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Why do people drink beer?

I used to wonder what beer must taste like when I was a teenager. I knew it must taste great cos everyone loves beer but how great exactly. My curiosity only grew with time but I never tried drinking beer cos I just didn’t want to try any form of alcohol cos I didn’t want to lose control over myself which is something that alcohol does.

But few months back, one of my friends decided that I should try beer after all and I also decided that there was no harm in doing so. I mean, I was with a friend who I could trust to take care of me if I get drunk (I know you cant get drunk by drinking beer but it was my first time so I was scared).

So my friend got me a bottle of Kingfisher, which I then poured into a glass (I couldn’t possibly have drank directly from the bottle). But even before I could take my first sip, a strange smell hit me …and it was the beer. God, it smelled awful. So I was expected to drink that smelly thing? My friend and his friend started laughing and said it smelled great. I thought they were completely crazy but decided to drink it anyways. I almost vomited after I took it in. It tasted like soap water, but worse. I tried drinking it again thinking I might have missed something the first time but no, it really did taste like soap water gone bad the second time too.

I never tried drinking beer ever again and have not been able to stop wondering why then people drink beer.

*Update*: If you are looking for answers, scroll through the comments.

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57 Comments

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  1. Aaki
    05. Oct, 2005 at 12:49 pm #

    EXACTLY!
    Even I cant figure out what the fuss is about.
    I mean, smoking and drinking.
    “It gives you a high”.. General retort.. umm.. what kinda high after all that smoke and bleah taste? :/

  2. Silpa
    05. Oct, 2005 at 6:33 pm #

    Oh Raj,
    Let’s be realistic please, Beer tastes like Urine..ar atleast to me it does.
    I have been wondering the same thing ever since I tried beer once, a few years ago. And you know what people tell me? That yeah yeah beer sucks, so you should try something else like vodka…I give them this really baffled look! Ok maybe they taste good, but I still amn’t of drinking age, why keep pestering me abt it? I don’t say anything cos it’s impossible to change the notions of millions of people especially those dumb ones who are my friends.

    • Alex
      09. Jan, 2010 at 12:32 am #

      And how, pray tell, would you know
      what urine tastes like?

      But I digress…..

      Beer was used in ancient times as a
      way to use up excess grain. It preserves
      the nutritional characteristics of grains in
      an easy to consume form. In fact the
      soldiers of Rome were given a beer
      allotment as part of their pay, and brewers
      followed them into battle. Brewing rendered
      local water safe to drink.

      Why do people drink beer? An idiotic
      question…….

      • Alex []
        23. Jan, 2010 at 1:13 am #

        I thought you digressed? lol

      • Amber
        06. Aug, 2010 at 6:40 am #

        I doubt people drink beer for the “nutritional characteristics of grains” and safety factor. People drink beer because they like to; it has nothing to with the history of beer.

  3. akanksha
    05. Oct, 2005 at 9:25 pm #

    beer tastes like burnt soda to me
    and raj u can get drunk with beer if u hav too much of it
    vodka with sprite is ok!
    but the high it gives is amazing!!!
    like i keep tellin u .. one day we’ll get high together

  4. Raj
    06. Oct, 2005 at 2:08 pm #

    @confused little girl: ITA. I don’t get the deal abt smoking either.

    @silpa: I have never tasted urine so can’t really comment on that. But even I was told to try vodka when I didn’t like beer.

    @akanksha: Burnt soda? If i remeber correctly its a delicacy in some south american country? And as you know, I’m already high on life. (Your words not mine.)

  5. Anonymous
    07. Oct, 2005 at 12:27 pm #

    Hey its real surprise to me that people have tasted soap water, urine, burnt soda and you know what it surpises me more that you all remember how it tated to make comparisions…

    As far as i am concerned Beer is a very nice drink and i don;t know how it tastes but then it gives me a good feeling ofcouse till i piss.. After which i want to have more…

  6. Nige
    07. Oct, 2005 at 5:51 pm #

    Hmmm! They always say beer is an aquired taste. You should try some real English or German Beer, not the piss poor lager stuff. Beer historically is all you could drink as the water was so contaminated out of the well, at least beer with its alchohol and hops was purified and naturally preserved. It’s also a useful way of consuming barley as well as making you feel uninhibited and de-stressed but the bitterness of hops coupled with malted barley has to be cherished.

