Why is drinking alcohol so popular?

Rufus2

Elderlyperson You appear to be a religious person; I'm not! , so apologies for the following.

Jesus and his entourage were at a wedding where they ran out of wine!
So his mother said "Fix it!" and he turned 6 large vases of water, to be used for hand washing into WINE!
You can't get a more ringing endorsement than that!
It all depends on whether you believe in miracles or not!
OooRoo

It was the first recorded miracle Jesus did and he did it because his Mother asked him to.

MawBe

You are seriously overthinking this!
Why do we (some of us) enjoy alcohol? Why chocolate? Why the company of friends? Why listening to music? Why dancing? Why a beautiful view? Why our favourite food? Why stroking the cat/dog?
Because it brings pleasure, releases endorphins, makes us feel warm and relaxed, more cheerful (usually) is associated with company and conviviality - because we like it.
I am not talking about alcohol abuse or heavy drinking or needing that glass at “wine o clock” - but if you don’t enjoy any of the above, don’t do them! A cup of coffee with a friend can bring as much pleasure, a cup of NHS tea is often essential
(childbirth or bad news bring two examples)
But don’t knock i because it’s not for you.
If you as elderly as your name implies, perhaps it is too late to start, but a good single malt, a soft red wine or a glass of champagne might yet convince you otherwise.

I was not knocking it. Freedom of choice for all. It is just that it seems so mainstream that I wondered why.

The answers thus far seem to add up to that it is to reduce stress in public and private and reduces self-consciousness and feeling awkward in company.

I am wondering if a need to "fit in" and "be accepted as one of the in-crowd" is part of it.

I am in my 70s. Is that elderly? for me personally, for some things it is, for some things it isn't, some days it is, some days it isn't.

Not so much too late to start, I could add some to my next grocery delivery if I wanted to, I just do not want to get alcohol into my body.

ElderlyPerson, I think most things have been said here but like other things our tastes do change over time and with exposure. We wouldn't know this if we didn't keep tasting things.

If you tried something once in your teens/twenties and then never again, how would you really know?
They say babies have to try something 10 or more times before they accept it.
We are naturally cautious about new tastes - for good reason, but trying types of alcohol just once is perhaps why you don't like it.

I am not saying that you should keep trying it though! Unless of course it bothers you

Elderlyperson
Perhaps you could explain why you think it is puzzling that drinking alcohol is popular, and I am looking for reasons, other than the fact that you do not like the taste, because everyone has foods and beverage they like and hate.

ElderlyPerson

MawBe

You are seriously overthinking this!
Why do we (some of us) enjoy alcohol? Why chocolate? Why the company of friends? Why listening to music? Why dancing? Why a beautiful view? Why our favourite food? Why stroking the cat/dog?
Because it brings pleasure, releases endorphins, makes us feel warm and relaxed, more cheerful (usually) is associated with company and conviviality - because we like it.
I am not talking about alcohol abuse or heavy drinking or needing that glass at “wine o clock” - but if you don’t enjoy any of the above, don’t do them! A cup of coffee with a friend can bring as much pleasure, a cup of NHS tea is often essential
(childbirth or bad news bring two examples)
But don’t knock i because it’s not for you.
If you as elderly as your name implies, perhaps it is too late to start, but a good single malt, a soft red wine or a glass of champagne might yet convince you otherwise.

I was not knocking it. Freedom of choice for all. It is just that it seems so mainstream that I wondered why.

The answers thus far seem to add up to that it is to reduce stress in public and private and reduces self-consciousness and feeling awkward in company.

I am wondering if a need to "fit in" and "be accepted as one of the in-crowd" is part of it.

I am in my 70s. Is that elderly? for me personally, for some things it is, for some things it isn't, some days it is, some days it isn't.

Not so much too late to start, I could add some to my next grocery delivery if I wanted to, I just do not want to get alcohol into my body.

I am not sure where you got your summary of answers from?
Football seems so mainstream to me but I dislike it and always have....but it doesn't puzzle me why others like it or why its mainstream and I don't waste one second thinking about it

I think this is key in your case ElderlyPerson:

^ I just do not want to get alcohol into my body.^

So presumably you won't.
I don't want meat products to get into my body - so I avoid them.

M0nica

Elderlyperson
Perhaps you could explain why you think it is puzzling that drinking alcohol is popular, and I am looking for reasons, other than the fact that you do not like the taste, because everyone has foods and beverage they like and hate.

It is just something that has puzzled me at times over many years. At the theatre, a bar is provided. At trade exhibitions where people go there from work, a bar is provided. Go to an exhibition stand, be offered a drink - usually there is a large number of bottles of alcoholic drink and one bottle of orange squash. The stand representative who offers a drink and ALWAYS has one himself - so how many does he have in a day?

So when the other day there was another advert for wine at ONLY prices, I just thought I would ask here as people here seem happy to participate in conversations on whatever topics come up.

On the contrary Elderly Person you are knocking it by coming across as faux-naïve in your question
I was not knocking it. Freedom of choice for all. It is just that it seems so mainstream that I wondered why

The answers thus far seem to add up to that it is to reduce stress in public and private and reduces self-consciousness and feeling awkward in company.

I am wondering if a need to "fit in" and "be accepted as one of the in-crowd" is part of it
I just do not want to get alcohol into my body.

