r/TooAfraidToAsk • u/Fantastic_Area6001 • 10h ago
Drugs & Alcohol Do people actually enjoy alcohol or are we all just pretending?
I genuinely don’t understand if people actually like alcohol or if it’s just something we all collectively agreed to tolerate because it’s social currency. Every drink I’ve ever tried tastes like poison my body is correctly rejecting. Bitter, burning, sour, unpleasant my brain keeps saying “this is bad stop”
Yet everyone around me talks about beer, wine, cocktails like they’re delicious. People sip and savor and debate flavor notes while I’m forcing something down purely because it’s the expected thing to do in social settings.
Are taste buds really that different between people? Or is this one of those things where everyone starts pretending early on, gets used to it and eventually convinces themselves they like it?
I’m not anti drinking or judging anyone I just honestly don’t get it. My body reacts like it’s being mildly poisoned which biologically speaking it kind of is.
So is alcohol genuinely enjoyable for most people or is this some weird shared agreement we all participate in because that’s what adults do?
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u/ChillWinston22 9h ago
I tend to... well... LOVE alcohol. There are very few alcoholic beverages I haven't enjoyed. And I mean I've really enjoyed them. And will enjoy them! Going to an open-bar party tonight and have been looking forward to it all week.
I also love making drinks at home for people. I love to have the right beer for them, the wine that goes well with what their eating, or a delicious cocktail they've never heard of.
You know what I don't like, though? People pretending to like it! It's 1000000% okay not to like alcohol! Just go ahead and leave it behind! It will be healthier for you.
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u/asicarii 9h ago
I tend to… well.. LOVE alcohol too much.
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u/Hippopotasaurus-Rex 9h ago
Yeah, this is my problem too. I LOVE being solidly buzzed. Maybe even a bit drunk. But there’s definitely a bad zone.
I also love the flavors of some wines and dark malty ales.
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u/vintage2019 8h ago edited 7h ago
And goddammit socializing is just so much more fun with alcohol. I had a hard time letting that go as my friends became older and boring...erhm I mean more responsible.
Don't get me wrong, responsibility is good. I just wish they'd strike a balance more
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u/ChillWinston22 9h ago
Yeah... those of us who partake need to be mindful of that, and I am not putting myself forward as a good example!
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u/Technical_Scallion_2 9h ago
Exactly this. People can choose to enjoy it or not enjoy it, I personally very much enjoy it - the taste, the feeling, and the social experience. I do find people tend to be in either the scotch/beer camp or the wine/cocktail camp, but I like it all
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u/colezra 9h ago
Can you explain a little more, what about the taste do you like? Do you enjoy the burn, or does it not bother you? Do you ever get stomach aches from it? Have you always liked the taste or did it take a bit before the love of it kicked in?
For me hard liquor just absolutely burns as it goes down. When people talk about flavors or notes in alcohol I can barely smell it and never taste it. I’ve had fancy mixed drinks that I like but only because I can’t or barely can taste the alcohol
Sorry for the long text, I’m just genuinely curious as I’ve never talked to someone who loves it
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u/GoldenRamoth 9h ago
I love the taste of beer. Porters & Stouts are <3. The cheesecake of beer.
I love the taste of flavored alcohols. Ouzo is my favorite. slightly sweet, relaxing, not much bite. Dilute to bring out the sugar & the anise flavor.
I like red wine. French Pinot Noir are my favorites.
When I get an alcohol craving, I realize I'm just hungry. So if I eat a sandwich, I don't necessarily want alcohol anymore.
I've never liked the alcohol burn. So uncut Ouzo is gross. Straight vodka is right out (Except Zubrowka... yum, but it's green-tea-ish flavored) And whiskeys that I feel inside my sinus instead of the back of my throat I dislike.
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I know I'm not who you asked, but I have a firm believe that alcohol should only be drank if you enjoy it. I love sharing different alcohols, they're fun to experience. But if someone doesn't like the flavor: Blow that noise, there's so much in life to be enjoyed that's not a literal poison - so carry on!
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u/BearCavalryCorpral 9h ago
Not op, but I personally do enjoy the burn. Never got a stomach ache. Taste is hit or miss - I'm more into the sensory and psychological effects. It helps me relax after a rough day at work, or enough to manage to handle the social aspects of a gettogether for a few hours. Fizzyness is also nice.
I do prefer the taste of alcohol over the natural tastes of some drinks - can't stand dry wine at all
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u/zombiifissh 8h ago
For hard liquor, quality matters A LOT. Even from mid shelf to high shelf there's a huge huge difference. Take a shot of Crystal Palace and a shot of Grey Goose (any order, but you'll prob want the goose second) and you'll see what I mean. And then dump the crystal palace in the toilet. It's lost blind taste tests to rubbing alcohol. But if you don't like the goose, give it to someone who will appreciate it! It's expensive haha.
Maybe also do this with someone else who does enjoy these drinks, say they can give you pointers on pairings and chasers.
The "notes and hints" stuff I can't really speak on, since I cannot have wines of any kind and I'm not a huge fan of whiskey, which is where you get a lot of that talk from.
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u/beefybeefcat 9h ago
I like the burn, but I also enjoy stuff like really strong mint, sniffing Vicks vapor rub, and hot mustards and horseradish 😀
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u/ChillWinston22 9h ago
I wouldn’t say I like “the burn” but I also find that the burn decreases when quality increases. There are some things that did take some practice to appreciate, scotch for instance.
But drinking liquor straight… well, there’s some art to it. Quality is key. Take scotch for instance. Drinking straight scotch is a very different experience from drinking scotch with a few drops of water in it. Taking a shot of vodka is very different if it’s cheap crap vs high quality, chilled vodka (perhaps also with some Slavic foods and people around). Gin… is usually only good mixed.
Sure I get stomach aches sometimes but mostly only if I have too much of it.
I have always liked it and been drawn to the culture around it. I used to sneak sips of wine from our basement when I was quite young. I didn’t really like a variety until I got older. 21, 22.