  7. Anonymous
    18. Oct, 2005 at 7:17 am #

    ok heres the real deal from a british guy. german and english beer all tastes kind of the same none of it tastes like ‘’soda” or pop as british people call it and people drink it to get drunk. the good thing is we can drink at 18 and many of us can get it at a earlier age from older people not many people drink beer for the taste.

  8. Anonymous
    19. Nov, 2005 at 5:32 am #

    Actually to me beer tastes like that cold medicine tablets that you put in water called Airborne. I think people drink beer because it gives them a sense of relaxation. Im actually doing a report on drunk driving and I too was wondering why people drink beer.

  9. Anonymous
    14. Jun, 2006 at 9:09 pm #

    Corona,it’s not just for breakfast anymore.

  10. Anonymous
    06. Nov, 2006 at 4:28 am #

    Come on now. Beer is great! although it is an aquired taste. Also with your quote “(I know you cant get drunk by drinking beer but it was my first time so I was scared).” you CAN get drunk from beer……… whats this all about?

  11. Anonymous
    17. Jul, 2007 at 4:15 am #

    Its physcological. people exept the reality they are presented with. they do what others do. they copy there surrounding others for the sake of it.

  12. Becky L
    29. Aug, 2007 at 5:01 am #

    I can’t stand it either. Grosses me out.
    I do like smirnoff though.

  13. JIMBOB
    07. Sep, 2007 at 1:04 am #

    Beer is the ultimate energy drink…it takes better care of me than liquor. I agree thats is phycological too. After a while of drinking mixed drinks, try drinking a few beers.

  14. Abhijit
    02. Dec, 2007 at 8:27 pm #

    Hi all.
    Interesting stuff about beer!Well,the best drink according to me is vodka/bacardi.You have to drink too much beer to get high,you have too much of a hangover!Vodka is fast in and fast out…
    I have seen people behave in all sorts of manner when drunk…One of my friends used to get cantankerous after 2 glasses of beer and I remember very funny fights he had with me and other colleagues.This other guy used to become all smiley and happy.But I think the high is only in the mind.You should have a taste to savour the high!

  15. Wes
    25. Jan, 2008 at 1:22 am #

    Hi all,

    Interesting topic you’ve got going on here. Beer is somewhat of an acquired taste, much like wine or hard alcohol. Likewise with those substances, too much of it can result in you getting drunk. Contrary to some people’s assertions here, being drunk is not all in the mind. When one drinks alcohol the alcohol absorbs oxygen in the blood, as the blood circulates to the brain the brain is thus deprived of some degree of oxygen, and a resulting “buzz” or “high” is felt. This is the reason they have Blood Alcohol Tests (BATs), to measure the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream and gauge a level of inebriation upon that figure. Of course, over time and with exposure people develop a tolerance to the effects of alcohol and thus one beer for a seasoned drinker will not have the same effect as on someone who has never had a drink before in their life. Weight, gender and metabolism also have a big effect on how one handles their booze.

    All that being said, beer is one of the oldest beverages on earth. As noted by other commenters, it has been a foodstuff, a method of payment (the pyramids of Egypt were built by laborers paid a wage in beer), and a driving cultural force for parts of the world (Central Europe, in particular). There are a great many varieties of beer, from bitter to sweet, and I encourage you to experiment if you are truly interested in this beverage. Just be careful and know your limits.

    Cheers!

  16. audrey
    06. Mar, 2008 at 1:43 am #

    well i wldjst like to say i dnt really see the point in drinkin as u jst mukup u body and u will never be the same .

