Old Timer: Looking for your sage advice.

[NoMo_Caffeine]

Hi All,

My friends and I have been distilling for a little while now and been guided by discussion on this site. Thank you all!
We've basically solved an alcohol cost and supply issue and picked up a fun hobby at the same time. (What fun! No we're focusing on quality.)

My nagging concern with this alcohol abundance, is my friends and I may now be risking alcoholism and burning out our livers.

I have heard "alcoholism" loosely defined as "The habitual consumption of alcohol negatively impacting ones' life or the lives of those around them."
I now drink way more than I ever have. I feel it enhances my quality of life. It does not interfere with my job, or my finances, or parenting my young family.

How do I avoid waking up one day in the future with a failed liver? or an alcoholic?

Is this fear founded or realistic?

Old timers, how have you maintained this hobby without letting it get out of control?

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Thanks guys.

-NoMo

[MitchyBourbon]

I don't think being an old timer qualifies a person to answer your questions. I am certainly not qualified, nor do I want the responsibility for answering such questions. For me, this is just a hobby.

You may want to seek out a professional.

[rad14701]

Simply because you have discovered how to make better than commercial spirits, for less in most instances, that doesn't mean you should be abusing alcohol... Moderation is a learned trait just like learning patience in this hobby... If you are worried that you are drinking too much alcohol then you probably are... I know how many proof ounces of alcohol I drink and keep track because of health issues and medications... It's called responsibility, just like parenting and everything else in our lives... If this hobby becomes a problem then my best advice is to take a step or three back and decide what's most important in your life and proceed from there - or not...

[ga flatwoods]

"I now drink way more than I ever have. I feel it enhances my quality of life."

NoMo_Caffeine,
This is definately a realistic reason to be afraid of your consequences. The fact that you are questioning your own ability to control your actions regarding substances known to cause addiction should be a strong signal to you that perhaps you are one among those that cannot drink. You now "feel" that it enhances your life and indeed that may be a fact. That being said, there are obviously other shortcomings in your personality, and/or life, whether you choose to admit it or not , that would allow such notions to be considered factual by your psyche. While it is true that alcohol has for thousands of years been a staple depressant in human behavior, it has proven both beneficial and destructive at the same time. Many on here could tell you of problems witnessed misuse that caused lives to be lost, health taken away, families left hungerless and fatherless/motherless. There is much more chances of bad coming from an addiction than any good, unless tryingto kill yourself slowly.
As far as us ole timers, as previously stated, this is a hobby not a production plan for an alcoholic addiction. No one on here would EVER, EVER, recommend this hobby for someone with improper self control or ideas of doubt about it. While it is obvious we most all inbibe, there is a high probability thst we make far more than we PERSONALLY consume. Further, thus the idea of small batch recipes that will only yield a couple quarts. Mass quantity production in this forum is frowned upon and subject to bad press for reasons such as you suggest. We want good press and good experiences from the hobby.
Friend I would suggest you consider a new hobby. If you have doubts about your own control then we certainly do. I TOO SUGGEST PROFESSIONAL COUNCILING. if there wasn't an issue then there shouldnt be a concern. You asked! sign in the new members forum if you hang around.
GA Flatwoods

[LWTCS]

Hi NoMo

It is good that you ask yourself these questions.
This hobby likker can be the cleanest spirit ever and as such can allow you to self medicate so much so that there is little if any sin tax to pay the following morning. That can be a scary thing and a major health issue if you fail to use good judgement and restraint.

A good buzz is a great thing but just don't let it take the place of true quality of life and you should be fine.
Good luck on you way.

[jholmz]

just because your making it dosnt mean you have to drink it all at once let some age and moderate yourself just cause its there doesnt mean ya gotta drink it

[NoMo_Caffeine]

Thank you all for your replies.