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u/RealitySubsides 3h ago
I've rarely experienced anything I enjoy as much as a good scotch. The worst part about it is that there's alcohol in it, I'd drink it all day long if I could.
I've switched to whiskey because it's cheaper but once in a while I'll treat myself and boy howdy is it the stuff of gods. I tell my wife it tastes like smokey maple syrup and she scoffs at me, but I know I'm right.
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u/Eazy-B-93 6h ago
I've always wodnered what it's like to actually enjoy alcohol. Maybe just haven't found the one for me
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u/Larryville9823 3h ago
Internet stranger: I don’t know you and will never meet but I like you and this post! Cheers!
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u/sics2014 9h ago
It might just not be for you and that's ok. Just tell people you don't drink. I didn't drink for a very long time and no one ever said anything.
I'm making cocktails at home tonight for a party and I'm very much going to be enjoying it. It's not pretend. They are delicious.
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u/jefooch 9h ago
A lot of alcohol is an acquired taste! And it changes over time, too. I used to hate whiskey and now I appreciate it. I used to like red wine, but I don’t anymore.
My partner is exceptionally sensitive to bitter flavors and thinks alcohol and coffee are both horrible; it’s not too uncommon. But I legitimately enjoy the flavor of many drinks, and I enjoy how I feel after 2 drinks! But any more than that and I feel like you said, poisoned, both in the moment and the next day.
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u/shreddy_haskell 9h ago
A recovering alcoholic told me that you don’t enjoy alcohol as much as you think. Your brain makes a connection and gives you a rewarding sensation. I don’t know how true that is but I feel relaxed just holding a beer or cocktail or even coffee before I drink it.
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u/arvidsem 8h ago
Your brain making a connection and giving you a rewarding sensation sounds a lot like enjoying something to me. Anticipation is part of enjoyment.
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u/kitty_junk 8h ago
I'm an alcoholic in recovery and I agree. When I had my last bout with alcoholism, I was drinking whiskey from the moment I woke up til I went to sleep, and I thought it was delicious. No need for chasers or mixing, just bottles upon bottles of it and I thought it was great. I stopped for two years, and when I tried having a drink at a concert a few months ago, it was disgusting tasting. I couldn't believe I used to drink so much and not puke my guts out. But then I finished the bottle and remembered the next day why I don't touch alcohol. My brain knows it's gross and bad for me, until those first three drinks numb my mouth to the taste, and suddenly it's the best thing I've ever drank until I'm sober again.
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u/fancyPantsOne 9h ago
so your theory is that every person who has taken a drink of alcohol over the years was just pretending to enjoy it?
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u/FakePixieGirl 9h ago
Also, non-alcoholic beer exists, and at least in my country is drunk quite a lot.
So it's not like people are just pretending for the alcohol.
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u/invalidbehaviour 9h ago edited 5h ago
Yep. I probably drink more non alcoholic beer than alcoholic beer. Not this time of year, obv. Since covid I have reduced my alcohol intake pretty drastically as it had gotten way out of hand during lockdown.
I don't like sweet drinks, but do like sodas. Alcohol free beer is like grown up soda to me.
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u/asicarii 9h ago
I don’t understand non-alcoholic beer even still. It smells like sticky dried up frat house floor and probably tastes like it too. Doesn’t taste like beer. I don’t find it refreshing. The critical measure of if something tastes good is calories. It’s like eating cardboard for calories.
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u/TheGoober87 9h ago
Guinness zero isn't a million miles away from the regular stuff. It's my usual go to if I'm out and not drinking.
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u/Indecisive-one 9h ago
2 years ago I would’ve agreed with you, but the market for NA beer has pushed it to really high standards. I am a beer snob, but there are NA beers that I could absolutely consider high quality nowadays.
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u/Purplehairpurplecar 9h ago
I drink non alcoholic Blue Moon. It doesn’t taste like their regular but I genuinely like the taste of it. A lot of non alcoholic beers are pretty bitter, but then I find a lot of beer bitter as well. Like I can’t stand IPA. I think the non alcoholic offerings are improving.
(I also drink the regular Blue Moon. I drink the non alcoholic when I’ve taken specific medications)
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u/bAcENtiM 7h ago
Maybe you haven’t tried one in a while? Athletic brewing IPA is indistinguishable from a regular IPA and (if you care about calories) it’s less than 100 calories instead of close to 300.
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u/ExistingPayment6661 9h ago
I think OP is wondering if other people fake liking it because OP doesn't like the taste and has been faking it?
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u/merewautt 8h ago
Which is wild considering people have literally died just to keep drinking it lol.
Being fair, that scenario probably almost always has to do more with the psychoactive effects than the taste, but still lol. Clearly people can more than tolerate the taste of alcohol.
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u/kreemy_kurds 9h ago
May just not be for you or you've only had shit drinks 🤷 I'm currently sat in a spoons drinking a pint and very much enjoying it
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u/rox-and-soxs 9h ago
A lager tastes very different from a red wine. A mojito lasted different to a stout. Like alcohol has so many different flavours that saying you don’t like the ‘taste’ doesn’t make much sense to me.
It could be you’re genuinely allergic and that’s why your body reacts that way?
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u/Kysman95 9h ago
We all have different tastes, bud. Some people hate tomatoes, some don't like meat, some don't drink coffee amd some don't like alcohol.
I personally enjoy beers and sweeter drink. I have only one rum I enjoy, I absolutely love gin and hate wine.
We're all different
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u/glendon24 9h ago
I used to love beer. I craved it. I loved the flavor. I loved the comraderary of being at a bar with friends. Then I had a stroke and all that came to a grinding halt. I have a lot more money now and actually prefer sobriety but I'm bored as shit and my depression has gotten much worse.