I disagree totally with your interpretation of why many people enjoy wine or spirits. Needing to be part of some “in-crowd” is pretty unlikely at our age.
You say you are in your 70’s - really,?
Well your attitude is much more elderly than that! I am 73 and hope that I am more flexible in my attitudes than you seem to be. Perhaps you have led a very sheltered life - to think £4.99 for a bottle of wine is expensive certainly suggests you are out of touch with prices (of anything) these days.
By your age you are old enough to buy, eat, drink, do what you like (within the bounds of common sense) and if you haven’t worked out why some people do what they do, try looking around you and opening your mind.

I enjoy several alcoholic drinks because they taste so good. Cooking with wine can ipart a delicious flavour to a meal minus the alcohol.

NotSpaghetti

I think this is key in your case ElderlyPerson:

^ I just do not want to get alcohol into my body.^

So presumably you won't.
I don't want meat products to get into my body - so I avoid them.

I am vegan. None of what you mention not eating, nor dairy, nor honey, no wearing of wool, no soap with animal products, etc.

Here is a link to the website of The Vegan Society.

www.vegansociety.com

Irrelevant

I am vegan. None of what you mention not eating, nor dairy, nor honey, no wearing of wool,
no soap with animal products, etc

And no alcohol? Jeez! What do you do for fun?

You are vegan Elderlyperson? Do you also wonder why people consume meat, dairy etc and wear woolly jumpers? My answer to your question is that I drink alcohol because it is legal and I like it.

MawBe

On the contrary Elderly Person you are knocking it by coming across as faux-naïve in your question
I was not knocking it. Freedom of choice for all. It is just that it seems so mainstream that I wondered why

The answers thus far seem to add up to that it is to reduce stress in public and private and reduces self-consciousness and feeling awkward in company.

I am wondering if a need to "fit in" and "be accepted as one of the in-crowd" is part of it
I just do not want to get alcohol into my body.

I disagree totally with your interpretation of why many people enjoy wine or spirits. Needing to be part of some “in-crowd” is pretty unlikely at our age.
You say you are in your 70’s - really,?
Well your attitude is much more elderly than that! I am 73 and hope that I am more flexible in my attitudes than you seem to be. Perhaps you have led a very sheltered life - to think £4.99 for a bottle of wine is expensive certainly suggests you are out of touch with prices (of anything) these days.
By your age you are old enough to buy, eat, drink, do what you like (within the bounds of common sense) and if you haven’t worked out why some people do what they do, try looking around you and opening your mind.

I don't find it elderly.....in fact most of the people I know who are my age have learned wisdom through their age and are not judgy......

I think alcohol was probably more popular in historical times, such as the Middle Ages ElderlyPerson, when it was often safer to drink ale than water. Good job you weren’t alive then. I suppose we are lucky these days that we have the luxury to choose to be alcohol free, and a vegan for example.

Anybody referring to me as elderly might find themselves whacked around the head with my Zimmer frame

Elderlyperson - I was giving examples of what I choose not to put into my body and simply equating it to YOU not wanting to put alcohol in yours!
I'm not sure why you have sent links to the vegan society?

I'm a little confused now to be honest. I thought we were just having a discussion.

You are right about a lot of works "dos" though - but the last two exhibition previews I went to were actually soft drinks only - out of consideration to people of certain faith groups.

Parsley3

You are vegan Elderlyperson? Do you also wonder why people consume meat, dairy etc and wear woolly jumpers? My answer to your question is that I drink alcohol because it is legal and I like it.

Yes, I am vegan.

I learned about being vegan in the late 1990s and I thought it a wonderful peaceful spiritual thing to be a vegan.

I have never regretted becoming a vegan. Being a vegan is now an integral part of who I am.

MawBe

Anybody referring to me as elderly might find themselves whacked around the head with my Zimmer frame

I love a glass of red wine in the evening,i only started drinking 8 years ago i can`t remember what the occasion was.
I know lots of people who don`t drink only because they prefer soft drinks or it`s their religion and they are not allowed to.
Either way,each to their own.
Cheers.

NotSpaghetti

Elderlyperson - I was giving examples of what I choose not to put into my body and simply equating it to YOU not wanting to put alcohol in yours!
I'm not sure why you have sent links to the vegan society?

I'm a little confused now to be honest. I thought we were just having a discussion.

You are right about a lot of works "dos" though - but the last two exhibition previews I went to were actually soft drinks only - out of consideration to people of certain faith groups.

As you had introduced not eating the item you mentioned into the conversation, I mentioned that I am vegan. Maybe you are vegan, or maybe you are only vegetarian.

I put in the link because as you mentioned not eating the item you mentioned, I thought that some readers might like the link.

As they used to say in the TV drama series LA Law "You opened the door".

Can we look forward to future threads
Why do some people eat meat/fish/dairy?
Why do some people wear leather shoes?

And is there honey still for tea?

MawBe

Can we look forward to future threads
Why do some people eat meat/fish/dairy?
Why do some people wear leather shoes?

And is there honey still for tea?

did you know that honey isn't vegan? Neither are some advocado pears or other fruits/veg's where bee hives are moved around to pollinate the crop....don't you just LOVE QI?

greenlady102

MawBe

Can we look forward to future threads
Why do some people eat meat/fish/dairy?
Why do some people wear leather shoes?

And is there honey still for tea?

did you know that honey isn't vegan? Neither are some advocado pears or other fruits/veg's where bee hives are moved around to pollinate the crop....don't you just LOVE QI?

Of course greenlady that was why I included it.

MawBe

Can we look forward to future threads
Why do some people eat meat/fish/dairy?
Why do some people wear leather shoes?

And is there honey still for tea?

Not from me.

For me, being vegan is an inner spiritual thing,