This reminds me of one time several years ago, I was applying weather-stripping sealant around a hatch to the attic of my house. (I live in cold climate Canada.) The hatch was in a small closet. As I unloaded almost a full tube of this foul-smelling stuff with a caulking gun in a confined space, I wondered if the fumes were affecting me. It then occurred to me that if I was wondering, they probably were. I quickly finished the job, then went outside to get fresh air. I spend a few moments feeling euphoric, and then a couple hours with a wicked headache.

I think you've told me what I already knew, but needed to hear.

I need to moderate myself.

I'm confident that I can. I'm going to stick around here and continue the hobby (at least for now.)

Thanks guys.


-NoMo

[ga flatwoods]

Cool! Just remember one day no matter where you go or what you have done you will find you cant run from yourself. Act daily to be the person you want to find there.
Look forward to your input, be safe and moderate
GA Flatwoods

[Prairiepiss]

You said you find yourself drinking way more then you did before. This could mean anything from going from one drink every six months to on drink a month. Or one drink a year to one drink a day. Or five?

I drink a lot more then I did before this hobby. But I went from every other month getting snokered. To two or three drinks a week. But I don't feel that that is a problem. If I did 3 or 4 drinks a day. Then I mite think about whether I have a problem or not.

I agree moderation is needed. But truthfully we have no clue as to what you think is a lot. It mite be what some of us around here would consider moderating.

[NoMo_Caffeine]

You said you find yourself drinking way more then you did before. This could mean anything from going from one drink every six months to on drink a month. Or one drink a year to one drink a day. Or five?

I drink a lot more then I did before this hobby. But I went from every other month getting snokered. To two or three drinks a week. But I don't feel that that is a problem. If I did 3 or 4 drinks a day. Then I mite think about whether I have a problem or not.

I agree moderation is needed. But truthfully we have no clue as to what you think is a lot. It mite be what some of us around here would consider moderating.

I was purposely vague on admitting quantities. A lot to one person is not to another. I have not been keeping careful track, and I am perhaps a little embarrassed.

I estimate I've been drinking between maybe 4 and 6 ounces of spirits (~40%) more days than not. Perhaps four days out of five. About once a week I have been drinking to intoxication (8 to 10 ounces). Once every couple of months (8 to 10 weeks) I "overshoot" and end up drinking to nausea and vomiting. (That seems to happen between 8 and 12 ounces.) This has been going on for about 30 months or so.

Somewhere along the line I lost any inhibitions about drinking alone. I also recently noticed when mixing drinks for others they tend to find them objectionably strong whereas to me they seem "about right". These and other clues tell me its time to pull up out of this dive before I crash.

Part of the motivation for exploring this hobby was economic. (Government liquor ain't cheap in Canada.) My distilling friends and I have solved our cost and supply issue. I have found an extremely complex and enjoyable hobby along the way. jholmz comment about not needing to drink everything I distill is timely and poignant to me. I would hate to have to give up this hobby for lack of restraint.

So back to the my original question of "How do I avoid waking up one day in the future with a failed liver? or an alcoholic?"

I will self-moderate.


-NoMo

(What will I do with my wealth of excess product?)

[new moon]

alcoholism is an addiction like any other,...its defined by the reason your drinking,...had a bad day,gotta drink to get over it,...wife pissed you off,gotta drink to deal with it,...and its uncontrollable,..youll be lie'in bout how much an how often,..hiding how much an how often,...an it makes your life unmanageable as it replaces family an responsibility's,..if this fits you,..i suggest an AA meeting! if not then your just a normal sociable drinker coming into your own....as for the liver...thats questions for a M.D.!

