[LUconn]

From what I've read over the last couple of years, we have some drinkers on the board. Which is an interesting dichotomy since most of us are students or alumn of a school that is famous for outlawing this substance. So let's argue. What's everybody's thoughts on drinking?

[SuperJon]

I think it's ok under the following conditions:

a) You're of legal age of where you're at
b) It is in moderation
c) You are not employed by an organization that it's against the rules (Liberty is an example)
d) You don't go to school where it's against the rules


If you're cool on all of those, I don't have a problem with it.


With that being said, I've never drank.

[adam42381]

I think it's ok under the following conditions:

a) You're of legal age of where you're at
b) It is in moderation
c) You are not employed by an organization that it's against the rules (Liberty is an example)
d) You don't go to school where it's against the rules


If you're cool on all of those, I don't have a problem with it.

That's basically where I stand as well. For the most part, we're all adults here. I like to knock a few back from time to time with the boys. Good clean fun.

[vastrightwinger]

Well Said! I too enjoy the occasional brew.

[kel varson]

Prohibition baby! If you booze you loose. That being said, Nyquil is the way to go.

[jcmanson]

I don't drink, never plan to drink, but I don't look down on anyone that does. Although I do believe getting drunk is wrong.

It's just never been a thing I wanted to do.

[4everfsu]

I am totally aganist drinking, I never have drunk or will. I don't care to hang around people who do drink

[SuperJon]

I've never drank simply because I know my personality. I know that once I started drinking, if I liked it, I'd keep doing it, and I don't want to. I also had to lead a prayer circle in front of 300 kids my junior year in high school after six kids died because of drunk driving. I just don't see the point in it. If others do, good for them, but I'm not a big fan.

(Edit: Post #14,000)

[Purple Haize]

Sambuca Baby....... Oh wait.......

[belcherboy]

I work at a Baptist church, so I have volunteered in abstaining from alcohol due to my employment (I have agreed not to consume alcoholic beverages). I was dating a girl recently that would drink on occasion. As we dated for a few weeks, she brought the subject up. IMO I really don't care, but I went the route of it being wrong, just to see how she would react (obviously if things would have gone well enough to consider marriage, she would have to be willing to give it up while I was employed at my current church and I wanted to see how she would react). She gave all sorts of good reasons that most Christians give for why social drinking is OK. I basically told her she only liked to drink because she liked the drug alcohol. She obviously didn't like hearing that. I continued to tell her they have non alcoholic beer/wine/whatever if you actually like the taste. I recommended she drink that from now on if she liked the taste. When all was said and done, it was obvious she like the buzz that alcoholic beverages bring. The relaxation that the drug of that those beverages create. If someone wants to drink or smoke, and is of age, it is all on them. I think it is good to know they do those things because they want the affects of the drug that are in those products. Just my two cents. I'm sure there are other acceptable drugs that could be thrown into that argument, but none carry the destruction that those products bring socially and physically.

[SuperJon]

Let me just state the, for the record, I'm surprised this has gone 8 posts without starting a fight, and I hope it stays that way.

[adam42381]

I for one would have to put you to task on this one. Granted, there are non-alcoholic beers available. Have you ever had one? They are absolutely horrible. I tend to drink decent quality beers instead of the cheap swill that passes for beer in America, i.e. Bud, Miller, Coors. I'll stick to Sierra Nevada or Sam Adams or Red Oak here in NC. There's a huge difference. Maybe she does actually like the buzz of alcohol. I would rather not drink a beer at all than try to stomach O'Doulls or whatever.

[blwall1416]

A local pastor here preached a great message about alcohol & the Bible. Some excerpts:

"Two different kinds of cup in the OT. Cup of blessing & cup of cursing...wine is a perfect metaphor because it represents both God's blessing and wrath: Wine can be bitter or sweet; it can cheer or mock; it can be smooth or biting."