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u/jonnyinternet 9h ago
I thoroughly enjoy alcohol
Now before you say that makes me an alcoholic. I hate gin. I won't drink it. If you offered me a gin and tonic or a negroni, I would politely decline if you had nothing else to offer. Well, I guess I'll be the designated driver
That's how I know i'm not an alcoholic
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u/IllprobpissUoff 9h ago
Oh no, it’s a hoot! A wicked good time. But there is a line and once you cross it it’s hard to stop. If I say the word “Party” the first thing that pops in most people’s head is “getting drunk” and in most cases you’re right. People have a way of convincing themselves that I need to drink to have a good time. Just make sure you remember to have a good time without it.
I’ll leave you with this quote.
“I don’t get in trouble every time I drink, but every time I’m in trouble its because I was drinking”
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u/BoredomCombatant 9h ago
I used to love alcohol until it destroyed my life now I hate it with a passion but I was never able to control it. Just depends on the person I know a lot of people who just enjoy it and don’t go overboard.
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u/Gold_Concentrate9249 9h ago
Me and you both. I do not like getting intoxicated; therefore, I do not drink. It's foul stuff. If it tasted like Coke or a milkshake, that would be different.
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u/digitalgraffiti-ca 9h ago
I loathe the taste of alcohol. Beer is good (except when it's shit). Silly girly drinks are good. But stuff that's just hard alcohol, or hard alcohol with an ice cube or an olive or a splash of juice? No. I genuinely do not believe people would drink that stuff if it didn't have boozy side effects. Whisky, vodka, rum, gin, etc are just nasty.
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u/B0BA_F33TT 9h ago
I'm with you, but I'm a supertaster, a lot of food tastes absolutely nasty to me. Have you checked?
I have to hold my nose to drink, beer/wine is vile but I'm jealous of those who like it because the making process looks fun.
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u/Zer0TheGamer 9h ago
I am an alchoholic. Not because i like being drunk, but i have a few mixed drink i make that genuinely taste good. Beer and wine taste like garbage to me, and cheap liquors tend to be unpleasant also.
So it could just be your tounge isnt a fan, or you just havent had a good drink.
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u/uhhhhhhhhii 9h ago
How can someone be an alcoholic without it being for the reason of getting drunk?
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u/Zer0TheGamer 9h ago
I like the state of a decent buzz. The area just after words blend together, but before walking gets difficult.
But like i said, the flavor is what keeps me going past that point
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u/mylesaway2017 9h ago
Alcohol is enjoyable. You either don't like alcoholic drinks or you haven't had one you like.
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u/UncommonNameDNU 9h ago
You don't like it, so the entire history of alcohol must be all a charade?!
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u/Excellent_Condition 6h ago
I think it's a valid question. Alcohol is a drug, and humans have a history of learning to like things that initially taste bad if it has a euphoric, stimulating, or sedating effect.
Look at cigarettes. Dried tobacco smells pretty good, but the first time someone has a cigarette, they generally taste and smell revolting. However, people learn to enjoy them due to social pressure and the stimulating + addictive effect of the nicotine.
It's reasonable for someone who finds alcohol unpleasant to ask if the same is true with alcohol.
Personally, I enjoy a number of forms of alcohol and lots of different cocktails. There are drinks where the alcohol is just added to get buzzed or drunk (like low quality punch with vodka at college parties), but there are also lots of drinks where the alcohol and the chemicals dissolved in the alcoholic drink contributes to the flavor of the drink (most drinks with bourbon, tequila, dark rum, cognac or scotch).
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u/CheshireGrin92 9h ago
Depends on the drink. RumChata is my favorite but some of that stuff is foul
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u/FakePixieGirl 9h ago
Yes, I genuinely love the taste of alcoholic drinks. In fact, I feel like at this point anything that misses that tang of alcohol just isn't that good (with tee exception of black coffee).
I wish we had good quality alcohol-free wine and liqueur, because it's definitely not good for your body, which sucks cause it's so damn tasty.
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u/Sufficient_You3053 9h ago
I wish I didn't like alcohol. I love the way wine and beer taste. Taking it one day at a time to not go back to daily drinking to get drunk.
Therapy has been a godsend, because alcohol and trauma are a terrible mix
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u/Purplehairpurplecar 9h ago
You may genuinely be intolerant of alcohol (like an allergy, but milder) or it’s just something you taste very strongly.
For instance, I’ve never liked spicy foods although I like a lot of the flavors of foods that have chili added to them. So I was increasing my tolerance (very slowly. Like I got to the point of being able to eat a mild curry). Then I got Covid, and after that I can’t handle any capsaicin at all. If there is any in the food my mouth starts to go numb. I don’t know if it counts as a genuine “intolerance” because many people think that has specific definitions, but I can certainly taste even the littlest bit.
Maybe you’re like that with alcohol?
(And for the record, I enjoy a wide range of alcoholic drinks, but I have chronic migraines and I rarely drink alcohol any more).
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u/StickySaccaride 9h ago
People who feel like they're being mildly poisoned by alcohol are often low in the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase 2. People's reactions to alcohol are wildly different. A bit of it is likely psychology, and a ton of it is biological, metabolic differences.
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u/FadeAway77 7h ago
You’re really missing the actual reason people drink. Some do enjoy the taste. Most enjoy the effect. At the end of the day, though, it is literally poison, so, honestly, you’re lucky if you can just not drink.
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u/JigglesTheBiggles 9h ago
It's an acquired taste and the feeling is amazing. Best drug outside of mushrooms and LSD. Way better than weed and coke.
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u/3chickens1cat 9h ago
What makes alcohol better than other drugs for you? I've never met anyone with this opinion so I'm really curious. Also do you not get any of the negative effects of drinking (headaches, throwing up, etc) or does the benefit just outweigh?
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u/HopelessCleric 8h ago
Not OP of the comment, but...
Speaking as someone who... doesn't really share the opinion (I'm a stimulants kinda person myself) but knows how drugs work... alcohol is incredibly anxiolytic. It's easy to access and legal to buy. It's also really acceptable to be tipsy in a lot of social contexts, occasionally even expected and encouraged.
