Now, don’t laugh at me. But what is “drunk”? Like, where does it go from “feeling a little funny from having unaccustomed wine” to “drunk”? How does a person know if he/she ever HAS been drunk or not?
Now, don’t laugh at me. But what is “drunk”? Like, where does it go from “feeling a little funny from having unaccustomed wine” to “drunk”? How does a person know if he/she ever HAS been drunk or not?
For me, drunk is when other people can tell you’ve been drinking. Before that, you’re “buzzed.”
I’m sure it’s a very subjective term but for me it has mostly negative connotations: drunk is when you start doing things you wouldn’t normally do (and will likely regret), people notice you’re inebriated, your motor functions are impaired, you feel like ass the next morning.
It’s tough to tell the difference between “buzzed” and “drunk”, too. Which is why I try not to drink in public. I embarass myself.
I’m with both Katy and Linda. If other people notice, you’re likely past the point where you can control yourself from doing things you normally wouldn’t.
Also, if there’s a question as to whether or not you’ve ever been drunk, chances are you haven’t been DRUNK drunk.
I kind of suspect if you have to ask, you’ve never been drunk. For me, Buzzed is a light and happy but pretty normal feeling. Drunk is sillier, looser and can be a lot more fun. Also, when drunk, your tongue loosens, and your feet are less coordinated, and sometimes, you also barf in your purse.
I will reiterate — if you’re asking, you probably haven’t been drunk.
Drunk is slurring, but not realizing it. Drunk is falling down over your own feet and thinking you must have tripped over something. Drunk is talking a little too loudly about the trashy looking girl two seats down.
Buzzed: Happy, teensy bit dizzy, prone to babbling and spontaneous dancing.
Drunk: Falling over in the middle of spontaneous dancing, talking too loud, and suddenly realizing that you are the funniest person in the world.
Wasted: Making out with strangers, unable to remain upright,crawling to the nearest flushing receptacle.
The husband’s evaluation of when he is drunk: “When I have trouble with balance”.
Mine: When I start to lose the shut-up filter. I have a line between “have a shot and still am able to know I shouldn’t broach a particular subject” and “oh god, the inhibitions are gone. let me tell off my mother-in-law”.
Another interest and corollary question — why do you drink and/or get drunk.
I, too, say if you have to ask, you’ve never been drunk. But I also think that the line between “buzzed” and “drunk” is personal, and there’s probably a “tipsy” in between there. I disagree that drunk means you slur but are not aware of it; I think there is a level of drunk before that where you ARE aware of the slurring. Then again, maybe at that level, you’re not quite slurring yet. Hmm.
Well, like I said, it’s personal. And there are levels. You can be drunk without being “wasted.”
To me, drunk means your judgment is impaired and you’ve lost some measure of control over yourself. I almost always regret drunk. Buzzed is pre-drunk and still in control – just a little happier and lighter than normal.
When I actually SIT on a public toilet? I’m drunk. Otherwise, I hover a good 6 inches above.
Oh…and slurring also equals drunk to me….when other people can tell you’re under the influence I guess….
I agree with Dr. Maureen – the definitions of ‘tipsy,’ ‘buzzed,’ ‘drunk,’ and ‘wasted’ are probably different for everyone, and they also change over time. For me, I no longer allow myself to get beyond ‘tipsy’ – when I’m a more willing to be social and talkative, without making an ass of myself. ‘Drunk’ is just so uncomfortable that I’m not sure how I would define it anymore.
Okay…I think of it in terms of how crazy I get in…um…bed (now you know why I chose “anonymous”).
If I am drunk, I will do just about anything and love it.
Tipsy means I have more fun doing the usual. You know – I don’t have to gear myself up, but I am not doing anything out-of-the-ordinary.
I think I need a shot after actually admitting to that…
I think it’s like having an orgasm… you’ll know when you’ve had one, but I was unsure if I’d ever had one until that point :-)
I think many people don’t know when they’re drunk, which is why they get in a car and drive that way. They are in denial because their judgement is gone. Many drunk people will insist they are not drunk, when they obviously are.
