Is there a way to balance it all?

[Joemacktheslovak]

I work in the fine dining sector of the restaurant industry and I would say on a day off, my girlfriend and I drink 3 bottles of wine without breaking a sweat and that usually leads to my friends and I doing cocaine which leads to more drinking. The weird thing is, I never crave drugs unless I'm drunk. Can anyone else relate? I love my job but I dislike where I end up. Any constructive pointers on how to manage the non challante nature of drinking within an industry that is riddled with addicts?

[motye51]

I guess I'm a bit confused about the question???  Not really sure what the "fine dining" industry has with you drinking and doing coke on your days off?  Not really sure that I would blame the industry?  I do know though that there are alot of addicts in the service industry!  It helps them cope with long shifts, irate people and little pay.  Bartenders are some of the worst (and I'm not lumping ALL bartenders in this so please save the comments!!!)  It is very prevalent in the service industry....why do you have to join in?
I will state what was stated above though....it is very typical addict behavior to start drug use with drinking.....just a thought....

[motye51]

I TOTALLY LOVE your sentance...."There's no constructive way to be a drunk"..... This is on point!  

[SJS49]

Do you only drink once a week? Or is it a most days a week thing? I live with an alcoholic so I know quite a bit about that, instead of his drinking leading to cocaine, it led to other criminal behavior for which he is on felony probation now for 3 years and has already violated it twice from drinking, if he does it again, he goes to prison for 3 years. You can work in that industry and not be a drunk...you are you, and you have the ability to say no and not be pressured. Or don't hang out with these people that do the coke after work hours. Endulging once in a while can lead to horrible endings.

[pandorasbox88]

I know very little people that dont do so in this sequence booze impairs your judgment makes you do blow then u need to come back down or rather really reach equilibrium. There's not really a constructive way to be a drunk. Yea you can function as such for years  but inevitably it takes all. I went from top of class to homeless panhandling in ten. And I'm a 31 year old petite girl. Not the generic fat stinky guy you envision. It can happen to anyone

[jifmoc]

What do you mean the nonchalant nature of drinking? Are you asking how to not drink in your industry? Do you think you are starting to have a problem? Only you can say. But drinking 3 bottles of wine leading to blow leading to back to drinking is pretty standard addict behavior. When you drink, you can't stop and it leads to behavior (drugs) you wouldn't do otherwise.  Let us know how we can help.