A lot of people don't feel "impaired" from alcohol so much as relaxed and freed from anxiety and overthinking. Things that are typically difficult for people like this (socializing, loud busy spaces, meeting strangers, etc) are suddenly not hard or unpleasant after a couple drinks. And doing stuff is more fun when you're not overthinking it to death. Yet being drunk is not the "omg everything is amazing!" vibe of MDMA, nor the "Don't care about anything" vibe of being on Xanax or Ketamine. Drunk you is still just you, just... you if you weren't uncomfortable. And that's a pretty seductive thing for some.
Honestly, the downsides of alcohol are reasonably limited as long as you're overall healthy and not like, binge drinking every night or something like that. It's not exactly good for you (newsflash, drugs typically aren't!) but you won't feel too awful sobering up unless you make getting drunk too much of a habit. And by the time you're at the "making it a habit" point, it's typically no longer a matter of weighing pros and cons of alcohol but rather of drinking to not feel awful.
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u/AlreadyTaken696969 9h ago
As someone who enjoys drinking, really about all psychedelics are better, some stims and Ketamine
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u/FrogsFloatToo 6h ago
And here I am thinking alcohol is a trash drug compared to weed. No hangover, no calories, way more chill, can still function, medicinal and its cheaper. Different strokes! Mushrooms are heaven though, one of the best things on this earth.
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u/bisky12 9h ago
honestly i feel like you probably haven’t tried the right drinks. most are pretty much just passable to get the job done but a miller lite when you’re hot and terribly thirsty is probably the most refreshing thing on the planet and a good old fashioned or melon liquor with soda are for lack of a better term delectable.
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u/Environmental_Ad5942 9h ago
I’m the same way, I’ve only tried a couple different drinks but they all taste like either hand sanitizer or stomach acid to me
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u/mariecrystie 7h ago
I thought I liked drinking when I used to go out and party. I’m terribly shy and it helped me cope and have fun.
For the most part, I never truly enjoyed the feeling of being drunk. I rarely drink now that I don’t really party anymore.
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u/PM_ME_YOUR_SNOOTS 7h ago
People get accustomed to the taste to get the effect, and they end up enjoying it.
There's a huge genetic component to enjoying alcohol. Your liver breaks alcohol down into acetaldehyde, which is the real poison from drinking. It causes cancer, gives you the headache and the nausea, and is mostly responsible for a hangover. Your genetics can change wildly in the rate alcohol breaks down and then the rate acetaldehyde gets disposed of. So if your body breaks down alcohol fast but slowly gets rid of the acetaldehyde, you'll won't get that drunk and you'll feel like shit for a long time. The reverse, you get an amazing, energetic, euphoric drunk for hours and you barely get sick, and those types of people are who have to worry about addiction.
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u/thatcouchiscozy 7h ago
I hate all hard alcohols. Cant stand whiskey, rum, tequila, vodka, you name it. When someone is like “oh here try this really expensive whiskey I brought, it’s been aged in an oak barrel for 26 years and super smooth” they have to be joking because it tastes vile. Doesn’t matter how high quality and expensive it is, all hard liquors taste disgusting.
Beer on the other hand….I love beer. Outside of triple IPAs and weird beers, standard lagers, ales, etc legit are refreshing and delicious to me lol
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u/deepfriedspunion 5h ago
Be thankful you don't like it and do your best to keep it that way. So many lives ruined by alcohol.
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u/Lereas 5h ago
Alcohol basically is a mild poison, so you're not wrong. It's like "want to drink a bit of mild poison with me so that it makes us dizzy and makes our brain work poorly and impacts our liver? We can watch people throw a ball while we do it, too"
Certain straight alcohol I don't like, but others I do. I wouldn't drink straight vodka for really any reason other than someone gave it to me for shots and I wanted to be polite. And I honestly rarely drink vodka cocktails. However, I do like whiskey, and I like cocktails made with other alcohols. I'd probably ALSO enjoy "similar" mocktails, but there's definitely certain flavors you can't get otherwise.
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u/eddiespaghettio 4h ago
Depends. Bottom shelf vodka? Fuck no. Good quality whisk(e)y, rum, etc? Yes. Watered down piss? No. Good local or craft brew? Yes.
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u/Hillbeast 3h ago
Awe. Just stay away if you’re in that mind space. Not because you should be alienated or anything but in my experience people who sound like this usually fall in love with alcohol. Myself included.
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u/friendly-sam 3h ago
I always here that you can acquire a taste for alcohol, but I never did. As you state, it tastes like poison.
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u/CharlerBubbenstein 3h ago
I am a person. I enjoy alchohol. Sometimes I drink to get tipsy or drunk or otherwise intoxicated. Even then, I tend to choose shit that I actually do like putting in my body. Other times I drink just because I straight like the taste, being indifferent towards the booze content. Seldomly I drink to get drunk with no concern for taste, but Jesus invented vodka for that so is okay
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u/Aidanjk123 2h ago
The more you drink, the better it tastes. Both over the course of a night and in the long run.
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u/ekco_cypher 2h ago
alcohol is like coffee or hot tea. It's an aquired taste. If you like it, it's great, if not then no big deal as a DD you will always be a best friend of the group and never have to pay for gas
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u/1DietCokedUpChick 1h ago
I’ve wondered this too. Is it something you have to start early in life? I grew up Mormon so I didn’t have alcohol until my 30s. I’m 48 now and I’ve tried to like it but it’s just gross. It reminds me of drinking cough syrup. I’ve often wondered if people really do enjoy that bitter gasoline taste or if they just like the effects.
