Why Do People Like The Taste Of Intoxication?

August 21, 2021

Alcohol is so diverse like food. There is a vast selection of flavors, aromas, qualities, and other characteristics. And alcohol drinkers say that pairing it with the right food can bring out more flavors in a delightful way. Every time I heard about it, I always ask myself, "why do people love the taste of bitterness?" Personally, I never like the taste of alcohol even how delicious the paired foods are.

My curiosity started when I was young. During special occasions like fiestas, birthdays, Christmas, New Year, and other events, alcoholic beverages are always present. The most popular alcohol beverage in our country is coconut wine or what we locally called "tuba." Not only because it is cheaper compared to brandy, beers, grape wines, vodkas, etc, but also because of the distinct flavor that makes it in demand on many special occasions and events. It is also easy to find in many local stores, most especially in urban areas.

One day, I was so curious about why people in our place were always drinking tuba paired with Pepsi, and of course, some appetizers and other food. My father on the other hand also drinks other kinds of alcoholic beverages like beer and vodka. I was too young and doesn't have any idea about alcoholic beverages, but the labels of the bottles taught me their names. I don't even know about the alcohol content of their drinks until I grew up and gained more wisdom.

Back on track, there was a special occasion one day at home and we have containers of tubas. By the way, the tuba was the first kind of alcoholic beverage I have learned. The next was Tanduay and Beer. If there's tuba, there's Pepsi as well because it can't be taken without any pair of cola, but the typical beverage they were pairing with was Pepsi. If you will ask me why I don't actually know the reason. But maybe because the taste of tuba compliments the taste of Pepsi compared to Coke, which was an alternative to Pepsi as well. That's what they have said.

Curiosity can really kill the cat as the quote implies. I saw my cousin drinking tuba so I wanted to try as well. When people weren't looking, I picked up a glass of pure tuba and the aroma was out of my likings but for the sake of feeding the curious cat, I sipped a little amount of it. Duh! That was so disgusting and I spat all the bitter liquid on the ground and wiped my tongue. But the flavor of bitterness lingered on my tongue and so I drank sweet soda to remove the awful flavor.

I wanted to know from personal inquisitiveness, why do people like drinking alcoholic beverages even if the flavor is so awful? I thought that might be because I was a child back then and so I tasted it differently. Later I asked my mother about it but she only reprimanded me for doing such an inappropriate act. She said I was too young to taste such kind of beverage. Since then, I have never tried tasting any kind of alcoholic beverage anymore.

But what's memorable about tuba is every time my grandfather got drunk. He will always tell his grandchildren funny stories and we just keep on laughing the whole course. Until he falls asleep, lol.

However, when I was in high school, my mother once told me that drinking tuba and other alcoholic beverages can kill parasites inside the intestines. You might think that my mother is a tipsificator and teaching me to drink alcohol, but no she isn't. I can call her an occasional drinker as she drinks only if invited by her sisters.

My older brothers learned how to drink alcohol when they were only in high school due to peer influence. Some were offering me to try one, but I never tried. Even the aroma was stomach-turning. I was curious about it and so I asked my classmates if alcohol can really kill parasites, but they only answered the same thing. Then I also thought that it might be the reason why people are drinking alcoholic beverages, to kill off the parasites in their intestinal tracts.

Can alcohol really kill parasites inside us?

As I've entered college I heard the same thought and my friends who drink beer and other alcoholic beverages once offered me to try one. The popular alcohol beverage back then was Red Horse. Every after-party at school, students will go to the seaside resto-bar and barbecue stalls to have fun. My close female friend can even finish a big bottle of Red Horse alone. And one day, I tasted the glass of Red Horse out of curiosity to know why my friend liked drinking it.

The taste was smooth bittersweet but the bitter alcohol flavor was stronger and not my likings. There was like a strong fuel that exploded inside my stomach and my body heated up and turned my face red. They even told me that a very cold Red Horse has a lesser alcohol taste and I should try it. But I never pushed myself to drink something that can make my stomach turn.

One of our instructors told us about the potential of alcohol to kill parasites. Of course, everything can be explained by Science. Later I found out that even many foods contained alcohol as well. It can disinfect our stomach, prepare the enzymes, and kick up digestion. That may be the reason why chefs are using alcohol in cooking, to add flavors to the food with beneficial factors, especially for digestion.

Trying alcohol again..

When I was 25 years old, I studied Caregiving and met classmates of different ages and characteristics. But what bound the class was the likeness to alcohol and food trippings, except for me and another younger student. They never pushed me to drink though, because I told them that my alcohol tolerance was very low.

One day my friend brought a bottle of wine to school and hid it inside her bag. After the class, we were allowed to use the room until 5 in the afternoon. She took out the wine and disposal cups and started distributing cups of wine to my classmates. They teased me that I'm old enough to try it and so I tried one sip. The taste was like bitter grape juice but I didn't like the effect in my stomach. It also made me dizzy just after one shot. They told me that I am not used to drinking alcoholic beverages that's why my alcohol tolerance isn't increasing.

