kava versus alcohol

[24601]

I used to drink a lot of alcohol, almost to the point of having a problem. I was young, in my early 20's. Now that I'm in my early 30's, alcohol doesn't have the same effect. It's not nearly as enjoyable, and I can't imagine drinking as much as I did back then.

Kava on the other hand, has only gotten more enjoyable - I found it about a year ago, and didn't really experience reverse tolerance, but as I've learned what my optimal dose and prep method is, and which strains I enjoy the most, I've found what really works for me.

Does the kava experience change with age? Or is that just explained by learning what works best for me?

 

[Jonathan]

I haven't been drinking kava long enough to tell you that, it's only been a little over a year for me as well. I feel in a similar place, I've settled into the dosage and types that work for me. Perhaps some of the seasoned kavasseurs could chime in on their experience.

 

[Jerome]

I still enjoy kava like I did years ago. I started drinking in the late nineties.

It changes more with circumstances. Setting, circumstances, food, company, heck even climate all make kava change for me. Best setting is just after sunset with a cool breeze (75-78 F) on the beach with quiet people just before the weekend.

 

[24601]

Thanks. I've definitely noticed circumstances change the kava. I like spending a weekend evening watching movies with kava but I need to pick the movie carefully.

I might be some kind of kava lightweight though, because within the first 10 minutes of drinking kava I can start to feel it and alcohol was never like that.

Beach sounds nice but I'm in Canada and there's a foot of snow on the ground.

 

[Capitán Bastos]

Kava > alcohol
Except in flavor and in certain settings like dinners. Whenever I drink alcohol these days, it's one unit or two at the most and always high quality. If I want to unwind or enjoy the little spare time I have, I go for kava. I've also enjoyed the benefits of Mate, way better for doing my books etc.
But, I love cooking and combining flavors.
After I took up kava last August, I look at alcohol in a whole new light. A bottle lasts way longer, so I feel that buying more expensive wine for instance is totally justified. Living in Europe, kava might seem very expensive especially considering the extra shipping costs. But, in reality taking into consideration what we used to spend on alcohol in this household, I'm actually better off. Even when I do splash out for a $100-200 bottle of whatever. I'm pretty sure quite a few of my friends find me more boring nowadays. If I go out I will probably just order an old fashioned or two and then go to water.

 

[24601]

I was never an alcohol connoisseur... I will willingly admit I only valued it for the purpose of getting drunk, but I can actually tolerate the taste of kava better than the taste of alcohol now. They both taste terrible, but I prefer the taste of kava to the taste of alcohol.

 

[Jerome]

Thanks. I've definitely noticed circumstances change the kava. I like spending a weekend evening watching movies with kava but I need to pick the movie carefully.

I might be some kind of kava lightweight though, because within the first 10 minutes of drinking kava I can start to feel it and alcohol was never like that.

Beach sounds nice but I'm in Canada and there's a foot of snow on the ground.

@Schmedward Canada sounds nice. I just wish your climate was a little more tropical!

 

[EQ]

I think there is always novelty, but even when the novelty of kava dies I think most people would prefer Kava to booze for more frequent use. Everybody likes to feel good and every hangover reminds me why I love Kava.

You in Ontario mate?
I'm over on the west BC.

 

[24601]

I often have a really weird reaction to alcohol that gives me a lot of stomach pain. So kava is preferable, the worst I get is occasional nausea, or red, sore skin around my eyes.

Yes, I'm in Ontario I've always wanted to visit BC though. Some day.

 

[yardcat]

I used to drink a fair amount of alcohol. 3 or 4 beers a night. Had a fondness for White Russians for a while in the 80s also. Sometimes I switched it up and had a few glasses of wine. I guess compared to others I know I probably wasn't the heaviest drinker.
When I was in the Corp I did drink to excess you might say, especially in Okinawa and Phillipines.

Diagnosed with liver problems, pretty much quit drinking even after being cured and liver function has returned to normal.

Every now and then, maybe 2 to 4 times a year, I'll have a beer or two, or maybe a glass of wine if we go out to dinner. I really don't enjoy it like I did when I was younger.

I started drinking kava maybe two years ago, and drink almost daily in the evening to wind down. I never experienced RT, it hit me from the beginning. Usually 3 or 4 shells a night before dinner works for me. I never drink kava if I drink alcohol on the same day.

Also, liver numbers tested frequently and I'm very normal there.

 

[Jerome]

I think there is always novelty, but even when the novelty of kava dies I think most people would prefer Kava to booze for more frequent use. Everybody likes to feel good and every hangover reminds me why I love Kava.

You in Ontario mate?
I'm over on the west BC.

