinking alcohol, it’s everywhere, at every occasion, a dinner party without alcohol would never happen, when people meet, they drink. Because my girls have an active social life, it’s ongoing and as time passes, the habit could eventually cause problems. I haven't broached the problem because I'm a big chicken.

I should have included a source: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/alcoholism-by-country
 
Last edited:
mellowyellow said:
You have to understand our culture of drinking alcohol, it’s everywhere, at every occasion, a dinner party without alcohol would never happen, when people meet, they drink. Because my girls have an active social life, it’s ongoing and as time passes, the habit could eventually cause problems. I haven't broached the problem because I'm a big chicken.

I should have included a source: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/alcoholism-by-country
Click to expand...
i've heard it's even worse in Australia than in Eastern European countries. My first step Dad was a Hungarian refugee after the 1956 problems with USSR. i started drinking dark beers, and expresso coffee with dinner at 13 yrs old. But it was always in a protected environment and i learned where the line between 'pleasant buzz' and 'drunk' was before i was of age and going out and drinking. Fortunate that way.

Well, i hope your girls stay safe and never have any serious repercussions from it.
My kids and i established a two way openess of expressing concerns while they were still teenagers and it has allowed us to discuss anything bothering any of us. Totally get how worrying it can be.
 
Packerjohn said:
When you have 1 or 2 drinks max. you might be funny! If you have too much you become a big bore. You slur your words and you keep repeating the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over. I speak from experience from my younger days (No, it wasn't me; thank god).
Click to expand...
That's not necessarily true, that is not true, i don't do that, that is not true, i don't do that, who says, i don't do that, who says, not true🥺
 
Lara said:
...the thread quickly headed down the rabbit hole separating the boys from the gentlemen.

It's clear now who would rather forgive men and and insult women for the same sin-turned-sickness. This is "highly relevant" for female SF members to know who we're "keeping company with" in Discussions.

My advice to him is to just come clean and apologize to the women here for his "disgusting" (his word) remarks against women. I would be the first to forgive him if he's sincere.
Click to expand...
Doubt that you or any other female will get an apology, sincere or otherwise, from a misogynist. I was quite miffed that none of the ladies here had voiced an issue with some of the posts made in this thread. Some were quite demeaning from a female perspective and disturbing to the people who care about them IMO.
I applaud you for standing up for the women on this site Laura! 👏👏👏
 
This is an interesting thread, not sure where to begin.

The OP's point was that alcoholism (assuming that's the same as an "alcohol use disorder") rates are high, Australia at the top of the list. However it doesn't seem to me there is a lot of spread from #1 to #10, all around 2%. To be honest I am surprised its that low, I believe in my life more than 2% of the people I know would be classified as alcoholics. Guess it depends on how you measure or count it. I would also guess the numbers are very similar for men, maybe higher. Anyway you look at it the numbers are high, a real problem.

I do believe alcoholism and other addictions such as eating compulsively are diseases. If you define diseases to include genetic things. I suspect much of the drive is genetic, environment of course modifies that to some extent. I can speak to eating disorders with a bit more experience, I have one. I once weighed 360 lbs, now I am about 175. I struggle everyday to keep binges and weight gain at bay, left to my own devices I would be well over that 360 today. I believe it is an inherited trait that we all have to some extent, we evolved in an environment of chronic food shortages. Eating everything we could get our hands on was smart for most of human existence. Like all traits some have more than others and I and others like me have a better developed drive to eat all the time. I think that is a "disease" for a modern western person. I am no expert but I suspect other additions are similar.

One thing about these addictions and compulsions I do believe we are responsible for our own behavior, even if we have a disease. An alcoholic is responsible for making sure they don't drive or hurt others when drunk. If they fail in that responsibility I believe they should be punished appropriately, the alcoholism should not be a legal defense.

As to who is most obnoxious when drunk, I have noticed that most anyone gets obnoxious when drunk, some more than others, men and women alike. I am the exception however, I never notice myself getting obnoxious when drinking, I think I just get wittier and wiser. Not sure others around me would agree however...
 
Lara said:
Viewing the stats in the opening post, 2% doesn't sound that bad, does it?
Of course, even one woman in the throws of alcoholism is sad.
What is the percentage for men?
Click to expand...
Lara, you can check the stats out in the following link. Just click on the map for each country and the stats show up...
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/alcoholism-by-country

In the United States - Male: 5.48%, Female: 1.92%
In Australia - Male: 6.17%, Female: 2.61%
In Russia - Male: 16.29%, Female: 2.58%
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top