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>>No, I don't drink that often, and I've never really had alcoholism affect my life in any way. There were times that I had issues stopping once starting which led to self destructive behavior, but I suspect that was more just being young and stupid than having a real problem. I've really mellowed with age and it's been years since I've been sloppy drunk.
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>In fairness, being "young and stupid" can cause serious problems as well, depending on the level of stupidity. Getting wasted at a college beer party and waking up in someone else's dorm room at noon the next day with shaved eyebrows and a missing wallet is definitely "young and stupid". Getting wasted and driving 20 miles is where the problem comes in, since the person is now impacting other lives. Many moons ago I lost a friend to a drunk driver and recently one of my wife's friends also lost a friend the same way.
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>That's always been my "red line" (ouch, did I just quote Obama?) Anything dumb you do that only affects yourself is stupid (and we've all been there) - anything that harms other people (whether people who count on you, or just innocent bystanders) is a whole different ball game.
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>Not saying you've ever been behind the wheel of a car while hammered - or for that matter, a John Deere Patio Series 110 Garden Tractor (I highly recommend the 1970 orange model, sold at the auction in Springville) , just talking in general.
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>(OK, was kidding about the tractor, had to throw that one in, because I have to buy a new one) :)

I went through a phase in college where I just didn't care anymore, and three times in one week I got hammered, jumped in my car, and went cruising. On the morning after the third time I got a call in the morning that my close friend was killed the night before when he was driving drunk, ran a stop sign, and smashed into an SUV, paralyzing the driver. That effectively ended my drunk driving days.