[boozooka Joe]

Hi Guys,
This may be a little heady for a first newcomer post (besides the new members intro), but I figured of all the areas on this site, this is actually one I where I have some experience and practice (spent time working as an abuse counselor out of school <a long time ago, grain of salt>). And forgive me for not being an old timer.
I just want to reiterate, or maybe compound a little from GA flatwoods,

"I now drink way more than I ever have. I feel it enhances my quality of life"

Is phrase that I have heard many times, and though Ga flatwoods says it best,
"While it is true that alcohol has for thousands of years been a staple depressant in human behavior, it has proven both beneficial and destructive at the same time,"
I think it's important for maybe others looking into this sort of concern to really get what he is saying (or what I think he is saying?). The hunger for alcohol doesn't always come in the form of your standard sitcom addiction (wasted days, family strife, embarrassing fallouts...&c), in fact, often it is a small trigger or habit that tips a person off of the very thin path that is safe alcohol practices and into those more often heard "alcoholic signs". It's true that alcoholism can have very serious effects on your body, but, and this is probably not a shocker, it also has serious effects on your personality and trains your brain to need, and want, its dampening effect.
It is, like all brain chemistry affecting substances, a way of augmenting reality. Sometimes this is good, or harmless, but over time, with too much exposure, or sometimes just based on personality, it can become a way of being. Your brain learns to equalize to it's modified state, and basically, the universes shift and drunk is the new normal and fun, while sober is what you get to after a "good time." This is where you start hearing REALLY dangerous phrases like "everything is more fun drunk" or "I just am not myself sober". Even a person who only occasionally drinks can fall into this category, it's all about mentality. We all think about drinking with friends as a fun thing, but it is important to be able to sit with them sober, even if they are drinking. And if you cant, it is important to know what it is about life (and sorry for the cliché) that you are trying to cover up, or ignore, with alcohol.
Anyway, all of that to say, (and I may be repeating the advice of wiser people) be sure to know why you drink, even if you are self moderating. Dangerous alcohol use is dangerous, even if you do it less often.
It might be helpful to actually try to write down why you drink for healthy reasons, and always manage yourself according to that. Because amount means nothing in alcohol, it's all about the why.


All that to say, congrats on starting this kind of conversation before it is too late, it can be a really big deal to talk about this kind of stuff, and truly I appreciate this forum more that I found this thread.

Also, sorry if this thread is not the place for me. You didn't ask for my advice, but I spit it out anyway. I mean everything I said in the best way, and it likely isn't a stranger's place to say anything.

Good luck, man, and I would love to hear updates. This kind of thing is close to my heart and the best place for your recovery (or in this case adjustment), they say, is out in the open.

B. Joe

[Hobbyprone]

To any and all it is a terrible problem and if you ask you more than likely have a problem. I caught up with myself and realized one day...hey it doesn't have to be the last time I ever do this. I can enjoy it in moderation and with faith in myself and restriction I live happier now and found this to be a fun hobby and several others because I dont wake up in a tyrant every morning. Only you can help yourself. Hope you do well your young family needs you there. Not out there I only speak from personal experience!

-Hobbyp

[waldob]

With all hobbies, When I took up archery ....all that I could think of was bow...day in and day out... At the end I got in fights with my wife about it and my actions did have a bad influence on my household ....I did realize very soon (the hard way) that is not about the quantity of the sport but the quality of the end result ... We are all exited when taking up something new and it is very easy to go overboard..... I have spend over 300$ building my setup...reading and building ....building and redesign ....This month it got so bad that after paying my accounts I sat with almost nothing extra because I have overspend on my pot......Also a addiction ...Compulsive spending....We need (Myself included) to realize... yes we are exited, we want more and more, we have to realize one thing... this is a hobby! this will not bring in money, or anything positive increase in health. This hobby is for yourself only...time to learn, experiment and to do better every time you run. I have seen many post that people complain about waiting for the product to run, or for the fermentation to stop......
every bit of it must be fun....I see this the same as fishing....for myself, If I go out and spend the whole day and come out empty handed (sunburned and all)....Im still happy, I had time to myself, to think about problems, to be in nature ...to sit down and just live for once and take in the small things around you....
That's what it is all about.... happiness ......If any aspect comes in that this is not beneficial to you.....you must stop....stand back and take a clear overview of what you are doing and what you want to achieve .......If this is for free booze and unlimited supply....then my friend you are not doing it right.... If you make something and you are proud of what you have make .....Well Done !!!you are doing it right!

Good luck....in all of this and I DO hope you will take the right path forward !!