I used to be straightedge back in high-school. Around my 21st birthday I really started drinking and had a few lonesome nights with whiskey. In that way, I found myself quite intoxicated and hoping to be sober as soon as possible. That was no fun.
But to reinforce what Sadhatter said. I usually reserve drinking for a weekend spent with friends, and a night of reduced (to the point of no) inhibitions is healthy and quite enjoyable when you can share it with close friends. There are those conversations you have with someone else well into their cups that, at the time, seem to be both profound and introspective, while turning out to be complete gibberish. The rantings of a lone drunk are meaningless unless shared with another intoxicated monster.
It also gives one a taste of how "they could be" (smooth, popular, charming, daring, etc) as opposed to how they think they are. That's always a good feeling.
Am I drunk right now?
The irony of it is that the term " social drinker" tends to refer to someone who has a beer or two at a party. Personally i think this is a misnomer.
I would consider that kind of person an infrequent drinker. Or a "For taste" drinker.
Myself, i am a social drinker. I drink for an occasion, and to excess. That being said, i can go months at a time not drinking, or i could go once a week for months. The alcohol itself doesn't hold the sway over me ( to tell you the truth i am one of the few people that drinks that can admit it all tastes like Crap. I take it for the effect, not the taste. ) , being drunk, without the party just would seem lame.
Now to temper this with my usual self depreciating remarks. I never drank until i was of age ( okay, 20 days before, once, and it was expired gin.) and i got a bit too heavy into it when i was 20 or so. But i had a good head on my shoulders, and once i got to the point where drinking was something i was doing every other day, or every three days, i stopped. It was more the circle of friends i had than my own choosing, and once i got a bit more maturity, i drank how and when i wanted, not to ' fit in'.
Drinking is like anything else, smoking, pot, comic books, collecting, etc. If you have a decent head on your shoulders your going to be fine. But if you don't your going to get into trouble.
My social circle, currently is divided into two categories ( and it has been for a while.) my partying friends, and my nerdy friends. ( though through effort of mine, i have managed to make my closest acquaintances get into d and d , bridging the gap.) I have just as much fun Playing a marathon session of D and D as i do drinking. And on the flip side have seen people get into just as much social and financial trouble with collecting as alcohol.
( for those raising an eyebrow. I have seen people actually have to make the decision of shampoo or comics, and choose comics. Just as i have seen people make that same decision for alcohol. )