I second mamarose’s definitions, they are exactly how I’d define those three terms.
I know I’m “drunk” as opposed to “buzzed” when I’m definitely feeling that loss of control and I’m getting too loud and too stumbly.
But I don’t drink very often, and hardly ever get DRUNK anymore. Now I just get a little buzz, giggle a lot more than usual, and then sober up. lol.
Tipsy/Buzzed = giggly, sudden knowledge that you are the BEST dancer/singer ever and need to share this with THE WORLD, feeling a tiny bit floaty, getting the munchies
Drunk = getting up from the table and realizing that someone put your feet on the wrong legs.
well when I’m buzzed my eyelids feel a tad heavy and I get sleepy and content (depending on the setting) and smile more.
when I’m drunk, I talk like a pirate and say “wow, I’m drunk” alot.
if you have to ask, you’ve never been drunk. like orgasm…(though not comparing orgasm to drunkenness at all. just saying, if you have to ask, you’ve never…)
Praytell…why are you asking???
Ha ha, my word verification is drinks. nope, I lied…it is drings.
So… are you drunk NOW?
OMG. I didn’t laugh at you but I sure did laugh at some people’s responses! That totally cheered me up.
Drunk is definitely not very cute. Drunk is slurring words, accidentally saying things that were not-so-necessary, talking too close to epople, falling down, or oh, suffering mightily the next day. Buzzed, tipsy, potato, potahto. That’s fun and hard to keep going without either getting sober or getting sloshed. That’s just giggly, talky, silly fun.
Bite your upper lip; can’t feel it? Drunk!
Totally a great question! Due to some personal and health situations I’ve never had even a drop of alcohol. I’ve spent my fair share of time around drunk folks (some very entertaining, some not so much, all veerrry unattractive when hung over the toilet bowl). But since I’ve never tried I’ve never felt and for that I’m always curious of what it’s like.
First thing that came into my head: if you aren’t sure if you have ever been drunk or not you haven’t been.
Buzzed is so much better.
For the record, if you grew where I did (New Orleans) this whole line of inquiry and responseb is just straight-up hilarious.
For me, buzzed is kind of light-headed and giggly and fun. Drunk is out of control, moving sloppily, cessation of self-censoring– usually the way I realize I’m drunk is when I suddenly realize I’m saying something that really maybe is not a good idea to be saying. (Especially since you usually get louder the more drunk you are.)
(FWIW, I don’t drink any more. Got tired of waking up regretting things I’d done.)
Annonymous’s (that was very difficult and I have no idea where the “s” and ‘ should go) comment was so hilarious and also…ummm. true.
HAHAHAHAHA!!!
Thanks people. I needed that.
Also, I think mamarose is dead on.
Firstly, I have to say that I’ve never been drunk… on alcohol. I’ve never drunk any of it, for religious reasons. However, I have been high before and I would say it’s the same as drunk.
I had my gallbladder removed at 19, and was prescribed percocet for pain. My system was sensitive to it, because I was completely gone on half doses. Balance went out the window. I literally couldn’t walk straight for two weeks. I said things on that drug that I would normally never say. I was also prone to zoning out looking at all the pretty lights.
I’ve been buzzed a few times, too, because we weren’t aware that we didn’t have proper ventilation for painting… The first was a church youth service project when I was 14. Never, ever paint with oil based paint in an unventilated stairwell. Me and four friends were in there, them for longer than me. :) They got drunk to the extent that they spent time painting flowers on exposed body parts like arms and legs. I just got buzzed, because I found just about anything funny. Thing is, both times that this has happened with me, I got hangover symptoms before stuff completely worn off.
The second time was at 17 and was a combo. See, we were building out device for the National Engineering and Design Challenge. The body was an old desk drawer. We were putting verathane on it at the time, and our classroom wasn’t ventilated well enough. It doesn’t help that we were also overloaded on sugar from Sweet Tarts and Shock Tarts. Everything was funny. And I do mean everything. as in the previous case, I got the hangover headache long before the effects of the fumes ad sugar dissipated.
I don’t drink a lot. To me “buzzed” is when I get a little light-headed–and sometimes giggly.
