This may sound ridiculous, but I started wondering today what "normal" drinking feels like to non-alcoholics. And what I mean by that is I wonder what it feels like, internally, to order one drink, finish it, enjoy a very light buzz, and then think no more about it. (The fact that I wonder this affirms that I needed to get sober.) I wondered if, for me, it would be like the equivalent to eating a piece of chocolate cake. I like chocolate cake. It makes me feel good inside and I very much enjoy sharing a slice with friends, but I don't eat one piece and then feel the desire to finish the entire cake, do so, and then wake up hating myself for lack of self control. Is that what "normal" drinking feels like to folks? I didn't drink until I was in college, but when I did I knew right away that I enjoyed the feeling way too much. Just a silly sober thought.
-- Edited by AdamMoz on Tuesday 17th of June 2014 09:15:22 PM
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Since I am not a normal drinker, I don't know.
I do know that since being sober, I have eaten a slice of chocolate cake and then another and then another. I am now learning to control my desire for cake, and other sweets.
I was just having that same conversation with another AA'er tonight after my meeting.
I wondered if, for me, it would be like the equivalent to eating a piece of chocolate cake. I like chocolate cake.
-- Edited by AdamMoz on Tuesday 17th of June 2014 09:15:22 PM
I remember an old sponsor of mine saying that he thought non-alcoholic people probably thought about alcohol the same way he thought about tomatoes. He liked them. But he really had no idea when exactly was the last time he had one. And he would probably have one again at some time in the near future, but he didn't spend all day at work wondering when he was going to be able to get the next one. Nor did he hide tomatoes around the house to make sure he didn't run out of them, or make the rounds at four different grocery stores to buy them, in order to avoid the possibility of a store clerk noticing how often he bought tomatoes....
I never experienced it, outside of being repulsed by the first taste of beer or vodka at a single digit age. "normal drinking" as it were, includes mostly Not drinking. Wrap your head around that. That's what we do, Not drink. So in essence we Are Normal drinkers by virtue of abstaining
My partner is one of those "normies." He drinks less than 1 x a month and it is never more than 2 drinks. He wanted me to drive home a few weeks ago cuz he had like 2 drinks and the sick alcoholic part of me was like "WTF! 2 Drinks and you can't drive?! You need to have at least 20 to make driving impossible!" I also tell him he needs to get a new white chip every time he drinks and to keep coming back and stuff. He actually made it to like 3 months without drinking once...you know...without even trying of course. Imagining "normal" drinking is kind of futile for me. It would be like imagining if I had 4 arms or something or if I was born green.
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I'm glad to hear the tomatoes are in the crisper Tom....And not in the bottom of your golf bag. Normal drinker? I can honestly say...I don't remember ever having only one beer.
Normal folks have 3 options:
1) Don't drink (and don't care)
2) Have a beer after work then go home for dinner with wife & family.
3) Maybe have "one-too-many" for New Years etc on a special occasion then not do it again for a long time.
I only have 2 options (and I am so glad to know this today !!)
1) Stay sober
2) Stay drunk
For me to wonder what a normal drinker feels like is about the same as me wondering what it would be like to be a girl. In the end I have no idea ....
This may sound ridiculous, but I started wondering today what "normal" drinking feels like to non-alcoholics. And what I mean by that is I wonder what it feels like, internally, to order one drink, finish it, enjoy a very light buzz, and then think no more about it. (The fact that I wonder this affirms that I needed to get sober.)
Just a silly sober thought.
-- Edited by AdamMoz on Tuesday 17th of June 2014 09:15:22 PM
I wondered about this too, for a long time ... I asked my wife once, how can you have one and a half glasses of wine ??? (when we had company over for dinner)
She said I start to 'feel it' ... I said feel what??? ... she said 'funny' inside ... I said so?, don't you like that feeling??? ... she said , oh no, it makes me feel like I loosing control ... ... ... I said, DAMN, how do you do that ??? ... ... ... Yep, my butt belongs right here, for sure!!!
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Remember when we first got here... that joke, that one of us posted - I think you... "If I were a normal drinker... I'd drink all day!" LOLOL. I just had that thought FOR REAL yesterday. LOL. I busted out laughing at my silly brain!
I asked my wife this question and she would say that her intent would be to have one drink because it would taste good with a particular food or it felt relaxing. Anything more would make her sick or give her a headache. Me, on the other hand, would take my reason for a drink to a new twisted level. It may start out with a compliment to food but it always had to do with the feeling/justification of more. It's the weekend, it's almost the weekend, it's a celebration, I'm up, I'm down. With the certain buzz obtained and any common sense dulled then it was, "just keep em coming".
Great post and some funny replies! Love it- we Alcoholics all think alike. I was the one who go to a dinner party and couldn't understand why others would be willing to leave a half a beer on the table for the poor Waitress. Seemed inconsiderate to me. So, I was the last to leave and made sure I emptied the glasses to ligthen her load.
What's with these new re-sealable bottles? Why would anyone in there right mind open a beer, drink half and put the rest in the refrigerator? Yes, I'm an Alcoholic.
So, I was the last to leave and made sure I emptied the glasses to ligthen her load. 
Yes, I'm an Alcoholic.