[myspacecoo]

I don't see a problem with youths or females enjoying a drink of alcoholic content.

The problem only comes in from over-indulgence leading to drunken or unruly behaviour. If you know that you are a real handful when drunk then don't get drunk.

Alcohol in excessive amounts is very damaging to the liver. So it's good not to drink too much.

[bikersfan]

Thai whiskey is foul anyway Doesn't go down smoothly like a nice scotch. Like drinking a hedgehog thats been set a light

I found they offer alcohol but no one gets upset if you don't drink it.

[cQT6nmEc]

When I went and visited my (then) girlfriend's family it was Songkran, so everyone was sitting around under a tree a drinking. I'm not a strong drinker but since it was my first time meeting everyone I didn't want to offend. They plied me with a clear alchoholic "drink" that smelled and tasted like kerosine, (not that I know what kero tastes like.) I had to throw it back in one shot every time and it almost blinded me. After about 5 of those I was eventually able to catch the eye of my girlfriend and convey to her through pathetic eye-language that I need rescuing.

I was quite drunk by now but each drink I threw back brought a voracious cheer from the assembled village members.

I wonder how being intoxicated in a social situation is percieved by family members...

[Uciaucrx]

Adrian,

I'm an alcoholic, I drank to get drunk, to pass out, to wash away how and what I felt about myself.

I prefer not to feel that way about myself any more, I did my best to exercise that option today, and I hope I do the same thing again tomorrow.



Joan

[V8V8V8]

Dear Joan

From my experience here, alchohol does play a massive part in Thai social life with people buying a bottle of whiskey and sharing it throughout the night, the men get very drunk but as a rule women do not drink much in Thailand. If you go out with a mixed groups of friends, particularly work colleagues, the women will stick to pepsi and water. It is very easy for a woman to refuse alchohol. I have never been pressured into drinking, in fact people find it commendable if I refuse (which isn't often I have to admit).

There are also lots of opportunities for meditation so if you need to chill out and 'rebalance' yourself then you can easily find that here.

I hope you have fun and good luck with staying on the wagon!

[Soolfelpecelf]

When I was in thailand last year I discovered that the woman drink a lot and are always trying to spunge a free drink off you, just becareful if you get drunk you may become a target for a PIC POCKET. and have your wallet stolen.

[Lauramalina]

I think Joan means that she does not want to drink alcohol and is wondering about social situations where everyone drinks. The way to avoid drinking without offending anyone is to say "I can't drink" or "I am unable to drink" instead of "I don't want a drink." If someone offers you a drink and you refuse and say you don't want it they may be a little offended. If you say "I can't" everyone understands, even when it is part of a religious ritual. In Thai you can say:

gin lao mai dai- I can't drink whiskey
gin bai mai dai- I can't drink beer
sup buri mai dai- I can't smoke cigarettes

gin lao mai bpen- I am not able to drink whiskey
gin bai mai bpen- I not able to drink beer
sup buri mai bpen- I not able to smoke cigarettes

gin lao mai aow- I don't want to drink whiskey (not so polite when someone offers you a drink)

[grinaJanoDant]

Hi Joan, I can really sympathise with you on this one having had problems with alcohol myself.

I think it all depends on what you do and where and with who you spend your time in Thailand. I was there in May and found myself getting drawn into the party scene a little too much. You have to be especially careful being a Farang as not all those Thai smiles are genuine. There's some really nasty people out there as well. you only have to read the papers to see that.

My advice to you would be to plan ahead and decide which part of Thailand you would like to see. Maybee decide on some temples to visit and concentrate on the spiritual side of the country. Or if your not into that how about doing a massage course , Yoga or just living the healthy life down on the beach?

I came to the conclusion that I drank when I was unhappy or just bored. Ideally Thailand has so much to offer and most of the people are genuinly friendly that neither of these things should pose too much of a problem.

Take the trip, if you've never been to Thailand before it might just change your life. I know it did mine.