If you weren't a drinker, how could you get the the point where you were able to "drink someone under the table"?

I think a lot of it depends on the opponent. If you’re up against an experienced, long-time drinker, they’ll outlast a non-drinker every time. On the other hand, if you’re competing against a five-year-old, your adult metabolism and weight are in your favor (even if you don’t drink that much).

@laureth Good point so maybe I should specify.

If you wanted to be able to out drink most people adults in a bar setting.

you’d have to build up a resistance to alcohol, drinking more and more over time.

I used “five year old” as hyperbole to illustrate a gross difference in size, weight, and tolerance. The point is that it’s all relative.

What is the purpose of “drinking someone under the table”?

Oooo look at my ridiculously high tolerance! What an accomplishment.

To some people that is a great accomplishment.

Maybe it’s to defend a woman’s honor.

@Sakata That’s sad.

Drink. A lot. At one sitting.

Personally I figure any non-drinker can always drink any drinker “under the table.” Just stick with tonic and no gin, and you will watch as they slowly slide into being totally inebriated.

Of course, you both will have to go pee a lot.

Guess we need a situation for the purpose of perspective. Fine.

Picture a soldier in the military or a farmer.
Everyone he works with can go out and drink all day & night long but he is unable to keep up. His friends & coworkers tease him for being a lightweight, etc. and the peer pressure begins to take a toll oh his social standing and outlook. To some this may sound like stupid logic but to others it can be a very important social issue.

Now the point of the question: <insert original description here>

Get new friends that don’t act like frat boys?

Seriously, if you need to be able to tolerate drinking better here’s the plan-
1) eat a large steak dinner before going out
2) stick with one alcohol and don’t mix
3) this may sound counter productive, but drink water between alcoholic beverages
4)pee often
5)don’t sit on a stool, stand and move around while drinking
6)spill out a little when they aren’t looking or when doing a shot, hold it in your mouth and pretend to sip a beer as a chaser. Spit shot into bottle.
Don’t make it obvious.
7) don’t drink creamy shots like baileys or tequila rose (you will not only get sick but you will look like a pussy)
You will not beat them but you will last longer

@elijahsuicide But what if you want to be able to out drink them shot for shot & beer for beer without cheating or cutting corners?

This is all about plain old drinking. Not about how to look like you can drink.

Bottom line- you can’t. They have years of experience on you. It will take some hardcore practicing to catch up. Even then, you most likely won’t beat the pros.
The only “cheat” I gave you was the spilling/spitting. The rest is bartender knowledge.

I think @elijahsuicide is right – it will take a lot of practice to catch up to a “career” drinker, and if you do try to catch up quickly, you’ll damage yourself. At least when you and your friends are old, you can brag about still having a functioning liver.

What makes someone a “career drinker?”

Drinking, whether it is sipping a cold one on the back porch or pounding brews with your buds, is meant to be a personal pleasure. Why make it some stupid contest? There are much better ways to impress people.

My father has been drinking since the age of 13. He has earned his badge of career drinker by drinking nothing but beer and hard stuff all day everyday. Need to take a pill? Crack open a beer. Thirsty in the middle of the night? No problem, he has a cooler next to the bed just for this purpose.

He lost his job and ability to walk more than 10 feet, 20 years ago when he showed up drunk and fell off of a ladder. He lost his family when his beer was more important than them. And he lost the respect of his daughter when he failed to show up for her wedding because he was too drunk. His trophy? A bad liver and no friends or family.

Something to aspire to huh? Drink up.

I’m glad you guys brought up an important point up there. I usually drink with 5 year olds and I can always drink them under the table.

@Sakata – A career drinker can also be defined as a functioning alcoholic, at least as long as he or she remains functioning.

@bodyhead…You haven’t drank with my 5 year old daughter yet.

warning: she’s a mean drunk

Sounds like a dumb thing to base your personal pride and social standing around.

@fireside…...exactly

From the right perspective all things are dumb things to base personal pride and social standing around.

Great point.

I suggest watching Beerfest…great movie, and take some tips from them. Just don’t drink ram’s piss.

I think I may go watch that now… hilarious movie.

DAS BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!

“Do you want grandma to warm up your sausage?”

it’s one of their oldest professions.

just go out to have a good time. drink at your own pace. don’t try to go shot for shot. (its called being a grown up——which we assume would happen around the time you are legal to drink.)

tequila and whiskey shots with niosy freinds

Is the problem drinking, or is the problem peer pressure? There are ways to stand up to peer pressure that earn you respect, instead of losing it. If you don’t want to drink, don’t. Find another way to deal with your problem.

Trickery works best. Sub water for vodka for your drinks.

Just wait until the drinkers find out that you are the only one who still has his car keys at the end of the evening and that you can drive them home (if you are willing to do so). Then they’ll appreciate you.

I’d go with “practice makes perfect” or in my particular case “young and stupid usually win” (mainly because they will just keep going even if it’s going to hurt later). Though you shouldn’t be binge drinking, but i’m in college, I still go out with parties and I still insist on challenging people to games of flip cup, so I really can’t give out lectures about such things.