"The fact that wine is celebrated means that far from being forbidden in the OT, or even merely tolerated, wine is a drink of choice...Dt. 7:13, Is. 25:6, Ps. 4:7......Please note in Hebrew (new) wine is distinguished from grape juice...Numbers 6:3 shows the Nazirite vow & uses wine (yayin), strong drink (shekar), & grape juice (enab mishrah). (Gen. 40:11 says grape squeezed into a cup, does not use yayin). The clear implication is that any one who has not taken this vow may enjoy these things."

"Sin is dehumanizing as drunkenness. People choose to sin even as they choose to get drunk; therefore, the soul that chooses sin over God is as foolish as a drunk. When we drink of God's wrath in judgment, we experience the ultimate disintegration of our humanity."

"God gives us something that can be abused; but it's true with many things: authority, sex, sleep, words, food, work, etc. To forbid the use of something God gives is legalism, binding the conscience where God has not. To play it safe & abstain where God has freed us, is to have higher ethics than God."

"The Bible warns about slavery to alcohol...Is. 5:11, 1 Cor. 6:10, Eph. 5:18...Notice the verse makes the quantity of wine consumed a wisdom issue. So is the cicumstance under which wine is used...Prov. 23:29, Prov. 23:20, Prov. 31:4, Lev. 10:9...(notice each of these, wine drinking itself is assumed & not unlawful; by implication you are free to use under other circumstances).

"In Mat. 11:19, Jesus is accused of being a glutton & a drunkard."

"1 Tim. 3:8 says a church officer must "not be addicted to much wine." Why addicted if it's so watered down?"

"The Baptist Confession of 1689 stipulates the use of wine in the Lord's Supper, consistent with the practice of the Christian church until the temperance movement of the late 1800s when Dr. Thomas Welch invented Welch's Grape juice."

[belcherboy]

I for one would have to put you to task on this one. Granted, there are non-alcoholic beers available. Have you ever had one? They are absolutely horrible. I tend to drink decent quality beers instead of the cheap swill that passes for beer in America, i.e. Bud, Miller, Coors. I'll stick to Sierra Nevada or Sam Adams or Red Oak here in NC. There's a huge difference. Maybe she does actually like the buzz of alcohol. I would rather not drink a beer at all than try to stomach O'Doulls or whatever.

I probably should have stated that I have been served and over-served in my life (some of that time was while attending Liberty). Of course, drinking Milwaukee's Best (the beast) and Coors tends to make you bitter at the option of drinking beer. I hated beer, and rarely drank it (unless we were bonging it). I enjoyed Vodka and tonics, Jungle Juice, and beverages that masked the taste of alcohol when I drank. In my experience, I drank solely for the buzz as I couldn't stand the taste. I believe if most people were honest, they drink for the drug of alcohol. I can honestly say there is not a beverage I crave in my life. I'm different that 70% of American adults that drink coffee everyday. I like coffee, but I could go weeks without it and not even realize it. That is probably why I don't understand how someone craves beer. Again, I have no problem with them enjoying whenever they want. I just think if we got down to the reality of it all, people drink beer/alcohol for a the feeling that it brings to their body (relaxation, calmness, numbness, etc.). I think that is a large part of the taste that some many people claim to crave.

Edit.....I wanted to say that I was WRONG when I did drink. I broke Liberty's rules, and was underage for most of that time. I was also drunk on more than a few occasions which was wrong as well. I didn't want to make the top sound as if I was glamorizing what I did. I hope it didn't come across that way.

[belcherboy]

"The Baptist Confession of 1689 stipulates the use of wine in the Lord's Supper, consistent with the practice of the Christian church until the temperance movement of the late 1800s when Dr. Thomas Welch invented Welch's Grape juice."

This is what I believe the difference is from the Old Testament/New Testament and today. We have options. Back in the day it was wine and (if they could find clean) water. Wine was probably the safest drink as you could leave it for long periods of time that would make water contaminated if left alone. We now have safe drinking water, and tons of other options that taste better than their alcohol competitors.