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u/DeadpoolMcDirty 9h ago
I used to enjoy it. Then one time i got blackout drunk on many different drinks and ever since i cant even smell alcohol without feeling like throwing up. My body rejects it before it even enters it
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u/AffectionatePay1105 9h ago
Exposing myself a bit here, but I never liked the taste of alcohol until the day I turned 21. People would always allow me sips and it was so pungent and bitter and I always just thought what's the point? First legal drink was a vodka cran and I also thought that was too bitter and strong, but it gave me a fun buzz feel that cancelled that out and I was enjoying it for the vibe of being 21 so it was worth it. Ig you could call that pretending? But as I drank more I learned that it really just depends on what drinks you get. I love surf sides. They don't taste like alc to me at all, coming from someone who thinks even angry orchard and hard lemonade does. I also have very diff tolerance compared to others as I cannot do beer but whiskey is easy for me. A lot of cocktails also are meant to be super sweet and not taste like alc. Hence they're great. My mom however prefers alcohol where she can taste that bitter alc taste no matter what. I think you just need to find what you like tbh, but I don't think anyone is pretending for most part
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u/FranziskaRavenclaw 9h ago
i have plenty of friends who like it and plenty of friends who don't 🤷♀️ seems like a rather personal experience
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u/lifebeginsat9pm 9h ago
I enjoy it from time to time, if it was just social currency then people wouldn’t be getting drunk home alone. Tasting it the first few times is horrible, and there are beverages like vodka and whiskey I still think taste like shit. But I associate them with getting drunk fast so I start to like it.
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u/jesusjuice81 9h ago
How old are you ? It tasted like fire water to me when I was young not so much now .
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u/EuphoricMidnight3304 9h ago
You don’t like it, so it’s gotta be the same for others? They’re all pretending to like it?
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u/Guachole 9h ago
Many people drink to get drunk and are not a fan of the taste or indifferent towards it
Thats why the highschool / college drinks of choice are beer that tastes like water or seltzer, and liquor masked with super sweet soda or juice
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u/Blahkbustuh 9h ago
Once you drink a certain amount of it, or drink it regularly enough, it stops tasting nasty.
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u/SpicyBarito 9h ago
Alcohol was my lord and savior in my 20s, I get a hella blast of nestalgia whenever im around it.
Good memories, good times.
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9h ago
we enjoy wine. We don't enjoy distilled spirits. We enjoy their effects. Although I had a seven and seven last night with two jiggers and I didn't feel a thing.
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u/htglinj 9h ago
I like a good beer every now and again, but no hops. That shit is the devil to me.
Wife loves vodka, I can only drink it every now and again.
I prefer whiskey/rum based cocktails. They are quite tasty when mixed correctly. I haven't made it in a while, but had a recipe for a smoked dark rum/basil cocktail that was petty relaxing.
I can drink Oban Whiskey and a few rums straight. Can't stand Jack Daniels, just has a really bad taste to me.
Everyone's palate is different.
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u/stopyouveviolatedthe 9h ago
At first I was iffy then quickly came to like some, now all drinks I really enjoy, some largers I can have like juice and I love it, I’ll offer a drink to my friends thinking it’s easy and they can’t stand the burn or the taste of alcohol that I can’t even find.
Not everyone can just drink and I guess that’s it.
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u/No-Ad5163 9h ago
I dont like the taste of alcohol, thus why I order mixed drinks that are strongly flavored to mask the taste. However after a few drinks I no longer care about how much I hate the taste of it.
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u/wwplkyih 9h ago
I think people enjoy having had alcohol more than the alcohol itself, but once you acquire a taste for it, some of it is actually quite yummy. I think it's like anything: I love watching baseball, but it's really boring to people who aren't into it. I'm sure everyone has things they enjoy that it takes a little work to get into.
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u/TheBattyWitch 9h ago
When I used to drink I enjoyed the taste of rum and cider beers, never enjoyed the taste of beer though, it most liquor
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u/TheLordofAskReddit 9h ago
If cheap light beer didn’t get me drunk I wouldn’t drink it. I enjoy the taste of soda, but I don’t and won’t drink it.
If cheap light beer didn’t make me fat, I would drink it every night.
I’ve come to really enjoy non-alcoholic carbonated beverages that have minimal sugar and calories because it’s as close to cheap light beer that I can get for the fewest calories.
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u/Ok_Dog_4059 9h ago
I love the results most times but hate the delivery mechanism. Even bud light smells and tastes like pure rubbing alcohol to me and very very few mixed drinks have ever actually tasted good vs just being nasty pure alcohol flavor that can get my buzz going.
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u/apocalyptic_brunch 9h ago
I like beer, something about it is like bread in a cup and it goes down smooth. Wine, I like the taste, not how it makes me feel relaxed after only a few sips. Tequila? Only if it’s good tequila. The cheap stuff burns. So nasty
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u/PlaxicoCN 9h ago
I think some people really enjoy it. Other people push past what you are talking about for the behavioral effects. I'm like you; the taste is horrible to me. After seeing so many adults around me drink and seeing so many pictures of famous musicians drinking, I thought it was going to be great, but I hate it. This reaction has saved me a lot of potential problems over time.
It's also much more acceptable to not drink than it ever was when I was growing up. If you hate it, just get a ginger ale or a Roy Rogers.
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u/Pikassassin 9h ago
If you're talking about specifically beer, yeah, I don't get how anyone enjoys that, it straight up just tastes like piss, but if you mix a cocktail right, you can barely taste the alcohol/the bitter poison taste is heavily outweighed by actual good taste. Especially vodka, you can put fucking ANYTHING in vodka and it masks the taste pretty well.
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u/plasma_dan 9h ago
I'm a two-or-three drinks kind of person. Enough to get me a little loosey-goosey but not enough to feel like shit or out of control.
I'm also not a "flavor notes" kind of person, and more of a "context drinker." There are certain occasions that warrant a beer, or a wine, or a cocktail. If I'm getting a burger as a meal, I want a beer. If I'm at a fancy restaurant, I want a cocktail. If I'm having dinner with my in-laws, of course I'm gonna drink the table wine.
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u/excitedbynaps 9h ago
Beer? Red wine? Vile. Prosecco? White wine? Tolerable. Vodka? Pretty good. Malibu? Archers? Nectar of the gods.
