18 replies to this topic

[stephen]

I know there's another current thread regarding how to "replace alcohol" with a less toxic substance... A slightly different take on the same type of issue:

My career requires me to consume copious amounts of alcohol while sealing business deals and the like. Are there any drugs out there counteract the effects of alcohol?

Anything out there I can consume prior to drinking that will keep me as clear-headed and rational after doing shots for three hours?

[Shepard]

Getting really fat?

Actually, there are some substances that will keep you from becoming intoxicated, but definately not something you'd want to do that often, and I'm not sure that they'd be any better for you than alcohol.

There are, of course, damage control substances that you might want to look into. But, that's another issue.

[Ghostrider]

What job requires you to do three shots in three hours? Man, that's rough. I don't think there is such a drug that can completely cancel out the effects of alcohol. But since you are not physically required to drink, what if you just tell those you are meeting with that you are mormon or make up some other excuse for not drinking -- health related, designated driver, etc. Tell them that both your parents were killed by a drunk driver when you were seven...well, maybe you don't need to go that far. Why lie about drinking...just tell them the stuff makes you sick. Personally, I don't like alcohol either. I never have. The only possible benefit is that it gives me a false sense of confidence...actually, its not even confidence, it just lowers my sense of pride/dignity such that I will do things I may normally not do under the influence of not only alcohol, but it's much stronger sibling, peer-pressure.

[stephen]

Getting really fat?

Actually, there are some substances that will keep you from becoming intoxicated, but definately not something you'd want to do that often, and I'm not sure that they'd be any better for you than alcohol.

That's the problem! I'm a relatively lean individual. And I never really built up the tolerance in college like most of my peers (too much time spent with engr homework and girls [lol] ).

I almost feel like I should invest some time in building a tolerance, but I hate to subject my body to that. On the other hand, being imparied while trying to do business isn't very helpful.

[Shepard]

You can always do the bartender thing: finish a beer relatively quickly, then when you start doing shots, spit it into your beer while everyone else gets hammered.

If anyone finds out, prepare to be ridiculed and labeled a woman.

[Ghostrider]

That's the problem!  I'm a relatively lean individual.  And I never really built up the tolerance in college like most of my peers (too much time spent with engr homework and girls  [lol] ).

Wait...wait...wait...I remember the engineering homework, but not the girls...where did you go? ASU? I personally know of many friends who switched from ENGR to business because they were getting too much of one, but not enough of the other.

I almost feel like I should invest some time in building a tolerance, but I hate to subject my body to that.  On the other hand, being imparied while trying to do business isn't very helpful.

No, you want to stay lean and you want to avoid drinking. The only smart man I know who drinks a lot (or at least seems to drink a lot) is Aubrey de Grey (I suppose I get this impression because he has had many interviews in one particular bar -- the DNA bar, forgot what it is called)...I still don't know why he drinks. I think he knows of some anti-aging effects that the rest of us don't know about, but he's too smart to risk his scientific reputation on promoting beer.

[patch]

Caffeine sobers me up a little bit. Alcohol makes you dumber by depressing brain activity, so it makes sense that a stimulant would do the opposite. But of course, it only goes so far...
If you want to build up your tolerance you could just have one or two drinks a night to make your body get used to it. Alcohol isn't great for you but it's not bad in moderation--just look at the europeans, they drink plenty of wine and beer and they're doing OK. Good luck.

P.S.: Can you get me a job at your company?

[Ghostrider]

Alcohol isn't great for you but it's not bad in moderation--just look at the europeans, they drink plenty of wine and beer and they're doing OK.

The Europeans, if you want to generalize, are doing OK. But that does not exclude the possibility that they could be doing better by not drinking alcohol. They are probably doing better due to better diet and more exercise...if you only have to work 35 hours a week, that leaves a lot of time for exercise and other healthy activities :-).

[emerson]

The only thing I've come across is paying extremely close attention to all of your actions and motivations while not drunk, and then doing all the more so while. Sure, your reasoning is going to be impaired if you're drunk. But for me, it's the lowered inhibition that are one of the main factors, and one which can be lowered to a large extent with constant observation and attention to whether any particular course of action is the same rational choice which would have made while sober.

That said, I could see huge potential in an ability to totally shrug off any and all amounts of alcohol. Such a person would be working at a horrifically strong advantage in any business situation that involved drinking. Especially drinking which could be moved up in intensity with a little careful nudging by the eternally sober.

[stephen]

That said, I could see huge potential in an ability to totally shrug off any and all amounts of alcohol.  Such a person would be working at a horrifically strong advantage in any business situation that involved drinking. Especially drinking which could be moved up in intensity with a little careful nudging by the eternally sober.

I know! Wouldn't that be great?

I'm a rather inhibited individual, so I'm not a sloppy drunk. My mind just starts to slow down... I can feel my reactions and mental speed being depressed. In this depressed state, it's difficult to think quickly and strategically negotiate or seek the information I'm looking for.

It doesn't help that wine tastes far better to me than beer. Beer will get me drunk very slowly, but I feel like I'm consuming several weeks worth of calories. Yech.

[Shepard]

I figured that was going to come up.

[xanadu]

Here is what you do. Make arrangements with the bartender to put no alcohol in your drinks. Pay the same amount as a drink and they will be happy because they save money. Your associates will not realise you aren't getting drunk.

[ajnast4r]

xanadu, that is brilliance... lol

[emerson]

Here is what you do. Make arrangements with the bartender to put no alcohol in your drinks. Pay the same amount as a drink and they will be happy because they save money. Your associates will not realise you aren't getting drunk.

Well done. I hate the term, but that's a damn fine example of thinking outside the box of a particular situations framing.

[Shepard]

This could probably work in a small bar, but I'm unsure how it would play out in a larger setting with multiple bartenders or lots of people.

[ajnast4r]

This could probably work in a small bar, but I'm unsure how it would play out in a larger setting with multiple bartenders or lots of people.

just fine if you slip the waiter a 50 to make sure nothing comes back with alcohol in it

[Shepard]

Yeah, that would probably work.

[Ghostrider]

Here is what you do. Make arrangements with the bartender to put no alcohol in your drinks. Pay the same amount as a drink and they will be happy because they save money. Your associates will not realise you aren't getting drunk.

Yeah, that's a great idea. You must be careful though that you do not sit too close to the bartender as he is making the drinks. Otherwise others may catch on. Another great idea to make a lot of money is to work for a publishing company which publishes VERY POPULAR financial magazines. I heard about two business men who paid the forklift operators at one of the major financial magazines, think it was Money Magazine or Forbes to get a copy of all magazines a week or two before they were released in stores and then trade on the recommendations published in the magazine. I know that those involved made several million doing this, but they also started out with a lot of money to begin with.