  17. Wes
    06. Mar, 2008 at 11:50 pm #

    While you may “mukup” your body (whatever that means), the idea that “u [sic] will never be the same” is just ludicrous. I’m sorry, but drinking does not equate to getting a tattoo or having a limb amputated.

  18. omg iluv beer
    31. Jul, 2008 at 9:16 am #

    the reason i drink beer b/c I do love the flavor b/c it good not for the buzz but the flavor. but ive only drank 2. but thats just b/c im 16 lol

  19. P-Dor de Cádiz
    06. Aug, 2008 at 2:28 am #

    Love beer! cerveza !!!

  20. wife
    09. Oct, 2008 at 9:38 pm #

    My husband drinks beer, a lot of beer, because it helps him escape his life. He hates the taste so he drinks it very fast. He downs his first bottle of Corona in under 5 minutes because the taste is so bad. He drinks to celebrate things like mowing the grass, fixing the daughter’s bike, making it home from work safely. He says he does not get buzzed or drunk from drinking and hides his beer and empties when I start yipping about it. On a crazy wife note who is probably talking out her ear, my husband was brilliant when I met him and married him 18 years ago. He seems, however, to lost the brilliantness and is going stupid. Maybe I should pick up drinking beer to help me ignore this?

    My dad, on the other hand, loved beer and parked his butt in a VFW hall for the last 20 years drinking from sunup to sundown. He also said he does not get drunk or buzzed from beer. He actually passed away a few weeks ago from destroying his organs.

    • Alex
      09. Jan, 2010 at 12:41 am #

      Probably drank to get away from YOU,
      dear…. but now no longer needs to…..

  21. smaher
    27. Oct, 2008 at 10:09 pm #

    beer is good for ur body bitches love it they get all horny all wet..
    yes to beer…just 40oz

    • T Gordon
      24. May, 2009 at 4:21 pm #

      have you ever looked in the mirror and noticed “Wow, I’m a moron”?

  22. joe
    30. Oct, 2008 at 10:27 am #

    everyone is a pussy if they don’t like beer

  23. Piggy
    05. Apr, 2009 at 5:08 pm #

    i recently started drinking beer. i remember the first few beers i drank tasted horrible but as i kept drinking more, (you probably wondering why i would keep on drinking something horrible..) the taste suddenly became better “Aquired taste”. i even had a dream about beer recently. man do i love beer now!

  24. Max
    16. May, 2009 at 12:23 am #

    Umm..it’s because Kingfisher sucks..try Lowenbrau or Samuel Adams Summer Ale or White Ale

  25. T Gordon
    24. May, 2009 at 4:19 pm #

    Beer is an acquired taste, Period. I’ve met people who say they liked beer the first time they ever drank it, but I tend to think those people are just trying to sound “manly”. The truth is, beer drinking has become an icon for the all-American male. I admit, it was this image that started me drinking beer as well.

    But let me tell you this, if you suck up the fact that beer tastes bad for a little bit and keep drinking it, it starts to taste better and better. I only discovered this because I was trying to achieve the masculine image and pretending that I liked beer, but lo and behold, I ended up LOVING the stuff.

    Beer is simply an acquired taste, I’m not going to say you have to drink it, but if you really are curious what all the fuss is about, suck up the bad taste for a little bit and drink it until it starts to taste good. Then you will understand. I love beer in every way, shape, and form. I love to drink it after a hot day in the sun, after dinner, when I’m relaxing. The cool, brisk, bubbly taste is absolutely wonderful in my mouth. NOTHING tastes better than a cool beer on a hot day. But to get to this “level” of enjoyment, you have got to suck up the bad taste until your taste buds get used to it. Trust me, it will taste better eventually!

    • John Smith
      19. Mar, 2010 at 9:49 pm #

      I am in total agreement with you.

      • Cain
        29. Aug, 2010 at 2:31 pm #

        Totally dude. I love beer!

  26. J H
    03. Aug, 2009 at 1:52 am #

    Try DAB beer, It’s a german beer that taste like you hanven’t drank any beer in months.
    I drink beer every week and think it sates good.