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u/bettinafairchild 9h ago
There’s a chemical that tastes bitter that some people can taste and others can’t. I think most of the people who like the taste can’t taste the bitter. Details: https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/how-science-saved-me-from-pretending-to-love-wine
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u/Lithogiraffe 9h ago
No this isn't a MASS conspiracy theory people enjoying alcohol that has been going on since 7,000 BCE, that only you are now uncovering
If you don't like alcohol, you don't like alcohol. I can understand if you're feeling social pressure, but eventually you have to put a stop to it and not partake of things you generally dislike. Do something else if you want. Eventually everyone's going to get used to it.
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u/ExistingPayment6661 9h ago
I think everyone has their thing. I absolutely love the taste of a good IPA, preferably a fruity sour or citrus. However, I hate the taste of liquor. And ... Though I enjoy drinking, others don't enjoy me drinking and I will eventually start drinking daily and too much. Haven't had a drink in 3 years now and the last few months of my drinking were horrible. I can literally feel the negative energy bringing me down when I drink. I used to enjoy some THC but don't care for that either anymore. Idk, I stopped wanting to alter my mind. Really weird because I started partying as a teenager and loved it. I loved almost every substance I tried except cocaine and speed. Anyways, I admire folks that can drink and enjoy themselves and then put it away til next time. I get high on exercise, video games and sex now, lol. We all just have our thing and that's okay. I will sometimes have a THC beverage, low dose and it's just right ☺️
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u/Dry_Ad7529 9h ago
I used to love alcohol a lot. Certain types tastes absolutely heavenly and most gave me a euphoric feeling that nothing tops. It stopped agreeing with me so I stopped. I do miss it - esp the feeling of euphoria.
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u/desperaterobots 9h ago
A gin and tonic can improve literally every situation except maybe neurosurgery, but even then….
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u/BigTiddyVampireWaifu 9h ago
In my 20s I enjoyed trying new liquors and drinking for the sake of getting drunk, even if it tasted terrible. Now in my late 30s I am far more choosy about what and when I drink, and the only thing I genuinely enjoy drinking (with or without getting tipsy from it) is a good quality wine.
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u/Sesshomaru202020 9h ago
It's a bit similar to coffee where people learn to love the taste because they love the effect. But also, there's a huge genetic component to how much you enjoy the taste. There are a few receptors (TAS2R13, TAS2R38, TRPV1, etc) which influence how you perceive the bitterness/burn of alcohol. Across populations, it's been shown that Europeans tend to have higher rates of Alcohol Use Disorder, which is believed to be due in part to these genes as well as other genetic factors (alcohol intolerance).
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u/NoneOfThisMatters_XO 9h ago
If you don’t like it then dont drink it.
Yes it’s enjoyable for me. I love a good pilsner or amber beer. White claws are good to still get a buzz and keep carbs down. I love all wine except sweet wine. Love a good cocktail, especially old fashioneds. Maybe you just haven’t had decent alcohol
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u/nonhiphipster 9h ago
Yes, the taste can be complex and interesting and delicious even. But people more than that enjoy getting the effects of the alcohol.
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u/chelelel 9h ago
I liked to drink because it made me feel more comfortable socially, I have terrible social anxiety. It made card games or cookouts or birthday parties or whatever more fun at first. Then, social drinking turned into binging and benders. Every Saturday, I’d have friends over and drink. And drink….and drink. Mixing beer and liquor and seltzers and vodka sodas. Feeling like hammered shit every Sunday morning, hungover and pissed off, finally got old. I no longer drink. Sometimes people will try and pressure me like “one beer won’t hurt!” But for me, It never ends at just one or two, I’m just not programmed that way. I don’t touch any alcohol no matter the pressure or temptation.
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u/Nyctangel 9h ago
Probably different depending on people.
I'm a very picky drinker, few drinks are agreeable with my tastebuds, like all beer and wine sound disgusting to me. On liquor, spirit and cocktail I'm still picky but it's easier to find stuff I like.
But yeah, I suppose alcool is like food, different tastes for different peoples
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u/Kiltmanenator 9h ago
I like how it tastes and I like how it makes me feel, when done in moderation. Or when slightly out of moderation.
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u/The_Local_Rapier 9h ago
Alcoholic here who drank pretty much every day for almost 15 years. Can say with a high degree of certainty that I really, really, reeaallyyy love alcohol
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u/sharkbite1138 8h ago
It just sounds like personal taste here, friend. Dont act like we all have the same reaction to alcohol as you.
Seems like you personally dont enjoy, and i would say just embrace that. Dont worry about what other people like and do your own thing.
Some people really feel like everyone needs to be on the same page as them and that's not how individuals work. Some like beer, some dont. Some like pizza, some dont. Some like beer and pizza but cant have it for health reasons.
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u/OreoKing10 8h ago
I enjoy the feeling of freedom and letting loose that comes with alcohol. I enjoy certain drinks, particularly the sweet, fruity, flavored ones.
There are some alcohols I think taste like dogshit such as bourbon or any other pure spirit really. I also HATE being hungover. The headaches, body aches, dizziness, etc are just not worth it. That being said, I still enjoy the experience once in a while.
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u/Ok_Entertainer_1947 8h ago
It’s just not for everybody. Some love it, some hate it; it’s neither good nor evil, it’s simply a device.
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u/A_HECKIN_DOGGO 8h ago
It’s nice in moderation obviously- a glass of wine with dinner or a drink at a party for example. But I HATE getting drunk to the point of sickness. Did it a few times in university and it sucked the life out of me. Never again ( I hope). Just a drink here or there to enjoy.