Well said. I had a rough day and feel like shit and told my wife, I think I want scotch tonight. And she said, "you sure? You generally regret it."

And I never regret drinking kava.

 

[Ligermeat]

Welcome to the tribe yardcat!

 

[Vekta]

Welcome to the tribe yardcat!

 

[dr phalloid]

I used to drink a lot of alcohol, almost to the point of having a problem. I was young, in my early 20's. Now that I'm in my early 30's, alcohol doesn't have the same effect. It's not nearly as enjoyable, and I can't imagine drinking as much as I did back then.

Kava on the other hand, has only gotten more enjoyable - I found it about a year ago, and didn't really experience reverse tolerance, but as I've learned what my optimal dose and prep method is, and which strains I enjoy the most, I've found what really works for me.

Does the kava experience change with age? Or is that just explained by learning what works best for me?

hi there ive been drinking kava for around 9 years ,like you I use to drink alcohol to get pissed.my experience is after drinking kava for 6 months I gave the alcohol up+been clean for 8 years.as for the kava experience goes it just gets better +better with time,2 shells and I'm off it in a positive way,with alcohol I cant even stand the smell of the stuff now,and the hangovers well say no more.smells trigger memories +when I smell alcohol I'm reminded of nausea-headaches and generally feeling like crap,best decision I made was swapping kava for alcohol.perhaps you too will find like me kava is far more superior than alcohol.And kava doesant have to taste bad there are ways of making it taste great,in the beginning I use to drink it cold like pond water now I enjoy sipping it warm with lots of flavour,if I can help enrich your kava experience let me know.

 

[winder]

I definitely was headed into full-tilt alcoholism before I found kava (maybe already there, I come from a family of "functional" alcoholics). Like, 4-5 strong drinks a day. Kava helped me break that habit pretty quickly as I stopped drinking alcohol just to kill my anxiety and feel better during the day.

These days I do drink - a little - but I've definitely broken my alcohol tolerance so even 1 strong drink or two glasses of wine gives me such a heavy buzz I don't want anything more after that, and happily there are days when I don't even get any alcohol craving at all. But it is an ongoing struggle. I do enjoy the taste of a well-made cocktail or a nice glass of wine/craft beer with food. But when I just want to chill out a bit I definitely realize I'm better reaching for the kava instead. I'm still experimenting which the types and preps of kava I like best but I am very much a fan of more "heady" kavas, in general, because it seems to give me the mood elevation I wanted from alcohol without knocking me out or impairing my ability to function during the day.

 

[moff000]

The problem i find with alcohol is that if i have 4-5 500ml cans i'll drop off to sleep like a baby BUT 3 hours later i'm awake and restless as hell for the rest of the night. If get totally waxed i'll stay asleep snore like a trooper and annoy the hell out the wife! The problem is with "totally waxed", When i awake i feel like i've had no sleep and the worst hangover ever!

 

[Edward]

I definitely was headed into full-tilt alcoholism before I found kava (maybe already there, I come from a family of "functional" alcoholics). Like, 4-5 strong drinks a day. Kava helped me break that habit pretty quickly as I stopped drinking alcohol just to kill my anxiety and feel better during the day.

These days I do drink - a little - but I've definitely broken my alcohol tolerance so even 1 strong drink or two glasses of wine gives me such a heavy buzz I don't want anything more after that, and happily there are days when I don't even get any alcohol craving at all. But it is an ongoing struggle. I do enjoy the taste of a well-made cocktail or a nice glass of wine/craft beer with food. But when I just want to chill out a bit I definitely realize I'm better reaching for the kava instead. I'm still experimenting which the types and preps of kava I like best but I am very much a fan of more "heady" kavas, in general, because it seems to give me the mood elevation I wanted from alcohol without knocking me out or impairing my ability to function during the day.

I still sometimes get cravings for alcohol and it doesn't help that my wife prefers me to drink alcohol instead of kava when I am with her. She's coming round a bit now and has agreed to let me have some kava weekends when I see her so that will make life a lot better. Just come back from holiday and was ill with a cold the week before so just coming back to kava after a couple of weeks. Had a small amount of QKP last night and didn't get full effects as expected but was ok. Hitting the Nene pretty hard tonight because I DO want it to knock me out and impair my ability to function ;-)

 

[Jonathan]

Well said. I had a rough day and feel like shit and told my wife, I think I want scotch tonight. And she said, "you sure? You generally regret it."

And I never regret drinking kava.

That's funny, my partner and I just had the same discussion. It sounds nice when you're thinking about it beforehand, and even when you're having a bit to drink, but honestly I have never EVER felt tip top even after having just one or two. At this point now in my late 30s it's just not worth it anymore...