• Jay@lemmy.ca
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    10 days ago

    Yes, my dad was one of them. I haven’t gone to a bar for years but it used to be most smaller bars had at least a few regulars that basically lived there. I remember one old vet that used to show up every day as soon as the bar would open for his daily fix… It got to the point the bar refused to serve him, so he would try and get unsuspecting customers to buy them for him. (This was in the 70’s and 80’s, there were (or at least seemed to be) a lot more alcoholics back then.)

    Also booze used to be a LOT cheaper, so it wasn’t nearly as expensive as it would be now.

    • OrteilGenou@lemmy.world
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      10 days ago

      I remember stories from my dad about a guy he knew where the bar maid would have to help him with the first drink in the morning because his hands would shake so much.

      The romantic history of the happy drunk is almost entirely fictional. I say almost because I know a few people who are able to take it or leave it, but for the most part the people I know/knew who were drinking either in bunches or daily end up complete and unabridged alcoholics, whether they are active and in serious trouble or have sought help and straightened up, but cannot touch it.

      • HuskerNation@lemmynsfw.com
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        10 days ago

        I’m one of the rare happy drunks. Don’t drink often, I’m an extremely quiet person usually. But get a few beers in me and my wife says I won’t shut up but she also says it’s the only time she gets to talk to me. I don’t know why, I can’t hold a conversation when I’m sober. Never know what to talk about, my work life is boring so nothing interesting ever happens.

        When I have a few, it’s likeeverything just starts coming out.

        • PaleRider@feddit.uk
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          10 days ago

          You sound very much like me.

          When sober I’m Mr doesn’t talk a lot (but I will listen) after a beer or two I’m away with the chat.

          I become become very vocal…

    • HuskerNation@lemmynsfw.com
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      10 days ago

      I’ve never been a big drinker but I have a few places around me where beer is $3. And the actual place my wife and I go if we do feel like drinking is our local VFW. I can get a 24 oz frosty on tap for like 2.50. and a jack and coke for 3. Last time we went out drinking spent like $30 total and we were both drunk