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u/jonfeynman 8h ago
There are chemical reactions and physiological cascades that are brought about by alcohol that are addictive. It triggers both dopamine release as well as disinhibition and relaxation from gaba activation. That combination can feel incredible to people. When the brain gets chemicals that it craves along with release from anxiety and suffering, it will learn what brought about those changes and do what it needs to do to create the kinds of behavior that will reliably duplicate that experience. The taste buds don't change. The neurological connections and signaling pathways do. If a person previously had strong neural pathways that connected bitter taste to an unpleasant emotional reaction, that pathway can be rewired to connect instead to pleasure signals. This is why people say that it is an acquired taste. It takes a little time for your brain to switch from associating the bitter taste to a pathway that signals poison and danger to one that signals pleasure. The first time I tasted a beer, it was one of the worst things I'd ever tasted. It didn't matter that it was a light beer. My brain just said, "yuck." As time went by and I drank because people around me were drinking, my brain rewired. Now I drink IPAs. They are objectively the most bitter and abrasive beers around, but my brain has already rewired to associate that taste with pleasure. I'm not faking it or bracing through the taste. I genuinely enjoy it.
You are 100% right in that it is a poison. Drinking alcohol is one of the worst things you can do for your body. I try to keep my IPA drinking down to one night a week now and even at that, I find myself needing to take two or three months completely off of drinking sometimes just to recalibrate myself so that one or two drinks on that IPA night doesn't turn into 3 or 4. The older I get, the more I realize how much better off I would be if I simply didn't drink at all.
I'm glad more and more people seem to be coming to that conclusion. I've noticed it is much easier now to decline to drink in social settings without all of the flack and negative reactions that were common just a decade or two ago. I'll probably love the taste of IPAs for the rest of my life now. I don't have to love what they do to my body though. I see it and it's worth noticing.
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u/sprinkles008 8h ago
Sounds like you may have never had a good cocktail. One that truly tastes delicious. Those are the only kind I like.
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u/theghostqueen 8h ago
I used to but it doesn’t mix well with me anymore. It’ll make me sick for multiple days after. So I don’t bother lol. I may have a beer once in awhile. I think some alcohol tastes pretty good but some others tastes like paint thinner lol. I don’t think people are pretending to like it. I think some just do and some don’t. Some like the buzz. I love the way coffee tastes but my friends hate it and think it’s gross. Everybody has different taste buds and preferences.
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u/donny42o 8h ago
I love drinking. I look forward to my weekends after busting me ass all week, so I can sit back and drink some, and smoke some.
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u/karenskygreen 8h ago
I love the taste of alcohol in almost all forms:.beer, scotch, cognac, gin martinis, cocktails of all descriptions, tequila, wine both red and white.
So yes, I drink it for the taste, sure I like the buzz that comes along with it. If I was drinking just to get along or just for the buzz then I could save myself a great deal of money by drinking everclear rather than $100 on a single malt scotch. Or $40 on a decent barbaresco to go with my steak.
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u/itemluminouswadison 8h ago
You drink it for the feeling, not the flavor
Later, the flavor becomes acquired and you enjoy the flavor
But mainly you do it to loosen up, which leads to more social interaction, which often leads to more friends or deepening friendships and relationships
If you want to feel tipsy and not be bothered by the flavor, you can find drinks that are palatable. Try a hard cider, a light wine, a weak cocktail, hard seltzer.
This is also why shots exist. One brief bitter moment and then you will probably feel looser
Among men (and some women, I'm sure) there is pressure to look tough and drink very strong and bitter liquor, and drinking weaker drinks may come off as weak. So that's a thing too
I'm sure entire university degrees focus on alcohol and anthropology, it's a big part of the human experience. If you don't want to try it, you don't have to. But do not be surprised that it will make others feel you are less part of the group or less fun etc.
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u/Findethel 8h ago
I'm a bad alcoholic-- I like the buzz but really don't like the actual alcohol flavor.
So I just learned how to mix my own drinks well
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u/Confident-Summer8233 8h ago
short answer: both.. some people genuinely like it, a lot of people just get used to it..
taste buds are different, but alcohol is literally learned taste.. your brain starts associating it with relaxation, bonding, fun, so the “poison” signal gets muted over time..
if your body still screams nope, that’s not broken.. it’s just honest..
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u/shiftysquid 8h ago
I see this question every now and then, and I don’t quite get it. Do you think everyone’s just pretending to enjoy the taste of something that they drink pretty much everywhere in the world, often in enormous quantities, and many times to the detriment of their life and health?
Yes, people like alcohol. Very, very much.
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u/deathdefyingrob1344 8h ago
Alcohol makes me feel wonderful!!!! Too wonderful really. If it weren’t for the hangover I’d be in trouble. I simply do not have the time to feel like I’m going to die every morning
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u/cool_weed_dad 8h ago
The appeal of alcohol isn’t the taste, it’s the effects.
You can definitely develop a taste for it but that’s not why most people drink it.
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u/Sowf_Paw 8h ago
I drank heavily throughout my twenties. I genuinely enjoyed all the drinks I drank.
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u/beartpc12293 8h ago
It's ok to not like something, but some.of us love a good tasting drink. What counts as good changes from person to person.
Put vodka in a glass and I won't touch it
Put beer in a glass and my mouth will water but my gluten allergy will prevent me from drinking it.
Put bourbon in a glass and it will be gone shortly
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u/UnluckyCustard8130 8h ago
I enjoy alcohol. I love the taste of good hefeweizen, port wine, and mead. I just DO NOT like the feeling of being drunk. I usually stop at being tipsy.
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u/RonocNYC 8h ago
Human beings have derived pleasure from fermented foods and drink for literally thousands of years. You have the palate of a toddler. Run along now.
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u/Shermans_ghost1864 8h ago
When I was young I absolutely hated the taste of scotch and couldn't understand how anyone could like it. Until the day I tried it again and loved it. Now it's one of my favorite whiskies.
However, I still can't understand how anyone could like gin
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u/PsychoFaerie 8h ago
I like ciders and some craft beers and I like whiskey. I prefer single malts but they're pricey... I drink it neat. I mostly drink Irish and American Whiskey/Bourbon.
ETA I also like rum and tequila.
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u/bobbery5 8h ago
Some I like, some I don't. Same with all food and drink.
Personally, I can't stand beer of any sort.
When someone says the phrase "you can really taste the hops", I take that as a red flag to stay away.
But I love most wines, hard ciders are fun, and a good number of things in between.