The closest I’ve ever been to “drunk” was when I decided to stand up to get myself another drink–and suddenly realized that I would NOT be able to walk to go get it. I promptly sat down and didn’t drink anything else that night.
If you wake up naked in someone else’s basement, then you were drunk. Anything up to that is child’s play.
At this stage of my life, drunk to me means other people can tell I’m drinking, and my mouth doesn’t work as fast as my brain.
When I was younger, I probably would have said drunk means being wobbly when I walk and doing things I wouldn’t normally do.
I am with -R- on this. The definition of drunk has changed significantly for me over the past several years. Now drunk for me is if I can feel the alcohol and its effects…it is a much lower tolerance than it was when I was in college. But the previous comments are probably more in line with the traditional definition and the one I would have used when I was about 4 years younger. Also agree with the idea that if you don’t know, you probably haven’t been drunk drunk.
One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, FLOOR.
OMG BEST QUESTION EVER!
Because this SO applies to me and I totally need to know.
Sundry is right on – I typically know to stop drinking when I (a) say something in jest that I wouldn’t normally say, (b) feel “lost for words” or stutter in my speech, and/or (c) the room starts to feel smaller (aka I feel I suddenly, desperately need fresh air).
I always figure out I’m drunk when I go to the bathroom because the bathroom is quiet and so I all of a sudden notice everything seems weird and hazy. Also having to sit down on a toilet somehow makes me notice if my balance is screwy.
Also…does anyone else figure it out purely quantitatively? If I have more than two drinks within an hour, I’m pretty much drunk.
SUCH a good question! I always wonder if I’ve ever been straight-up drunk since I’ve never puked or slept with a stranger, danced on a tabletop, etc.
I think everyone has a different definition for themselves, but when gauging OTHER people’s drunkenness, I use the following rule: if they’re still being kind of cute and funny, they’re just buzzed. If they’re being obnoxious, weepy, angry, or, eh, wanton, then they’re probably drunk.
I enjoy buzzed.
Drunk is when I go sort of slurry and realize I’m going to regret having drank too much in the morning (when I am hungover, not that I’m off sleeping with strangers or anything).
I rarely find myself drunk anymore, though it happens here or there when I’m not paying attention and we’re enjoying a party, etc.
I’d love a follow up post where you explain why you ask!
It’s when you all of a sudden realize you’re sitting on the bar kissing the bartender.
self-admninister that field sobriety test like on Cops. Can you walk in a straight line one foot in front of the other? touch the tip of your nose? I don’t know the rest of them, but I’m sure it’s google-able.
Drunk is that point after you’ve been pulled over and the cop puts you in handcuffs for being over the legal limit. You don’t know for sure until that happens which is a real pain in the ass.
I’m drunk when I A. get dizzy B. need to crawl to get where I want to be C. walk/crawl into things D. pass out on the bathroom floor in a hotel room and scare the crap out of people E. have no idea what is going on, but think it’s damn funny.
Drunk, for me, is when I’ve reached prime levels of confidence in my head and am certain that everything that comes out of my mouth is witty/hiliarious/irresistably sexy, but when the words actually DO come out, they are slurred. Or wrong.
Dizziness is also another excellent indicator.
For me being drunk involves doing things you wouldn’t normally do. It involves not being in control of your actions, but not aware that you aren’t. It involves falling flat on your face, and not feeling a thing.
Buzzed is a happy feeling. It’s I haven’t had a drink in a while, it feels so good to relax feeling.
Funny story: when my mom was 65 and I was 27, she called me late in the evening. Like 11.30pm. Unusual time for her to call. She asked [panicked voice] “why is my bed spinning? Every time I lie down the bed spins! Am I dying? How do I make it stop?”
Me: You’re drunk mom. [Trying not to laugh out loud] Have a glass of water and two acetominophen. And stay in bed even when it spins. Take the barf bucket to bed with you. Put a towel on the pillow. I’ll talk you you tomorrow.
I can’t believe, as a person who had never been a “non-drinker”, that she’d never had the bed spin before!