    Allthought i can remember that it tasted like not much at first, But now I can say that it tastes really good.

    Give it another few tries and find out yourself.

  27. Lance
    05. Sep, 2009 at 7:40 am #

    we shouldnt drink any alcoholic beverages. God doesnt like it. He may punish us if we do.

    • john
      14. Oct, 2009 at 9:02 pm #

      Funny. Jesus seemed to favor wine. Maybe because he was a rebellious son?????

      • Djibo
        06. Nov, 2009 at 2:32 pm #

        Mester drunker,
        Please when saying something to the Lord of Lords you better be careful, your madness is getting to much by using these words to the Lord Jesus.
        You know what i wanna tell you? Just keep your big mounth shut, other wise you gonna…….
        You need to be careful with wine………..
        You are the rebillious and mad for giving your time to druckness which is leading you to madness.
        Stop your bullshit okay?

        • X
          08. Jan, 2010 at 6:02 pm #

          There is no god.

  28. Wes
    05. Sep, 2009 at 8:20 pm #

    @Lance

    Which god? The Christian one? The Muslim one? The Hindu lineup? You go get punished all you want, bud. I’ll be here having a beer.

    • Chris
      23. Mar, 2010 at 4:02 am #

      Damn. haha you win that one

  29. leeah
    22. Sep, 2009 at 3:13 am #

    well yea,i heard of dat,but looks like alot of people loves to drink beer….but as for me….ugh hehe,ma dad will ground me forever….

  30. Red Horse Beer
    22. Sep, 2009 at 3:46 pm #

    Best beer in the world (from San Miguel). Philippines.

  31. Yourallcunts
    16. Oct, 2009 at 6:06 pm #

    People that don’t like beer….

    • lickmytwat
      03. Nov, 2009 at 4:25 am #

      funny bugger.

  32. Shanon
    13. Nov, 2009 at 6:38 pm #

    Mates..

    Try some Aussie stuff..5 pints of Ale or lambic or even lager on a bright sunny day at bondi..U’ll defenitely feel this world is too good to live..

    never get binged

    happy drinking and Cheers

  33. love Red Horse
    14. Nov, 2009 at 8:43 am #

    i just recently tried that RED Horse Beer from the Philippines…WOw it taste sweetish and delicious…get you on the mood…hmmmm im gonna try it again….

  34. Fred
    07. Dec, 2009 at 3:40 am #

    Bees is absolutely amazing. I hated it the first times, but as i drank more it became better and better.
    And yes, you can get drunk from beer..
    Usually takes me 12-14 0,5L
    bottles

  35. brandon
    01. Jan, 2010 at 11:30 am #

    ok i hated beer the first few times i tried it but now its good i only drink it to get drunk same as all you. cause when you are sober it taste like shit 4 real.

  36. metathran
    08. Jan, 2010 at 4:21 pm #

    well, beer is, as said in one of the earlier comments, an acquired taste. at first it really does taste awful, but as time goes by, it starts to taste better and better.maybe it’s the feeling that beer gives to the drinker and not really the taste. once you appreciate the “high” or the “kick” that beer gives you, your brain starts to “reconfigure” itself and start making you like the taste of beer. well that’s what i personally came up with, being a novice medical student.maybe i’ll give a better explanation one day but as of now, that’s all i can come up with.i hope it’s not as stupid as i believe it is…

  37. john
    18. Jan, 2010 at 11:50 am #

    when i tried beer fot d first time i was very scared , i took a friend along to take care of me , if i m drunk , the taste of beer sucks, its like everyone is having it not for taste , just get high, then i tried more , i drank about 2 big cans of beer nothing happend, the only thing happened was i was stinking and finally for no reason i was tolerating that bitter taste

  38. Phil G
    26. Jan, 2010 at 6:02 am #

    Well when I was a kid I used to really dislike the taste of beer. Although I thought it was cool ya know :D Anyway as I got older I started drinking beer as a social type thing ya know everyone hangs out has a beer loosins up with each other. And then eventually I sorta just got used to the taste and started to like it… it started to be an interesting taste to me… something different. Funny thing is I wont go near soda.. I drink mostly water… but I would grab a beer lol. Especially with a nice juicy steak. If your young especially under 18 stay away from it. But when you get older you most likely will start enjoying having a nice cold beer every now and then. Everyones different though. Most certainly dont do anything you dont want to do… dont let people encourage you if you truly dont want to drink. And thats it really.. just be mature about it yuh know.