But even though I am not drinking alcohol, I sometimes go with them to different bars just to have fun and only ordering juice or soda for myself. One day we went to a bar near our school and we invited our demure-type classmate who doesn't really speak a lot in class but likes drinking alcohol. I left the bar through at 5 in the afternoon because I still need to travel back home.

The next day, the happenings at the bar were the trending topic in our class. My silent-type classmate expressed out her anger towards her father who was a Police Officer. And that father of hers picked her up and learned about the grudge of her daughter against him that she's been holding for too long. My classmates even said that she cried hard and become talkative when she got drunk. Another classmate of ours got drunk and uncontrollably danced wild on the roadside, and tossed out things she touched. My best friend even got a lesbian girlfriend after that night.

I was like, "did I missed a tremendous event?"

And just like my classmates, others still like drinking alcohol even if they know the consequences once they get tipsy or drunk.

With that, I thought, "why do people like the taste of intoxication? Are they after the taste or the effect of it?"

Our body may need alcohol and I guess a small amount can do, and a large amount can destroy us, physically and mentally. But in most cases, they enjoy the buzz and others even go to great lengths just to get more. Alcohol may taste awful but drinkers become accustomed to its flavor over time. Just like how we become accustomed to the black coffee flavor and become addicted to it. The bitter and astringent kick becomes normal to alcohol drinkers. And with the right food pairing, the drinking session becomes more enjoyable for them, especially if there's a singing session as well, lol.

But I don't think all drinkers like drinking alcohol because of its taste. Literally, it doesn't taste good and not all tastes are suitable for everyone who dares to try it. Some have good flavors though especially some wines. And some people are after the taste and the quality of alcohol.

And I learned from @mommykim that when people become used to drinking alcohol, its taste becomes sweet for them.

Maybe yes. I wouldn't know the real answer until I experienced it personally.

But in my own opinion, people will start to like alcohol, then due to regular consumption, they become addicted to it, not because of the taste, but because of the effect of alcohol on them. And being buzzed is only a happy part of the drinking sessions.

The alcohol makes alcohol drinkers tough and can express out their hidden self once intoxication took over their body. Just like what my Caregiving classmate did when she got drunk. She released out her hidden grudges against her father. It can compensate for the ego and they can express out things that are hidden inside them. And for others, they become a real man after alcohol consumption.

But some force themselves to take alcohol because they don't want to be labeled or outcasted. They want to fit into the group and because of peer pressure as well. That's how I started tasting alcohol again. Alcohol drinkers will start to appreciate the taste because they associate it with the buzz. It's revolting but addicting. The same with how people become addicted to smoking. The smoke itself doesn't smell good, but they still want to fill their lungs with smoke. Because for them, the feeling of intoxication is different and addictive.

Some people drink alcohol purely for the feeling of intoxication and for the express purpose of getting drunk. Some drink alcohol because of the taste. But some drink alcohol for both reasons and also based on their mood and preferences.

Many hate alcohol because of its effect, but it's not actually the alcohol's fault that people do ridiculous things when they're tipsy or drunk. I did try once to drink more than I can afford to handle, but I only got dizziness, stomachache, and red rashes appeared on my body. Maybe that was an indication that I exceeded the alcohol tolerance level in my body. Then I asked my friends that day, "why do other people allow alcohol to control them when they can control alcohol?"

Remember that it is us who are controlling ourselves and not anything else. Just like, guns don't kill people unless someone pressed the trigger. Things won't act alone without being controlled by humans. So why allow alcohol to control you when you can control alcohol?

If you will ask me if I am open to drinking alcohol now that I'm in my 30's.

Yes, I am. But I have preferences. I only drink good quality tuba (bahalina) paired with a lot of Pepsi, lol. Tanduay Ice is fine for me because it has lesser alcohol content and there are a variety of flavors to choose from.

The 5% alcohol content of it is preferably fine for starters, especially the sweet flavored ones. But one bottle is enough for me, two bottles can make me dizzy and I don't like that feeling.

For wines, I'm not really into it. The taste also depends on the quality of the wines. The higher the quality, the better the taste. That's what my wine lover boss told me, lol.

What's my point here?

You can drink anytime but do not exceed to the point that you are already out of your mind. Everything can always be done in moderation. If you don't want the ramifications, you should not drink if you don't know how to control alcohol and yourself. And while you are drinking, at least, you should always be sober enough to pay attention to your senses. Do not let alcohol turn you into a monster, or worse, don't allow it to lose your reputation and dignity.

Drink moderately and don't be a tipsificator.

This is my entry to the trending prompt regarding "drunk and alcohol" initiated by @OfficialGamboaLikeUs. It's fun reading different articles about their experiences in drinking alcoholic beverages and their effects on them. But guys, as I have mentioned above, drink moderately and do not allow alcohol to take over your system, lol.

Thanks for reading.