I haven't touched a drop for the past several years but I probably downed a few lifetimes worth in the 20 or so years before that. It all started off with a few drinks and then rapidly turned into getting smashed more often than not for the weekly Friday or Saturday night party in my late teens. Once I was legally able to hit the clubs, that became a regular thing. I justified it by thinking "it's not like I'm sitting around at home drinking every night or anything, just once or twice or maybe three times a week going out with friends". Then I acquired a taste for wine and justified that with "it's only a couple of glasses a day" (in addition to the weekend outings). The problem with the wine was that I kept switching to larger glasses so I could still tell myself that I was only having 2 glasses a night. Fortunately, I finally just decided that I'd had enough and gave up all of it a few years back. I'm not one of those reformed drinkers that goes around preaching about how bad alcohol is now, everybody knows the dangers and nobody wants to be told what's best for them. I also can't say that I didn't have some good times while drinking because I did. What I can say is that for every time I had one of those magical nights where I was the life of the party, really connected with people, met hot chicks, got laid, etc., there were probably at least 10 times that I spent a ton of money, showed my ass, hurt people I didn't really want to hurt, and spent the following day feeling like warmed-over shit and/or making apology calls. So, for me, looking back, I'd have to conclude that the good times weren't good enough to justify those bad times, not even close. And I was fortunate enough to somehow escape my drinking days without any assault charges, DUI's, or any other sort legal issues like most of my friends from that time period! I still miss the taste of a decent glass of wine with dinner sometimes, especially when everyone else at the table is having it, but then I just decide not to even tempt fate anymore and stick with water or maybe get an occasional soda if I really want to let loose and get all crazy, lol.
On a side note, one of my old going-out buddies from back in my 20's is still hitting the clubs every week! We didn't have any major falling out or anything, and I still consider him a friend, we just don't seem to have too much in common anymore since I quit drinking. The last time I actually had a conversation with this guy a few years ago, he was telling me how he's slowed down quite a bit and only goes out 3 or 4 nights a week now as opposed to the 5 or 6 he was doing before! Now it's one thing to live like that when you're 22 years old but this guy is pushing 50! Anyway, I see the drunken party pics he posts on Facebook every week these days and it just makes me a little sad...
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