  39. Rob
    03. Feb, 2010 at 4:58 pm #

    What …are you 15 ?? Beer is Great !!

  40. LarryTheCableGuy
    15. Feb, 2010 at 8:58 am #

    I’m 51 actually…beer is vile. It smells only half as bad as it tastes–which is like fermented shit water.

  41. myname
    08. May, 2010 at 5:40 am #

    Beer is very good. It tastes lovely on a hot day, I prefer light beer for these occasions, or dark beers on a cold day. I do not like red beers much, too bitter for me, but I have tried many beers. There is a pub near my loft that sells 100 beers from around the world all on tap. It is fun to go on weekends and try beers from around the word! Chocolatre beer is interesting, raspberry brown ale is marvelous tasting, blueberry ale, apricot ale, there are so many. I like German light beers best, but American Coors light is great for parties or BBQ’s! I have tested many bad beers as well, but if you know what you like, it can be great fun! Of course you can get drunk off of beer, that is what it is for! A beer drunk is relaxing, silly, and fun. Watch out for those calories though:)

    Coffee is also a very bitter drink, and not very tasty, but millions drink that. Some doctor it up with sugar and flavors, and some like it black, but either way…to each his own mate!!

    Cheers!

  42. dsada
    22. Jun, 2010 at 6:53 pm #

    Its not for the taste goddamit, why do you think people smoke weed and stuff? To get HIGH, well beer does teh same, its not the taste that counts here but the awesome high feeling you get.

    Lets say you went to a party, and there was no beer at all, 50% chances that party will get wild.

    Pary+beer= 100% chances the party will go craaazy!

  43. RED HORSE still ok
    04. Jul, 2010 at 2:18 pm #

    A lot of you guys clearly have not tried any good IPAs or any Dark Lagers, I have even tasted beers that taste like bubble gum. If you want good beers try the micro-brewed beers like the ones from Rouge, Flying Dog or Brewdog. Im from the philippines and have drank red horse since i started drinking, we now have a liquore store and specialize with hard to find imported beers ( we have almost 200 types of beer from all around the world). I would say that there a lot more beers out there. Coffee, Bubblegum, Banana, Chocolate, Flowery tasting beers are out there. Dont go to your normal convenience store and get the most expensive thing you can find. Go for microbreweries, find them online. Familiarize yourself with India Pale Ales, Irish stouts, Lagers, Belgian Trappists I’m sure you will find the one for you. :D

    Regards,
    Gilmore Wines and Spirits

  44. Marcus
    24. Jul, 2010 at 12:15 am #

    well, in my experience, I didn’t like beer either when I first tried it. Instead I began by drinking smirnoff. The so called “designer beer.” The deal is, you’ll get drunk, and if you love it as much as I did, you will want to do it again..and again…etc… Eventually, you’ll move to beer because it is more readily available and beers like bud light are less strong, so you may stick to that for a while. The beer taste will grow on you like hell and you’ll eventually begin experimenting with several different kinds of beer. Then eventually you’ll begin to brew your own damn beer because of how damn much you love it. Beer is definitely an acquired taste, just be reasonable with how often you consume it. Too much life to miss being drunk all the time.

  45. Raja
    20. Aug, 2010 at 7:44 am #

    all I can say is you need to mature to experience its taste (“acquired taste”)….. the flavor gets to you after sometime… but I always wonder how some of the otherwise idiotic, stupid guys enjoy it….

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