I just can't think of any good reason to drink alcohol (outside of the fact that it can make you feel pretty good).

[whmatthews]

I've learned in my life experience that if you have to rationalize why something is ok., then generally it's not ok. Here's why I don't drink... Most non-Christian's who I know or have seen will see a believer drinking socially and label them a hypocrite for drinking, so if I choose not to drink when everybody else in the world does, I'm setting an example as a Christian who's life is different from others.

[jmdickens]

I tried crown royal and fell in love.....well until I saw the price.

beer taste awful

I think it is personal preference.....

After spending so much time in Texas, my opinion changed because even the pastor was drinking.

Also, I got a chance to witness to someone in a bar and it turned out great!![/i]

[belcherboy]

Also, I got a chance to witness to someone in a bar and it turned out great!![/i]

Please don't take this the wrong way, because this is just the first thing that popped into my head. Just throwing it out. Do you think God used an alcoholic beverage to give you a witnessing opportunity? (I know I'm weird, but that is how my mind works sometimes )

I'm going to chew on this at church tonight and come back to see your response. (I'm not really conservative on this issue, by the way...although I grew up differently)

[ATrain]

I don't have a problem with it if:

1. You're at least 21 years of age (or old enough as stated by law wherever you are).
2. You're not getting drunk.
3. Someone else is driving.
4. You're not dependant on alcohol
5. If not bought at a grocery store, you tip your beerguy .

And for the record, I actually hate the taste of beer.

[jmdickens]

I don't have a problem with it if:

1. You're at least 21 years of age (or old enough as stated by law wherever you are).

I have a problem with that....if it is legal for me to smoke pot in Canada, is it okay for me to smoke pot as long as I am in Canada???

[ATrain]

I don't have a problem with it if:

1. You're at least 21 years of age (or old enough as stated by law wherever you are).

I have a problem with that....if it is legal for me to smoke pot in Canada, is it okay for me to smoke pot as long as I am in Canada???

Yes...as long as you're in Canada and aren't smoking or in possession of any while in the United States.
Oh yeah, the other rules I listed still apply (just adjust a few words accordingly).

[AZjonz]

I've learned in my life experience that if you have to rationalize why something is ok., then generally it's not ok. Here's why I don't drink... Most non-Christian's who I know or have seen will see a believer drinking socially and label them a hypocrite for drinking, so if I choose not to drink when everybody else in the world does, I'm setting an example as a Christian who's life is different from others.

I’ve learned in my life experience to rationalize the Christian faith to non-believers (see Apologetics). Is that okay?

I don't have an issue with the rest of your post. In America, there is a stigma with alcohol. We tend to be prudent about it. I have close family who is very devout and would never touch alcohol. They lived in England for a time. They would get together after church with their new friends and saw that everyone would have a glass of wine. They came to the realization that these were good Christian people who drank wine. We have to smart about it, especially in American culture.

[jcmanson]

I've learned in my life experience that if you have to rationalize why something is ok., then generally it's not ok. Here's why I don't drink... Most non-Christian's who I know or have seen will see a believer drinking socially and label them a hypocrite for drinking, so if I choose not to drink when everybody else in the world does, I'm setting an example as a Christian who's life is different from others.

I agree with this. Another reason I have chosen to never drink. I don't want to be someone's stumbling block.

[flameshaw]

I do not drink (much) while I am in the States. However when you go out of the country you don't have much choice, you drink alcohol or warm Pepsi, or you get sick. The key is just to drink from those little tiny glasses. Last week I had to have tequila and it helped to keep it in those glasses, because after 5 it got embarrassing to ask for more, so I just quit (until we got done eating).

So I guess from my perspective as long as you are in a foreign country and/or not dating my daughter, it is fine with me.

[Rocketfan]

So I guess from my perspective as long as you are in a foreign country and/or not dating my daughter, it is fine with me.

GMTM read this post and promptly passed out.......