Source: xkcd
this post was submitted on 23 Oct 2023
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It's not about "getting drunk", it's about the effect alcohol has on your body. It loosens you up, helps lubricate social gatherings. A single beer is enough to do that. Neighbor comes to talk about the mower, you do it over a beer. If you don't want the effect of alcohol, you drink 0%. A lot of people do that instead of going for a soda or whatever, because it's considered to be more socially acceptable that you are drinking "beer".
I‘d disagree on that. Yes, sharing something to drink is a good way to "lubricate social gatherings" but alcohol does not need to be involved. One beer is not enough for that anyways for most people, especially if you take into account the time it takes to take effect anyways. Here in Germany, if you drink one beer you’re also still allowed to drive
And at least in my experience, a cold coke or a hot cup of tea is just as "lubricating“. The alcohol is not necessary. Of course, if you go for a second, third or fourth beer, it becomes a whole different story but with one beer it’s more of a symbolic toast than anything.
Besides, here in Germany, people who drink 0% beer are in some situations (in a joking way) more shunned than people who drink soda and yet both soda and 0% (especially 0% Hefeweizen) are being served and enjoyed.
One beer doesn't do shit for me. I'd have to drink 4 or 5...(because it takes 45min+ for alcohol to do it's thing) and that doesn't always happen. So it's not for the effect at those times, in fact, often I don't want the effect because it will happen after I leave (say a lunch meeting), but I want a beer to wash down what I've had.
Sometimes I just want a nice cold brew on a hot day after working hard. It can satisfy in ways that other drinks can't, not even my favorite gin and tonic or Tom Collins.
You sound like you've never had the incredible experience of the perfect drink pairing with a meal.
The French would like a word with you, they've mastered the "which wine with this dish", and beer can work the same way. I've been to beer pairings that equal wine pairings...and I'm not a big beer drinker.