Are You A Heavy Drinker?

[Buff]

I used to be a heavy drinker back when I first turned 18, but that only lasted for about two years. Now I drink but never more than 2 drinks and that probably occurs once every couple of months.

If by that definition you call me a drinker then, yes I am a heavy drinker, because I am probably 35 lbs. overweight, hence the heavy part.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Out of all my friends I probably drink the least. And yet still would fit the criteria.

There's no way I'm a "heavy drinker".

Lot's of people my age drink 10+ drinks 24 times a year. And they don't seem to take into account that lot's of people might not be able to drink 10+ beers, while being able to do 10+ shots in one night. I dunno, very arbitrary and meaningless criteria IMO.

[Agamemnon]

It seems a lot of people equate 'heavy drinker' with problem drinker. I don't know why that's the automatic assumption.

I'd suggest that 5 a night, 12 times a year, is probably more than the 'average' Canadian. If you say yes, you're a heavy drinker in that you're above average. If you say no, you're below average, or a 'light drinker'.

Are people here more comfortable being an 'above-average' drinker as opposed to a 'heavy' drinker? Even if they imply the same amount of alcohol imbibed?

I think a lot of us are bound to fall over the average, simply due to CalPuck's demographics (example: probably %95 under-35 male??)

[Sylvanfan]

Originally posted by Agamemnon@Jun 3 2005, 06:11 PM
It seems a lot of people equate 'heavy drinker' with problem drinker. I don't know why that's the automatic assumption.

I'd suggest that 5 a night, 12 times a year, is probably more than the 'average' Canadian. If you say yes, you're a heavy drinker in that you're above average. If you say no, you're below average, or a 'light drinker'.

Are people here more comfortable being an 'above-average' drinker as opposed to a 'heavy' drinker? Even if they imply the same amount of alcohol imbibed?

I think a lot of us are bound to fall over the average, simply due to CalPuck's demographics (example: probably %95 under-35 male??)

Also most people on Calgary Puck are sportsfans too, and there likely is a connection with sports and drinking. If this was like a Christianity discussion board than I imagine the numbers would be quite different....

[dustygoon]

Originally posted by ratech@Jun 3 2005, 04:24 PM
I drink over 5 drinks every night and I don't consider myself a heavy drinker. I just enjoy beer ALOT. Probably put back 6 - 8 a night and a case on the weekends. I work in the coporate world and make it to work every day. Have two kids and a great relationship. Nights I don't drink, no problem. That survey is a load.

You make me feel better about having a couple pops when I come home from work everyday.

[Agamemnon]

Originally posted by ratech@Jun 3 2005, 04:24 PM
I drink over 5 drinks every night and I don't consider myself a heavy drinker. I just enjoy beer ALOT. Probably put back 6 - 8 a night and a case on the weekends. I work in the coporate world and make it to work every day. Have two kids and a great relationship. Nights I don't drink, no problem. That survey is a load.

To be fair, the poll is about 'heavy-drinkers', not 'problem-drinkers'.

6-8 a night? You're a heavy-drinker, at least.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally posted by ratech@Jun 3 2005, 09:24 AM
I drink over 5 drinks every night and I don't consider myself a heavy drinker. I just enjoy beer ALOT. Probably put back 6 - 8 a night and a case on the weekends. I work in the coporate world and make it to work every day. Have two kids and a great relationship. Nights I don't drink, no problem. That survey is a load.

And the alcohol industry goes wild!

But that is a lot of beer. You drink what I would drink in around a week an a half in one day.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally posted by Flames Draft Watcher@Jun 3 2005, 11:52 AM
Out of all my friends I probably drink the least. And yet still would fit the criteria.

There's no way I'm a "heavy drinker".

Lot's of people my age drink 10+ drinks 24 times a year. And they don't seem to take into account that lot's of people might not be able to drink 10+ beers, while being able to do 10+ shots in one night. I dunno, very arbitrary and meaningless criteria IMO.

I don't see why there's a difference between 10+ beers and 10+ shots. It says 5 or more drinks, not beers. It doesn't really matter if you go out and drink a case of beer, or half a 2-6 of jack, it's pretty much the same thing.

[photon]

As long as no one is driving after all this heavy drinking.

[Agamemnon]

Originally posted by photon@Jun 3 2005, 06:45 PM
As long as no one is driving after all this heavy drinking.

Well... big bars often have big parking lots...

[Reaper]

I would have to say that I qualify as a "heavy drinker" based on the survey.

I'm a pretty big guy (290lbs) and if I'm drinking with friends it's very easy for me to drink 5 or more in one sitting.

Heck, if I'm drinking with my wife I usually end up having 5 or more due to me having to finish the open bottle of wine because she has the alcohol capacity of a dixie cup.

[Joe Nieuwendyk]

Originally posted by ratech@Jun 3 2005, 10:24 AM
I drink over 5 drinks every night and I don't consider myself a heavy drinker.

Just out of curiousity, what WOULD you consider heavy drinking?!?!?!

[Super-Rye]

Working at a bar I tend to hit the 5 drink thing more often than not.

[Clarkey]

Originally posted by ratech@Jun 3 2005, 04:24 PM
I drink over 5 drinks every night and I don't consider myself a heavy drinker. I just enjoy beer ALOT. Probably put back 6 - 8 a night and a case on the weekends. I work in the coporate world and make it to work every day. Have two kids and a great relationship. Nights I don't drink, no problem. That survey is a load.

I don't think that's healthy dude. You can justify it as much as you like, but that much alchohol that consistently is going to beat the crap out of your liver.

[Hakan]

By that definition I'm quite a heavy drinker. Oh well, that doesn't bother me, my drinking doesn't interfere with my personal or work life one bit.

As someone said previous, there's a difference between being a heavy drinker and a problem drinker/alcoholic. I like to drink but I don't NEED to drink.

[KevanGuy]

Heh, thats right fotze. Blame it all on me.

I guess I should add that I probably have 5+ a night maybe 3 or 4 times a week. hard to say. It also depends on your tolerence obviously. I know, I know, its not good for your liver but if I go out and play pool and put back 10 highballs it isnt a big deal. Barely buzzed. But I know some girls that if they drank 10 highballs in a night they would probably pass out and end up back at my place and....errr.....nevermind.

[HelloHockeyFans]

I used to drink mostly on the weekends only when I would go out to the clubs.

But that all changed once I started working Mondays to Fridays at my CO-OP placement in January.

I found that I really wanted a drink after work while working there. I wouldn't have to get trashed. But I'd want a drink.

Now that I'm back to the academic semester, I'm still drinking. I definitely drink more than 5 a day though. No beer though. Don't want the gut.

Question: They say 5+ drinks a day... how much is one drink classifed as?

[moon]

I easily fit into their definition of a heavy drinker, but I am a heavy drinker so not really surprised by that at all.

[Thunderball]

5 beer once a month is definitely not heavy drinking (hell, that barely gets me buzzed anymore)... if it is, I guess I'm a heavy drinker, but thats really not that much. To me, a heavy drinker is someone who puts down double that a month, and believe me, there are more than enough people who do just that.

[Tron_fdc]

Call me cap'n binger.

I only drink once or twice a month, but when I do it's until 3 AM and usually involves strange charges on my expense account, wrestling, jumping through hedges, random acts of idiocy, etc etc (as matter of fact yes, I do have the mind of a child). I'm getting older though, so when I do it now I feel like slitting my wrists in the morning.

It's pretty rare that I only have one or two drinks, I'm trying to watch my girlish figure....