The post to which I was responding called alcohol "evil". It's not a big step to draw the inference that the poster is at least tacitly implying that the use of alcohol is therefore wrong.

Admittedly the misuse of alcohol causes tremendous harm. However, there are clear benefits to the responsible use of alcohol. Thus, IMHO, alcohol is not evil.

Rather it's proof there is a God, and that he wants us to be happy.

Alcohol is an industrial solvent, do people on this planet really DRINK it?

Water is also an industrial solvent, and I assure you people on the this planet also drink that.

It rains water and you die without it, alcohol kills you and you live without it.

wow, i had no idea this was such a divisive issue when i made this thread. i chose to take it easy because i enjoy drinking ALOT. so im probably one of those people who probably should quit for good reasons. so don't rub anybody's nose in whatever choice you've made, i just wondered how quitting worked out for those that chose to. so if you are good with have a few drinks, excellent, im jealous (really). but if you have given up the hooch for awhile, or for good, thats who id like to hear from.

aspirin? or just certain chemicals per gubbamint recommendation?

To be clear, I'm not criticizing anyone else's choice in this regard. Don't drink and drive, and I don't care whether you drink or not.

But the view that alcohol kills, or that alcohol is evil, ignores the positive effects that responsible use can have.

Actually Noah Sweat put it best:

My friends, I had not intended to discuss this controversial subject at this particular time. However, I want you to know that I do not shun controversy. On the contrary, I will take a stand on any issue at any time, regardless of how fraught with controversy it might be. You have asked me how I feel about whiskey. All right, here is how I feel about whiskey:
If when you say whiskey you mean the devil's brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster, that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty, yea, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children; if you mean the evil drink that topples the Christian man and woman from the pinnacle of righteous, gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, and despair, and shame and helplessness, and hopelessness, then certainly I am against it.

But, if when you say whiskey you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine, the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips, and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean Christmas cheer; if you mean the stimulating drink that puts the spring in the old gentleman's step on a frosty, crispy morning; if you mean the drink which enables a man to magnify his joy, and his happiness, and to forget, if only for a little while, life's great tragedies, and heartaches, and sorrows; if you mean that drink, the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of dollars, which are used to provide tender care for our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitiful aged and infirm; to build highways and hospitals and schools, then certainly I am for it.

This is my stand. I will not retreat from it. I will not compromise

I'm all for toppling christian women from the pinnacle of righteousness and lying with them in the bottomless pit of degradation and despair. That's just plain good fun. Pass the whiskey!

"This thread and all of it's self-rightousness makes me want to drink."

Right. And this thread isn't one big pat on the back for how much $$$ you allegedly save, weight you supposedly lose, and how much healthier and awesome non-drinkers think they are?

With respect to any sort of judgemental attitude towards non-drinkers, the only group I've ever been critical of is the straight-edge hc folks' for all their dogmatic rhetoric. Other than that, please continue doing what works best for you.

nothing at all

ya, alcohol is just like weed

I only drink during the months of November thru mid-January. After the winter, I don't really have a taste for fermented beverages of any kind.

Even during those months, I only drink moderately...

Love these threads. Over two years now, no drinking. The benefits are difficult to understand unless you have made the conscious decision to abstain, not just quit for a while. After half my life drinking, it took over six months to get it all out of my system and fully realize how much better riding was. Not preaching, just imparting my experience.

EDIT: Reading past page one and as I guessed, threads like this always turn into finger-pointing, judgement-filled affairs where pot is almost always introduced for no relevant reason. *sigh*

I feel your pain, Machka. You are not self-righteous, that is a projection from those who think they are being judged by your abstinence. Over the internet and across oceans, to boot.

Alcohol is proof there is a God? lol :):)

No. Neither are really any good for you, it's just that the abuse of one is way worse than the abuse of the other...Alcohol causes people to become loud, overtly emotional, and combative.

Marijuana, has more of a calming affect. However it wreaks havoc on your respiratory system and it is more carcinogenic than tobacco, if smoked in similar quantities.

Tobacco is bad too!

If you really want to experience the all time high of a lifetime, just go touring!

See the studies in post 60. Whole lot of evidence that moderate consumption of alcohol is in fact good for you.

In fact the effect is so strong, that on a population basis, the positive effect for moderate drinkers outeighs the harm from abuse.

On a side note, Minor Threat (straight edge) is best listened to while drinking.

Each has their own belief system. Some drink, some don't. There are those who believe in moderation and there are those who take things to the extreme on both ends.

Then you have those that believe they have the superior belief system and that those who do not believe as they do, need to be eradicated.

I usually have a beer or two at breakfast time but that's about it.

Start a thread about helmets, riding with head/earphones and such. Go ahead...I dare ya...heck, I double dog dare ya! :roflmao:

after the shower scotch.

A wise man said:
"Everything is poison and nothing is without poison".

It all comes down to merit and knowing one's limits, like in everything else a man does.

P.S. On nice occasions with good friends it feels great to get drunk or high. I do it from time to time and have never regreated it.

There really aren't a lot of drinkers here....

Until just recently I've been a bit of a heavy drinker with a handful of beers each night (mostly draft, craft beers) and even just in the last week where I transitioned to a vodka or two in lieu (har har, funny funny) I lost a few pounds and generally feel better. That being said I think I have a finite time before I'll have to reintroduce the beers. Mmm..IPA's :)

I was never much of a drinker until I discovered a taste for nice beers. Now it's a bit of a second hobby, discovering new and interesting sorts.

I don't like to get drunk though, and they have way too many calories for anything but occasional consumption.

It's my opinion alone that it is evil, clearly.

That "growing evidence that consumption of alcohol makes you live longer" is relating to a very small amount per day; not the amount consumed by the average person in this day and age.

I.E, this from your little list. An Italian study of 1,536 men aged 45-65 found that about two years of life were gained by moderate drinkers (1-4 drinks per day) in comparison with occasional and heavy drinkers.21

Truth.

And you think the positive effects outweigh the negative effects of alcohol in society?

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. A Ben Franklin quote, who most would agree was a wise chap :thumb:

Being evil implies intent. Alcohol (ethanol in this case) is just a substance. It can't exhibit any thought, experience emotions, or have an intent. It may potentate "evil" behavior when consumed by people, but it doesn't know that.