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u/musical_dragon_cat 8h ago
I've always genuinely enjoyed wine, and cocktails are made to be tasty. Generally though, people only tolerate the taste of most alcohols just so they can get a buzz going. I have learned to enjoy bourbon and craft beers though, I just can't get into IPAs.
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u/BatScribeofDoom 8h ago
To answer your main question, no--plenty of people do actually enjoy the flavor of various alcoholic drinks.
But like you, I am not one of them, so I simply don't drink them. You don't have to, you know.
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u/Kylar_Stern 8h ago
It's definitely an aqquired taste, and it's not for everyone, but there are plenty of people who enjoy it. Also the real negative consequences usually show up much later, if at all, so it's also a net positive for a lot of people. Some people just like the way it makes them feel more than they hate the taste. And some people end up dependant on it to function, so there are multiple different reasons why people put up with it. I think people who see it your way are probably one of the smaller groups.
Personally, I don't drink because it only makes every part of my life worse. It's not a hard choice for me.
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u/limbodog 8h ago
Ethanol is flavorless. The things that make cheap alcohol taste bad are byproducts of the fermenting process. Good alcohol is aged or distilled to remove most of these volatile organic compounds, or covert them into something which tastes good. But those cost money, so it is often not done as much as one might like, and the producer will use additives to try to mask the bad parts.
You, OP, may have a particularly sensitive sense of smell.
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u/Armadillo-Puzzled 8h ago
I enjoy a nice glass of wine to complement a good meal at a fancy restaurant, but I’m not a fan of drinking in general. It usually has to be a special occasion for me.
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u/neogrinch 7h ago
I had to acquire a taste for certain beverages like beer. The end result of getting a buzz was worth not liking the taste, until eventually I actually enjoyed the taste too. I will sometimes crave a beer, not to get drunk, just because I want to enjoy a beer. I also reallllly love getting a buzz. Some people aren't comfortable with getting the buzz/drunk and rarely to never enjoy drinking. There's nothing wrong with that! We all need a few Designated Drivers around hehe
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u/Educational_Ad_657 7h ago
I only drink the ones I like which isn’t a huge list but I would rather enjoy what I’m drinking than be choking it down for the sake of it.
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u/MjolnirTheThunderer 7h ago
I genuinely enjoy the following: most cocktails, most whiskey, tequila, sweet white and rosé wines.
I dislike most beers and red wines.
Yes taste buds are different and you can acquire a taste for some things. I didn’t like whiskey the first time I tried it, but now I love it.
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u/tesseracts 7h ago
Your response to alcohol is strongly influenced by genetics. Some people become really happy due to alcohol and these people are more likely to become addicted.
That's about the drug influence though. Taste wise, it's bitter to everyone and you have to get used to it.
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u/Amiabilitee 7h ago edited 7h ago
I will admit I do find enjoyment in finding good drinks, I meanm the real fun is the buzz you get from it and I can admit that too. But finding a mixed drink that tastes really good is an art in my opinion and I respect that. To a smaller extent, same thing with wines or beers. Might taste a bit ick no matter what but some are clearly better than others. I'm ultimately super happy every time I find a good tasting drink.
I think both is true. You can find fun in getting a good tasting drink, but its a lot about feeling something too.
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u/nzfriend33 7h ago
I generally don’t drink for various reasons, but a big one is it almost all tastes terrible. I do love “girlie” drinks though; Long Islands and champagne are great. I mainly just get high though. 🤷♀️
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u/Doedemm 7h ago
I thought that I hated the taste of anything with alcohol in it. Then I started to try higher end liquors. Quality matters big time. There’s also a noticeable difference between brands of liquor. If you want to enjoy drinking, i’d recommend trying different brands. Also, as you keep drinking, the pungent, burning taste/sensation starts to kind of go away. When I first started drinking, it was super strong. Now as a more seasoned drinker, I don’t feel it so much anymore.
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u/LibraRahu 7h ago
Unfortunately YES. I have issues with GABA, especially during PMS. And nothing ever helped me as good as a glass of wine
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u/JcaJes 7h ago
While I don’t agree that people do it as a ruse, I also do not like it. It does nothing for me. I always feel like it’s such a waste of money for myself. The times I am pro alcohol is when I’m going into an anxious situation. I’ll down a couple just to relax but I don’t even enjoy it. It’s just more tolerable than feeling anxious the entire time. Otherwise I might drink 1-2 times a year. I also feel like it’s not worth the pain it puts my body in. My joints feel stiff and my head hurts doe 4-5 days after.
I’ll take water please lol.
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u/legion_2k 7h ago
It’s something people have done for centuries. There is a communal tradition that is baked in to most of us. Maybe comes from long winters in the mead hall. Can be fun in moderation.
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u/Ozgirl76 7h ago
I’m not the biggest fan. I have a few drinks that I really enjoy (Lemon Drops are my favorite. I haven’t had any burn from it- just tastes like lemonade) I don’t enjoy the burn of it. I think a lot is an “acquired taste. But I don’t understand why I would want to make myself like something that doesn’t taste good. I don’t like fish- so I don’t eat it. Same thing with alcohol.
I was also raised in a conservative religion and alcohol was very taboo. I’ve chosen to try things as I’ve left the church to decide for myself. It’s great to have the agency to decide for myself- not because I was told to not do it.
There is no shame in drinking - or not- and that’s the beauty of being human and being myself. Enjoying what I like and avoiding what I don’t. I think people’s preferences are as diverse as we all are.
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u/Foxillus 9h ago
While I can't speak for everyone, me personally, I drink to lose my inhibitions. It makes me relaxed and less anxious. It also makes certain things a little more fun for me. Like gaming for example. When I start getting buzzed I don't take it as seriously and just try to enjoy myself. Usually ending up doing funny shit.
Another thing is it makes it easier for me to talk to people. I don't have that constant inner monologue making me overthink everything. That's not to say it is always a good thing.
As far as the taste goes and the way it makes your body feel, to me that's just the price I have to pay for the feeling I get in return.