Why the beer hate? (Forked Thread: What are the no-goes...)

[D.Shaffer]

It seems a bit silly to me. I view gaming as a social event, so as long as no one gets disruptive, I'm all for anything that lets people relax. I dont even mind smoking, so long as they do it outside.

 

[Holy Bovine]

We actually enjoy beer enough at our games that we started a beer club. Every game two people are responsible for bringing a beer they haven't tried. Then we judge them after the game is over. Most of them aren't very good (no one has tried them for a reason!) but we have found some gems.

Of course, I don't require it and would respect a group's request not to have any alcohol.

Now this is a good idea. we've always enjoyed a beer or three at our games (only once did 2 people get drunk and one of them had just come off a bad break up so we were forgiving especially since he's actually a pretty funny drunk and the other guy just got the giggles - we did put a stop to excessive drinking after that and no one has ever gotten even slightly drunk since). I like this idea of trying something new each game session though I am pretty entrenched in my love of Sleeman's Cream Ale.

 

[billd91]

I think there are also some cultural issues present, too - certainly I feel that drinking is much more accepted as a social norm in the UK. I don't think I know anyone who doesn't drink.

Weird that. The American temperance movement grew out of British non-conformist faiths. I'm guessing our failed experiment of Prohibition took the wind right out of the sails of British temperance unions.

 

[Doug McCrae]

I think there are also some cultural issues present, too - certainly I feel that drinking is much more accepted as a social norm in the UK. I don't think I know anyone who doesn't drink.

In Scotland it's compulsory. I'm drunk at the moment, and always have been.

 

[Obryn]

As for smoking, I don't allow it inside my house. I could give the asthma excuse - and it would be about half true - but mostly, I don't want my house smelling like smoke. I game with a bunch of smokers, though, and they are perfectly willing to smoke outside.

It's not just a coastal thing; I haven't been to a house or apartment in quite a while where the residents allow smoking indoors.

-O

 

[Bumbles]

It just seems odd that you treat your closest friends and complete strangers the same way when it comes to alcohol.

I prefer not to be accused of favortism. Heck, even when it's two friends, it can be an issue. One says "You let X drink because you like X better than me" . Yeah, that's their fault for not recognizing their own individual issues but what can I do? Well, it may come to the point where I don't play with that person regardless of what I do, but at least in this regard I can treat everybody equally, friends, strangers, and then nobody's arguing over being treated differently. There are enough times you can't do that that I'll not embrace the hassle of another any more.

 

[loki8481]

Thank god, I thought we were the only ones on this board that allowed smoking

I have no problem with smoking for the most part, but it's against my lease, at least in-doors... don't want to get screwed out of my security deposit because of smoke damage.

illegal smoking... just wait till after the game is over. I have nothing against it in general, but playing with players who are high is just a nightmare.

 

[Obryn]

I prefer not to be accused of favortism. Heck, even when it's two friends, it can be an issue. One says "You let X drink because you like X better than me" . Yeah, that's their fault for not recognizing their own individual issues but what can I do? Well, it may come to the point where I don't play with that person regardless of what I do, but at least in this regard I can treat everybody equally, friends, strangers, and then nobody's arguing over being treated differently. There are enough times you can't do that that I'll not embrace the hassle of another any more.

I can't believe that a group of players would respond in that way.

Is this a hypothetical situation, or has this actually happened?

-O

 

[Bumbles]

I'm only part way through this thread, so I apologize if someone has asked this. But I'm struck wondering if this aversion to alcohol penetrates to within the game itself? Does in game drinking bother you? Curious (because the whole anti-drinking this is 100% bizarre to me)

Well, I'm not interested in doing that sort of thing in detail, as some people I've known are, but then, I'm not interested in food in detail, while there are people who love to have the taste and flavor expanded on in detail. Or who love to discuss their sartorial style, or get their appearance just right.

Boring to me? Yes. But I can chalk that up to style, and not see it as a problem that needs to be headed off directly as it has had far less of an impact on my games. I have yet to have somebody object when I say "Ok, I appreciate your interest in that sort of thing, but it's not within mine" when it comes to wanting to have a wine-tasting or a fashion show in game.

Wouldn't it be less radical to ask him to turn it off and smoke outside?

Less radical? Yes. More effective? Maybe not. I can respect how for some people they'd rather leave than risk an argument.

 

[Chainsaw]

This has basically been said in a few ways already, maybe even by me, but to elaborate... drinking at our games is fine as long as it doesn't become disruptive.

Honestly, for us, the key is the disruptive behavior, whether it's caused by booze or anything else. We've had a few players who are never, ever ready on their turn and regularly bog down the game by trying to debate immaterial minutiae with the DM on other people's turns (this is why they're not ready on their own turn). Anyway, those people have caused far, far more disruption and irritation in our games than anyone ever drinking too much.

We regularly have new people show up, but, for the most part, they don't typically want to drink until they've gotten to know us, which works fine for us too.

Maybe we've just been lucky, I don't know.